Portland Baby Shower

This past Sunday, my best friend from high school hosted a baby shower in honor of the Bean back in Portland for my family and friends. Here we are below. Unfortunately, the photo is a little too dark to see us clearly, but we're in front of her adorable dining table set-up featuring mini spinach and fontina quiches, Greek yogurt parfaits, prosciutto wrapped pears, mini cornbread muffins, a delicious cheese plate, and, of course, chocolate cupcakes.

I had so much fun catching up with family and friends, and of course opening a few goodies for our Jelly Bean. This kid is now officially has a better wardrobe than either of his parents. (At least for the first 6 months of life, after which it may be downhill...) Featured below: adorable Texas ranger PJs.

(With my sister-in-law, mom, and sister)

Four of my best girlfriends from Seattle made the drive down to Portland for the shower, which was a huge treat. I hadn't seen them since last Christmas, and two of them have since welcomed their own little guys into the world. I can't wait to introduce my own baby boy into the mix, and know that the three of them will have lots of fun growing up together over the years. It was such a fun day, and I am so grateful for great friends who went out of their way to make it a special event for me.

Week 33

December 9, 2011

Best Moment: We returned home from our Florida vaca during week 33 and then I spent most of the rest of the week stressing out about the fact that January is suddenly near and we don't have anything ready for our impending bundle of joy other than a freshly painted room, a crib, and a lot of frozen meals. After much hand wringing and brow furling, I made some progress on our ever present baby to-do list, including finalizing our pediatrician choice, ordering a set of shelving for his closet, and selecting a glider that my wonderful mother-in-law and sister-in-law are generously giving us.

Meanwhile, we had a scare last Tuesday when my latest ultrasound revealed that our little guy's head size is in the 99th percentile (excellent... looking forward to that...), while his abdomen is currently only in the 27th percentile. Due to the fact that he has a two-vessel umbilical cord (one artery and one vein instead of two arteries and one vein), my doctor was concerned that perhaps his blood flow is being limited and that he might be suffering from growth restriction. After a battery of tests and a trip to the perinatologist for yet another ultrasound, we were reassured that all is well and he is just kinda skinny with a really big head. Seeing as I myself have a huge head and they run in my family, this wasn't too surprising, but it added an unnecessary layer of stress to an already hectic week. As a result, the highlight of the week was skipping town again on Friday to head back to Portland for my baby shower. Pictures of that to come!

Symptoms: I definitely started feeling quite a bit of anxiety during week 33, meaning that in addition to waking up for multiple bathroom breaks each night, now I'm sometimes having trouble falling back asleep as numerous thoughts and worries race through my head in the pre-dawn hours. I'm not really worried about the delivery (although maybe I should be...), but I'm just anxious about dealing with the inevitable sleepless nights and challenges of the first 12 weeks as a I figure out this whole mom gig. Talking to my own mom and some of my new-mom friends at my shower provided some reassurance. The consensus seems to be that yeah, it's tough, but it's also fantastic, everyone goes through it, and, like countless women before me, I'll manage to do what needs to be done and figure it out along the way.

Cravings/Aversions: My appetite actually seems to be slowing down these final weeks. I've reached the point where I just don't have a lot of room in my stomach to take in big meals, so I think I'm eating less. (I actually lost one pound during week 33.) I still love me some dessert, but not quite the abundance of it that I've been enjoying throughout the pregnancy so far.

What I Miss: Not too much. I would say a good night of sleep, but I know that the sleep I'm getting right now is actually probably as good as it's going to get for the next few years.

What I Can't Wait For: I'm looking forward to enjoying Christmas with my family (fingers crossed we get the doctor's green light to fly) and getting most of the final baby stuff wrapped in the next few weeks so that I can relax a little bit before D-day.

Milestones: According to Baby Center, he's about the size of a pineapple and weighs in at 4 pounds, but my most recent ultrasound has him closer to 5 pounds. He is rapidly plumping up with baby fat, and his skeleton is beginning to harden.

Florida Babymoon

Last week we took to the friendly skies to enjoy one last weekend getaway as a couple before the little one arrives. One of my good friends was getting married just outside of Naples, Florida, so we decided to stay a few extra days and explore the Gulf coast. We spent our first two nights on Sanibel Island, a little barrier island just off the coast of Fort Myers. We stayed at a cute historic inn and just enjoyed strolling on the beach, sleeping in, cruising around the island on bikes, and lots of fresh seafood.

Shout out to the Oregon Ducks!

Overall, we both really enjoyed Sanibel Island. It was really quaint and laid back-- just what we were looking for. It was also fairly geriatric (we were probably the youngest on the island by a good 25-30 years), but I think that probably had a lot to do with the fact that we were visiting at kind of an odd time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have a feeling the place fills up with lots of families during the spring high season.

After two days on the island, we headed back to the mainland and checked into the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, just north of Naples. The wedding was held on the resort's beautiful grounds. The weather was gorgeous the whole time we were there-- sunny and low 80s. You wouldn't even know it was Christmas time, except for the hotel's decorations.

In addition to attending the wedding, we managed to squeeze in a rigorous schedule of laying by the pool (me), working out (J), and long naps (both of us). We also made one kayaking excursion around the mangroves and estuary surrounding the resort. Sadly no dolphin or alligator spottings, but we did see lots of tropical birds.

(Like the Florida shaped putting green floating in the pond??)

Overall, it was a great trip. It was super relaxing and forced me to just slow down, stop obsessing over my to-do list (for a few days anyway), and focus on enjoying my husband's company. It's hard to believe that in a few weeks we'll go from being a twosome to a threesome, but I think this last hurrah helped make me feel a little more mentally prepared to make the leap. We spent a lot of time just enjoying each other, but couldn't help but talk about our plans for our son and what it will be like the next time we take a vacation as a family. There are so many things that we're so excited to show him, teach him, and experience with him. Just a few more weeks to go!

Weeks 31 and 32

December 2, 2012

Best Moment: Weeks 31 and 32 were busy ones! In addition to cooking and hosting our first married Thanksgiving, we continued with the "baby MBA," completing a CPR and first aid class, and meeting with two pediatricians. We did a fair amount of nesting, including cooking and freezing four meals worth of turkey chili and chicken "not pie" (a great crust-less pot pie-like stew), 3 loaves of pumpkin bread, and countless cups of turkey stock (thank you, Thanksgiving leftovers.) I need to post a picture of the interior of my freezer soon... it's impressive. We also joined Costco (making us officially parents) and began stocking up on diapers and wipes. Then, on December 1st, we embarked on a babymoon to the gulf coast of Florida. More on that to come later!

Symptoms: Still tired. Still feeling some back and hip pain. It kind of comes and goes. Other than that, nothing new.

Cravings/Aversions: Thanksgiving weekend was a pregnant woman's delight. Our guests brought a green bean casserole, appetizers, and beverages, and we cooked turkey, pan jus gravy, sage stuffing, orange port cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie-- beginning with whole pumpkins that we roasted and then pureed. We wound up with so much extra pumpkin puree, that I had enough for the 3 aforementioned loaves of pumpkin bread, plus a pumpkin spice bundt cake that was promptly devoured.

What I Miss: Just my energy.

What I Can't Wait For: I'm getting excited to meet the little guy. I wonder who he'll look like and what his personality will be like. I can't wait to find out!

Milestones: As of last Friday, our little man weighs in around 4 pounds and is sporting fingernails, toenails, and hair.

Week 30

November 18, 2011

Are these getting old? Or is it just me? I think I might be getting sick of being pregnant. (Although I am very grateful for the little life growing inside of me... and that he's healthy... and that I've had a relatively uncomplicated pregnancy. OK, so I think it might just be one of those days and I need to snap out of it.) Just 10 weeks to go, so I will press on!

Best Moment: The past week was a quiet one, but we did complete what Jason is calling the first semester of our baby MBA-- breastfeeding class, two more daycare visits (I think we've selected the winner), and our hospital tour. Still remaining in our "baby MBA" are infant CPR, visits with two different pediatricians, and our weekend-long labor, delivery, and childcare class. Seeing the maternity ward of our hospital was actually pretty cool. The rooms are super nice and they have all sorts of props and tools on-hand to help us labor up until any medication is desired. They have birthing balls, big jacuzzi tubs, and even wireless baby monitors so we can walk the halls without being tethered to the bed. I'm definitely open to medication, but hope to labor as long as possible au natural, so it's good to know they are set up to help enable this.

Symptoms: Full force third trimester fatigue. If there's one symptom that has defined this pregnancy for me, it's been fatigue. Serious, serious fatigue in first trimester... definitely better in the second (although no burst of energy like some people describe)... and now it's back in the third trimester. Considering the symptoms and complications many women endure during pregnancy, I know this is minor stuff. But, man. I miss my energy.

Cravings/Aversions: Still loving food, and lots of it!

What I Miss: Being able to stay up later than 9:45pm on a Friday!! I can't really remember what it's like to want to get out and be social.

What I Can't Wait For: Short term - a delicious Thanksgiving dinner later this week. Longer term - A glass of wine, and... wait for it... going for a run. Seriously. I may even be looking forward to a good run more than the glass of wine. In my current state of fatigue (and let's be honest... general crankiness), the idea of being able to just lace up my shoes, crank up my iPod, and enjoy a nice, brisk run sounds amazing. Something I never thought I'd say. But, seriously... that feeling of challenge and accomplishment, pushing past the discomfort into the "zone," actually being able to engage my core muscles (imagine that!), the mental clarity I can only find during this kind of exertion, and those post-run endorphins... yeah, that sounds good.

Milestones: I am 75% there! That is cause for celebration in my book. Less exciting is the fact that my weight now equals that of my husband, but it was bound to happen. My total weight gain is pushing 25 pounds so far, but with 10 weeks to go, including Thanksgiving and the full Christmas season, I'm prepared to see that number go up. Here's hoping I'm still waxing poetic about my desire for good run once baby actually arrives!

Week 29... and a wedding

November 11, 2011

Best Moment: The highlight of the week was catching up with my best friends from college at my good friend Anne's wedding. I haven't seen one of our friends, Camille, since she visited Austin last April, so it felt like a girls weekend with an extra special finale. (But we missed you, Diana!) Thursday night after work I drove down to San Antonio and met up with Anne, Camille, and her husband J for dinner at Dough. (Good stuff if you're ever in the Alamo city.) On Friday we hosted a little shower for Anne to enjoy some pre-wedding pampering, followed by the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Then on Saturday, we attended her gorgeous wedding. It was great to get away for the weekend and enjoy some fun with old friends before the little man arrives. Here's a picture of the three of us together:

Symptoms: Back pain, hip pain, and fatigue. But I managed to fulfill my MOH duties with flying colors by standing for the full hour of Anne's orthodox wedding ceremony. Go me. (Of course, I enjoyed a good two hour nap the next day.)

Cravings/Aversions: I crave food. Pretty much all types. I think I may need to delete this category. I feel like I am beginning to sound like a broken record.

What I Miss: Not too much really. I can now definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel, so I'm just trying to enjoy the last couple months of this experience.

What I Can't Wait For: We've got an exciting few weeks coming up. We're hosting our first married Thanksgiving together, and then heading out to the gulf coast of Florida for another wedding in early December. We're going to stay a few extra days and make this our "babymoon." I'm looking forward to some R&R-- and hopefully a good prenatal massage at the resort!

Milestones: Baby is pushing 3 pounds and-- we revisit the produce aisle again this week-- about the size of a butternut squash. At this point, his brain development is kicking into high gear, which reminds me that I need to go pick up some Omega 3 supplements!

Week 28

(28 weeks, 3 days)

November 4, 2011

Best Moment: Wow. It's crazy to me that I have been pregnant for 28 weeks. Or 26 if you want to get technical. But still. That's half a year... a long time! The weeks just keep flying by. This past week was a quiet one. We enjoyed our fall outing and first Halloween giving out candy to trick-or-treaters (although our turn out was a little disappointing. Sadly, more candy for me...) We also finally put together the crib and made the decision to repurpose an old chest of drawers we already have as Bean's changing table and dresser. I started folding and organizing some of his (currently limited) wardrobe. It's so much fun to start seeing the nursery come together and envisioning him living in this room.

Symptoms: I'm still dealing with the sciatic pain in my right hip. I think it's here to stay unfortunately.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing new here, although I have now reached the point where I am starving every 2 hours or so. It's becoming somewhat of a challenge to find enough portable, healthy, different snack foods that I can bring to work or out and about with me. A girl cannot live on bananas and Luna bars alone.

What I Miss: I'm starting to get tired again... I think this might be third trimester fatigue setting in. While I miss my energy and my ability to get around easily, I realize I only have another 12 weeks to embrace being lazy and taking naps at will, so I am trying to enjoy it while I can.

What I Can't Wait For: I'm looking forward to my upcoming 28 week appointment (although not so much the glucose test.) Due to slight anomaly in Bean's umbilical cord, I will be getting an ultrasound at all of my remaining appointments to make sure his growth is on track. The silver lining is that it's always fun to see him!

Milestones: Jelly Bean weighs about 2 and a half pounds and his eyesight is developing. He is blinking his eyes and may be able to see the light that filters in through my skin.

Week 27

October 28, 2011

Best Moment: After my parents left last weekend, it was a quiet rest of the week. The highlight was probably registering on Friday night at Babies'R'Us... fun, though definitely a little intimidating. They gave us a list about 5 pages long of all the stuff we "need." I think our registry currently consists of about 20 items. With a 1500 square foot house, we're going with a less is more approach. I figure we can always purchase things later on that we discover we really need, but I don't want to wind up with a bunch of baby stuff we never touch. Still, it was fun to stroll aisles and picture him in a car seat, in a stroller, etc.

Symptoms: In addition to the back pain, I'm starting to get some sciatic nerve pain that runs from my lower back through my right hip and down my right leg. But, I'm not complaining too much. It's uncomfortable, but a heating pad helps, and I think it's just comes with the territory at this point. I've had a pretty easy pregnancy thus far.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing new here. Much to Jason's disappointment, barbecue still sounds pretty gross (I haven't had it once since very early in my first trimester), but everything else is fine. On the flip side, Halloween candy might pose a problem...

What I Miss: Nothing really.

What I Can't Wait For: One of my best friends from home is throwing me a shower in Portland in mid-December. I'm looking forward to that!

Milestones: I have officially completed the second trimester! It's hard to believe. We are now under the 3 month mark until my due date, and I know these last weeks are going to fly by. My focus for November is going to be on getting as much baby stuff done as possible, so that I can just relax and enjoy (as much as that's possible) the end of my pregnancy in December.

Happy Halloween!

After many weeks of jam-packed schedules and busy weekends, we finally had a quiet few days at home. While the Northeast got its first snowfall, we've been enjoying a Texas "cold front" (read: sunny, highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s... basically gorgeous weather), so we wanted to get out and enjoy a few fall activities this weekend.

After a leisurely Saturday morning of waffles and College Game Day, we hopped in the car and headed east of Austin for some hiking in Buescher State Park. On the way, we passed the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort, so we took a little detour and drove through their gorgeous property, checking out their golf course, pool facilities (lazy river!), and resort clubhouse. We've now added it to the top of our weekend getaways list. OK, I just made that up. We don't really keep a list of weekend getaway ideas, but it would make a fantastic weekend trip from Austin or Houston-- with or without kids. Maybe someday.

Then, we continued to on to Buescher State Park where we took a leisurely (pregnancy appropriate) 3.5 mile hike. It was mildly hilly and really pretty. Of course we didn't take any pictures. But I did collect about 15-20 awesome pine cones... I'm thinking some sort of Christmas craft is in order. Maybe gold spray paint?

On the way home we decided to stop at a pumpkin patch to pick up some pumpkins, but found out they were charging $10 admission to stroll around a picked over pile of pumpkins that had been trucked in (not even grown there... and they call themselves a pumpkin patch!) So we bid adieu to the patch and picked up a few pumpkins at HEB on the way home instead.

Yesterday we took a stroll through our neighborhood to check out some of the decorations. A lot of the houses in this area go all out for Halloween (making me wonder if we bought enough candy...), but this one takes the cake:

The signs are hard to read in these pictures, but they are pretty clever-- comments on everything from our health care system, to all of the various Republican presidential candidates to Occupy Wall Street.

Last night we carved our pumpkins-- probably the first time I've carved a pumpkin since high school! Hard to believe, but I figure that with a baby on the way, it's probably time I get back in touch with my inner kid and fun holiday traditions. I went old school, while Jason got a little Big 12 artistic.

Now it's time to put out the Halloween candy and pop in a scary (or maybe just funny) movie while we wait for the trick-or-treaters. Hope your night is spook-tacular! (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Week 26

October 21, 2011

Best Moment: My parents came to visit last week and we had a fantastic time. We finally finished up all the home improvements we've been working on, so it was fun to show off our place. The weather was great (mid-80s) and we enjoyed some shopping on South Congress, a few nice meals out, a day trip to Fredericksburg to visit the WWII Pacific War museum, and some live music at the Saxon Pub.

Symptoms: In addition to the low back pain that kicked in last week, I'm starting to have some pain in my right hip. My yoga instructor tells me it's from a combination of sleeping on my side and my hips naturally spreading out in preparation for delivery. Fun times. At this point, I'm just trying to stay active as much as possible with walking, yoga, and light weights to help keep everything limber and in good working order.

Cravings/Aversions: Same story here... huge appetite and no willpower (or desire to exercise willpower) when it comes to sweets. That plus all the great food we enjoyed during my parents' visit will probably result in a bigger than usual weight gain the next time I step on scale, but I'm trying not to worry about it too much.

What I Miss: Honestly, I'm kind of getting tired of having to monitor everything I put in my mouth. At home, I've got a pretty good routine going in terms of what I can eat, but when I go out I'm constantly reminded of all the stuff that's off limits. Everything from deli meat, to soft cheeses, to medium rare meats. And of course the wine. I've had little sips here and there, but it would be nice to just enjoy a big, juicy, medium rare steak and nice glass of Cab. Only a few more months now...

What I Can't Wait For: The nursery is painted, so now it's time to set up the crib and start thinking more seriously about decor. We're going with a light Babar theme-- meaning some Babar and elephant items, but not over the top theme-y. The walls are a pale aqua blue, and we'll have some navy accents with some other bright colors. More to come!

Milestones: Jelly Bean is about the length of an English cucumber (14 inches or so), and he can now hear not only my voice, but other sounds outside the womb, including Jason's voice.

Week 25

October 14, 2011

Best Moment: Week 25 was a fun one! We spent one day in Houston to attend the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover Live event. It was great-- he is just so entertaining, and we love his message. We're already FPU graduates, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to see him person. (This may make us total dorks, but we're OK with that.) After the event, we toured around the historic Houston Heights neighborhood and had a great dinner at Zelko Bistro before hitting the road back to Austin. And, then, a few days later we had our 24 week doctor's appointment. We are so grateful that everything continues to look great with the Bean.

Symptoms: This was the first week that I really started to feel pregnant. I now apparently grunt a little (involuntarily) when I bend over over squat down. Rolling over in bed is kind of an event. And my lower back is starting to hurt. My pre-natal yoga definitely helps with the aches and pains, so it may be time to step up my attendance to twice a week.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing new here. I have been cooking up a storm lately though. I've just been in the mood for classic comfort food like the tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches I shared earlier this week, as well as fried chicken and peach pie (a meal that deserves a post of its own!)

What I Miss: Not too much, although my latest aches and pains are helping me envision a time when I just want this baby here (vs. stressing about how long my to-do list is, and how little time I have to do it.) I can see a time in the very near future when I think I'll just start feeling ready for him to arrive, regardless of the state of my to-do list.

What I Can't Wait For: My parents' visit next week!

Milestones: Jelly Bean is now over a foot long and pushing two pounds. He's growing hair (wonder if he'll be a red head or a brunette?) and starting to fill out a little bit with some cute baby fat.

Comfort Food

Since the temperatures have finally cooled off a little bit here in Texas, I have been feeling a serious urge to cook and I think I am recapturing a little bit of the kitchen mojo I lost during a queasy first trimester that segued nicely into the hottest summer on record and our month of no air conditioning-- essentially the perfect storm for a summer of no cooking. But, over the past few weeks, I've been revisiting a bunch of old favorites, as well as trying out some new recipes, and have some good ones to share.

First up: ooey gooey grilled cheese with bacon (cooked in bacon fat, no less) and homemade spicy tomato soup. This pregnancy has me craving comfort food in a major way, so this recipe isn't necessarily for anyone counting calories, but it's definitely tasty! Comfort food at it's best.

Bacon Grilled Cheese & Spicy Tomato Soup
Serves 2
(Adapted from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine, March 2011.)

1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes
red pepper flakes to taste
salt & pepper
1/4 c. half & half
3-4 slices bacon
4 slices sandwich bread (I like good sourdough bread)
2/3 c. cheddar grated
pesto

In a medium pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes (I just shake in about a teaspoon or two), as well as salt and pepper, and cook until fragrant-- about 1 minute. Add tomatoes with juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender or use an immersion blender and puree until smooth. Stir in half & half.

In a skillet, cook bacon over medium-high until browned and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Remove pan with fat from heat and drain all but about a tablespoon of the bacon fat. Add bread slices, and layer with half the cheese, the bacon, and the rest of the cheese, and then the second bread slice. Return to medium heat and cook until the bread is browned on one side (2-3 minutes.) Flip and brown on the other side.

Serve the sandwich with a bowl of the soup. Add a dollop of pest to the soup if desired. (You will probably have leftover soup, and it makes a great lunch the next day.) Enjoy!

Weeks 23 - 24

October 7, 2011

Best Moment: It continues to be pretty hectic 'round these parts. Lots of travel and demanding projects at work, coupled with a seemingly unending to-do list at home. But things feel like they're finally starting to come together at our new place. The month of no AC (where we basically lived like refugees) set us back a little, but I'm starting to feel much more settled. Over the past two weeks, we got our new sectional and media console delivered, got our washer and dryer swapped out (the original ones we purchased when we moved in had some issues), and, on the baby front, picked up our crib. (Putting it together will be another matter entirely.) We also visited our first daycare, and, despite my hesitations, really liked it. We'd like to tour a few more before making any commitments, but we're currently on the waiting list for the first one.

Symptoms: It continues to be fairly smooth sailing. I'm generally feeling good and seem to have a little bit more energy back. The bean is moving pretty regularly and I've started noticing consistent activity patterns. He likes to let me know when he's hungry (when I'm hungry), and then shortly after I've eaten he seems to get a second wind (must be the blood sugar kicking in). He's also fairly active in the evening when I am relaxing, and when I first wake up in the morning. I think I might be waking him up when I roll over to get up.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing new here. I still love me some sugar. But I am trying to make sure I get lots of fruits, veggies, and healthy proteins too.

What I Miss: Not much right now! Enjoying it while I can.

What I Can't Wait For: My parents are coming for a visit in two weeks, which I am really excited about. We're frantically trying to finish up a bunch of projects around the house, as well as paint the baby's room, before they arrive. I'll post pictures one of these days!

Milestones: Does eating 3 cupcakes in one sitting count? OK, Jason had several bites of each, but he made me post this picture. As many things as I'm looking forward to enjoying again once this baby arrives, I will kind of miss the cupcakes...

Weeks 21-22

I'm almost a week behind, but trying to catch up. I'm 22 weeks and 3 days in this picture.

September 23, 2011

Best Moment: Weeks 21 and 22 were busy ones! (Hence my lack of posting, but I'm trying to get back on track.) On September 13th we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary... and I got the best anniversary gift ever. No, not jewelry. Even better. That's right. Our air conditioning finally got fully replaced, and it has been working (knock on wood) ever since. Later that week I headed east to Portland, Maine for an old friend's wedding. The weather was chilly, but sunny and brisk, and such a nice change of pace from Austin (where it's still over 100.) The wedding was beautiful and it was great to catch up with a bunch of old friends from when I lived in San Francisco. Work and business travel kept me occupied for most of week 22, but we did have another ultrasound and we got the great news that everything looks great with our baby boy.

Symptoms: He is wiggling up a storm these days, and I love it. I don't love my ridiculous fatigue, but I think my travel schedule and hectic pace these days is probably a big part of the problem. I just need to get used to going to bed at 9pm every night.

Cravings/Aversions: Sugar. I know, it's terrible. I need to tone it down before my glucose test.

What I Miss: Not too much. Mostly just my energy... I thought I was supposed to be brimming with it during the second trimester, but I guess I can't complain about it too much since I've had it pretty easy in most other areas.

What I Can't Wait For: We picked out crib bedding and now it's time to start painting and really get moving on the nursery. I'm looking forward to seeing it come together.

Milestones: Jelly Bean reached a full pound during week 22 (verified at our most recent ultrasound.) It's nice to know that I can attribute at least 1 pound of my weight gain to him! (Kidding... sort of.) He's also just shy of a foot long. I've also wrapped up 5 full months of this pregnancy and now I am (amazingly) beginning my sixth month!

Week 20

September 9, 2011

Best Moment: This week included several highlights. Most of our impromptu trip up to Fort Worth occurred during week 20, and we really enjoyed ourselves despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the trip. Reaching the halfway point in my pregnancy was also really exciting. It's hard to believe I'm now over the hump and closer to the end! And, wow, do I have stuff I need to get done. The best moment of the week, however, came on Friday night when I finally felt Jelly Bean move-- for sure this time. I thought I had felt him once or twice before, but wasn't quite sure. But on Friday night, right after dinner, he started moving and there was no mistaking it. Now it's a regular occurrence, particularly after meals and when I'm relaxing.

Symptoms: Lots of baby movement... finally!

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing out of the ordinary... I say this every week, but my appetite just seems to be getting bigger and bigger. As does my stomach.

What I Miss: Having a short to-do list? I'm not sure. I don't think life ever really slows down, but it's feeling particularly hectic these days.

What I Can't Wait For: We're looking forward to our upcoming 20 week doctor appointment and fetal anatomy scan.

Milestones: We've made it halfway! That is a huge milestone. Jelly Bean is also growing up a storm, now weighing in around 11 oz. and measuring the length of a banana.

The saga continues...

We are now approaching a full 4 weeks without functional air conditioning. As I mentioned in my last post, it's been fixed on several occasions, worked great for 12-18 hours, and then stopped again. The breaking point came over Labor Day weekend. After many appointments with two different repair companies, it was working as of Friday afternoon before the holiday weekend. We had been out of the house for the previous two weekends and I was so happy and excited to think about enjoying the long weekend at home in our nice, cool house.

Then, as I was driving home, I got the dreaded call from Jason that he'd just returned home and our house was over 90 again. At this point our landlord finally agreed that a full replacement of the air conditioning unit was necessary, but it was still going to be another week or two to get the parts and get it installed through his home warranty company. (Note to self: NEVER purchase a home warranty when we buy a home... the service has been terrible and the work orders are placed at the bottom of the stack for all the vendors that are contracted to do the repairs. There is no sense of urgency-- presumably because they're being paid at a lower rate than their non-warranty jobs-- and thus we've gone a month without air conditioning.)

Since our landlord had been paying for hotel rooms intermittently, and offered to again over Labor Day weekend, we decided we might as well go stay in a hotel in a new city. So we headed off to Fort Worth. I was in a pretty bad mood about our third consecutive weekend out of the house, when all I really wanted to do was tackle our last boxes and start working on the baby's room, but we actually had a really good time... we enjoyed a few good meals, hit up the zoo (which is one of the top 5 in the country and really pretty), toured the Kimbell Art Museum, visited the famed stockyards, and indulged in some In'n'Out, a west coast favorite (newly opened in Fort Worth and Dallas.) Mmmm...

Hanging with the flamingos (we only took pictures at the end of the visit, thus they all feature birds...)

Moving on to lunch...

...totally worth the wait.

Nom, nom, nom!

Overall, we really liked Forth Worth. It was very pretty, and definitely felt like a smaller town. Very laid back, and very different than Dallas. If our AC had to break (again), it was fun to get away for a spur of the moment trip. I kept reminding myself that once the baby arrives, these types of weekends will be few and far between, so it felt a little like a special, impromptu babymoon.

When we got back to Austin on Monday, we were greeted with highs around 90 (shocking!) and predicted lows in the low 60s (even more shocking!) It slowly got warmer throughout the week, but we made it through this past Saturday with a steady rotation of fans and opening all the windows in the very early morning to circulate that nice, cool air. Now it's back in the 100+ range (up to 111 today), and the repair company should be coming tomorrow or Wednesday to install the new unit. Meanwhile, our landlords are on vacation, so they've offered us their house until the repair is complete. I felt kind of weird about it at first, but now that I see 111 on the forecast, I have no qualms about packing my overnight bag and heading right on over there. I will be enjoying a swim in their pool this evening.

Fingers crossed that this is the final installment in this air conditioning saga... If nothing else, I have a trip to Maine to look forward to this weekend, and it's supposed to be in the 50s there.

Weeks 18 and 19

August 26, 2011 - 18 weeks (and 33 years old!) -and- September 2, 2011 - 19 weeks

I'm a little behind on my weekly updates, so today you get two for one, and then I'll post this week's update over the weekend.

Best Moment: There have been several highlights over the past few weeks. I celebrated my birthday on August 26th with a delicious meal at Wink. We had the tasting menu, and it was fantastic. It was a little tamer than some of my past birthdays, but I was determined to at least enjoy a great meal, and we succeeded. We also enjoyed about 18 blissful hours of air conditioning from the evening of the 26th up until the following afternoon. I've save the rest of the details for later, but suffice it to say, our air conditioning is not currently in working order. Those were a really nice 18 hours, though.

Symptoms: Not too much to report here. I've still been getting sharp round ligament pains pretty frequently, but overall I'm feeling good. I haven't felt him move much though. Two or three times I've felt little twinges (like a small bubble popping), but I'm not sure if that's him, or, ahem, some digestion issues.

Cravings/Aversions: I haven't been experiencing anything in the way of aversions lately, but my appetite continues to grow by the week. Does ice cream count as a craving? Because I want dessert-- particularly of the icy cold and creamy variety-- at least once a day. Moderation will be key.

What I Miss: Not too much... I am just trying to enjoy this period of feeling good while it lasts.

What I Can't Wait For: I am feeling a major urge to start getting the nursery ready and attacking our to-do list. Due to the AC being broken for most of the past month, we've had to be out of our house for the past 3 weekends-- meaning we haven't been able to make any progress on our huge list. (And we still have boxes in our garage to unpack!) I am seriously looking forward to a.) air conditioning that works on a daily basis; and b.) tackling our baby list.

Milestones: As of 19 weeks, he weighs in at just over a half pound and is about the size of a large heirloom tomato (which is appropriate this time of year... mmm... I could go for a caprese salad.) Jelly bean can probably hear my voice now, and he is starting to sprout hair on his scalp.

Week 17

August 19, 2011

Best Moment: The only thing we've really been able to focus on this week is staying cool. I did join a pre-natal yoga class with the hopes of getting a little exercise and hopefully meeting some other mamas-to-be (since I don't currently know any.) We also received our new dining table and chairs, which will be great for hosting family and friends after the Bean arrives, and far more comfortable that our semi-broken Ikea folding chairs circa '04.

Symptoms: Not to beat a dead horse here, but this pregnant lady is HOT. I stopped voluntarily going outside back in late May so, needless to say, not being able to escape the heat inside my own home has been pretty rough. The round ligament pains also continue. On the plus side, I think it's getting easier to sleep on my side-- either because I am just getting used to it, or because my growing belly actually makes it more comfortable than sleeping on my back.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing really. Except we did go back to a restaurant where I had a major aversion to a salad early on in the pregnancy, and even though I haven't felt nauseous in weeks, nothing on the menu there sounded good, and I wasn't able to stomach my entree--even though it wasn't salad-- because it reminded me of the last time we were there. Weird.

What I Miss: Um, air conditioning?

What I Can't Wait For: I'll give you one guess...

Milestones: Jelly Bean weighs 5 oz. and is 5 inches long. He can now move his joints and his sweat glands are beginning to develop. (Dare I suggest he might have very well developed sweat glands after this week??)

Full of Hot Air

We are currently on day 6 of no air conditioning during a summer of record-breaking heat here in central Texas. (For reference, the high today is supposed to be 105, and 109 by Friday. Awesome. Can't wait.)

This saga began last Wednesday evening when we arrived home to a very warm house. It was unpleasant, but with a few industrial sized fans blowing right on us, we managed to sleep (somewhat.) We figured that the AC repair crew would make it out on Thursday, and the problem would be solved. When they didn't arrive until 5pm the next day, we became a little concerned... and then a lot more concerned when they told us the compressor was out and that they would need to order a new one. I don't know much anything about air conditioners, but, as I understand it, the compressor is essentially what pumps in the cool air. So, you know, it's kinda important.

That night we stayed in a cheap motel on I-35 with high hopes of a cool house by the weekend. Said hopes were dashed when we found out that the compressor would not be in until Monday at the earliest. That meant a full weekend with no AC. Let me provide a little color... with a drafty, poorly insulated house from the 1920s and outdoor temps well over 100, that means it is no less than 94 degrees inside our house at any given time. You could, if given enough time, bake cookies on our kitchen tiles.

We managed to get a portable AC unit to tide us over, and very quickly discovered that the portable unit is fantastic if you only want to cool approximately 3 cubic feet of air immediately in front of it. Unfortunately, if you want to cool your whole house, or even one room, no dice. Necessity being the mother of invention, J has rigged up a little contraption whereby we put the AC unit at the foot of the bed, duct tape our sheets over it, and then prop up the sheets between the AC unit and the bed with... wait for it... golf clubs. This creates a small wind tunnel of cool air on our legs. It's still 94 degrees on our face, but the cool air under the sheets makes sleeping somewhat tolerable.

Cooking is another story altogether. After eating out for 3 days, we decided that was no longer sustainable and now it's become every man for himself, foraging in the fridge for whatever assortment of foods we can throw together that require no heat whatsoever to prepare. Last night we had leftover pasta, cold rotisserie chicken, and grapes. What's that you say? You want an invitation to dinner? Come on over!

After a weekend spent full of creative ways to spend time indoors in other people's AC (aimlessly strolling the aisles of Target, getting stroller demos at Buy Buy Baby, lengthy visits to the grocery store... and pharmacy... and Lowe's, a movie, church, a couple more meals out), we are plum out of ideas. And patience. The compressor wasn't in yesterday, but thankfully arrived today. Can they install it today? Of course not. That would be too easy. So we're crossing our fingers for tomorrow.

This enormously whiny post is just to say... it's hot and we're tired of it, but, boy, are we thankful that we even have a house with the possibility of AC. I've seen a few homeless people since this ordeal began, and my heart goes out to them. I am really conscious of the homeless during the cold winter months, but have never really thought about their needs during the summer. If anything, this experience has given me the conviction that I need to be more intentional about helping out the needy in the off seasons-- not just around the holidays when it's top of mind. And when that air conditioner shudders to life (hopefully) tomorrow, I will never, ever take it for granted again.

It's a...

At last Friday's doctor's appointment, our ultrasound tech was able to figure out Jelly Bean's sex, but we didn't want to know immediately. OK, I did, but Jason wanted to do something a little more fun. So I (begrudgingly) agreed to have the big reveal sealed up in an envelope and then I exercised the utmost in self-control all afternoon as I carried it around in my purse.

We had talked about doing a "gender reveal party" with a big dramatic slicing into a blue or pink filled cake, but since we a.) have about 4 friends left here in Austin; and b.) had given these 4 people zero notice, we decided that scenario probably wasn't going to pan out for us. So we opted to just do our own mini gender reveal party, with a few pink or blue frosting filled cupcakes from Sugar Mama's Bakeshop (yum.) We dropped off the envelope on Friday night, made our cupcake order, and waited patiently until Saturday afternoon.

The original plan had been to eat them for dessert after a nice dinner, but I decided I couldn't wait. So at about 3pm we headed to the back patio at the Hotel San Jose (one of our favorite places, which happens to be located across the street from our old apartment), ordered a couple sparkling waters, and sliced into the first cupcake. The result?


It's...

a...

BOY!!

I'll admit it... I was totally shocked. A combination of the Chinese gender prediction chart, some old wives tales (particularly those concerning fruit and my less than stellar complexion), and a "gut feeling" had convinced me it was a girl. But we are so excited for our boy, and I am totally on board with all things blue! Now on to the nursery and picking out a name...

Week 16

Post-cupcake gender reveal on August 13th (in front of Jo's Coffee on South Congress)... details to come!

August 12, 2011

Best Moment: We had our doctor's appointment on Friday and, sure enough, the ultrasound tech was able to identify Jelly Bean as a he or a she. We asked her to put the results in a sealed envelope so that we could stage our own mini-gender reveal party. I'll give you the results tomorrow, but, we were very happy to learn that Bean appears to be healthy and developing right on track. I also bought my first maternity clothes on Friday after the appointment (including the dress above.) I got maternity jeans that are actually cute and look pretty high quality for $13.98 (!!) at Target. Yes, you read that right. I couldn't believe it either, but no complaints here. Especially for something I may wear for 5 months (or less... considering it's currently 104 out and I have no desire to wear long pants any time soon.)

Symptoms: Over the past few weeks, I've had periodic sharp (and sometimes shooting) pains up and down my abdomen. They have felt almost like bad, but very brief, cramps. I wasn't sure if I should be worried, but learned at my doctor's appointment that they're called round ligament pains and are totally normal. Good to know. I've also been waking up once or twice a week with "charley horses" (does anyone else call them this?) or really bad calf cramps. Apparently this is also totally normal.

Cravings/Aversions: I still really like sweets and fruit, and occasionally some red meat. Nothing too out of the ordinary though. The only thing that doesn't sound good, much to Jason's disappointment, is BBQ. He has been hounding me for a trip to the Salt Lick for weeks and I just can't do it.

What I Miss: Not too much. I'm feeling pretty good. I'm definitely in that second semester sweet spot.

What I Can't Wait For: Now that we know if we're having a him or her, it's time to start thinking about nursery decor! It's a little overwhelming, but it should be lots of fun, too.=

Milestones: Bean is the size of a large avocado (about 4.5 inches) and is about to embark on a growth spurt-- meaning I should be experiencing a growth spurt as well. Good thing I got those maternity clothes!

Week 15

At Geoff's wedding... actually 15 weeks, 1 day. And I'm posting this a little late, but better now than never!

August 5, 2011

Best Moment: This week we traveled to Portland for my brother's wedding. The highlight of the week has been celebrating with Geoff and Brooke, visiting with our extended family, and sharing our baby news with everyone.

Symptoms: I've been feeling pretty great! It's definitely getting a lot more obvious that I'm pregnant. I "shopped my closet" and wound up trying on a bunch of different dresses to find suitable options for the rehearsal dinner and wedding. I found two good ones, but I'm definitely due for a maternity shopping trip soon. (The ruffles on the dress above definitely hide the bump!)

Cravings/Aversions: I like to think Jelly Bean just has a serious sweet tooth, but I'm not sure I can blame my sweets cravings on him/her. Regardless, I'm finding that dessert every night is pretty much a necessity.

What I Miss: I haven't missed alcohol very much during this pregnancy, but, quite honestly, I missed toasting the bride and groom with a glass of wine or bubbly and enjoying the adult beverages at the reception. But, again, forgoing the wine in favor of sparkling water is a small sacrifice for the end payoff.

What I Can't Wait For: We have a doctor's appointment and another ultrasound next week... and a possibility of finding out if Jelly Bean is a he or a she!

Milestones: Now the size of a large apple, Jelly Bean is "breathing" amniotic fluid in through his or her nose and through the upper respiratory tract.

Wedding Weekend

This past weekend we traveled back home to Portland for my brother's wedding. The weather forecast held true, and we enjoyed beautiful 80-degree weather (truthfully it was a little chilly for my Texas heat-thinned blood! ...my friends and relatives in the NW are now laughing at me considering that it was one of the nicest weekends they've had all summer), and more importantly-- a beautiful and touching wedding. My camera is still broken, so these shots are courtesy of my cousin and mother-in-law.

The beautiful bride and groom.

Laura & I giving a reading during the ceremony.

The "three of us" at the reception (that would be me, J, and baby for those of you counting... ; )

Beautiful garden setting for the cocktail hour and dinner. And in the background, you can see the ice cream truck arriving. So cute! The ice cream truck (which also had cupcakes) was in lieu of a traditional wedding cake.

The wedding was gorgeous and it was so great to see so many extended family members. A trip home for this type of big family event is always kind of a whirlwind, and the 3.5 day weekend didn't seem nearly long enough. I've definitely had some homesickness since we arrived back in Austin, but I know that this whole living thousands of miles away from everyone we know and love is just a season of life. It's the best thing for our little family right now, and hopefully we'll be back out west at some point in the next few years.

Side note: my blues did not improve when we are arrived home at 2am Sunday night (or Monday morning) after a long delay in Denver, waited for our bags, walked all the way out to the long-term parking lot (because we didn't want to sit around and wait for the shuttle at 2am), and worked up a nice sweat in the 90-degree heat along the way, only to find that my car wouldn't start. Of course. So we walked all the way back to the terminal and took a cab home. On Monday, we went back to jump start the car, but no luck. So now my car is in the shop and we're just crossing our fingers that it's nothing serious. I'm really, really hoping that after weeks of preparing for and dealing with the move, and now several weeks spent unpacking and organizing-- plus the wedding travel, work travel (greetings from Atlanta!), and now the car fiasco-- that life slows down soon. Is it Friday yet?? (OK, end whine.)

Week 14

July 29, 2011

Best Moment: We are so happy to be done with the move!! We still have boxes piled up in corners throughout the house, but the worst is behind us. The picture above is from Friday night when we had our first relaxing "date night" in weeks. We also got our first baby gift from J's parents-- an adorable baby "layette" from Carters, including lots of little nightgowns, onesies, burp cloths, and other items, all decorated in a pale yellow ducky theme. My favorite item was a terry cloth towel with a little hood shaped to look like a cute duck-- perfect for my Oregon duck! ; ) Opening the baby gift made it seem so real. I know I keep saying that, but I seem to spend a lot of time very conscious of being pregnant, but not all that conscious of the fact that I am going to actually have a baby in a few short months. It's funny how I think about being pregnant all the time, but then suddenly the thought strikes me that I will have an additional little person living in my house soon, for whom I am 100% responsible, and it seems startling (albeit exciting.)

Symptoms: I've started trying to sleep on my left side as all the books advise, and, man, it's tough! I either wind up on my back or stomach, or wake up multiple times a night because sleeping on my side feels so uncomfortable and unnatural. But I'm hoping it will get easier with time. I see one of those huge pregnancy pillows in my future...

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing out of the ordinary, although my appetite went through the roof essentially the second I graduated from the first trimester to the second on Friday. Get this girl some grub!

What I Miss: Sleeping on my back without feeling guilty about it.

What I Can't Wait For: Now that we're settling into our new place, we're in major nesting mode. We're looking forward to furnishing our house and replacing some of our 10-year-old (broken) IKEA furniture.

Milestones: I've completed the first trimester. It seemed to drag on forever, but all of sudden I'm more than a third of the way through this pregnancy and now it seems like the next five and a half months could fly by!

Week 13

Sorry for the crappy iPhone pic-- I managed to break our camera last week, so it will be iPhone pics until we get it fixed (or I convince J that we need to invest in a nice DSLR camera!)

July 22, 2011

Best Moment: We spent all of this week cleaning and painting the new house, packing, and otherwise prepping for the move. I don't consider these the "best moment" of the week, but getting these items crossed off my to-do list sure was.

Symptoms: Fatigue, as usual. But I'm pretty sure that has a little something to do with the move. I consider the fact that I can even do any of the above chores pretty impressive... a month ago, simply mustering the energy to eat dinner necessitated an immediate nap afterward.

Cravings/Aversions: Beef. On Friday night, after a long day of packing (and before a long day of moving), we had the world's best dinner at Hop Doddy. I've mentioned this place before, but seriously... if you are in Austin: JUST. GO. I've eaten a lot of burgers in cities scattered across the United States and this is hands down the best burger joint I've ever been to. It may officially be my pregnancy craving dinner of choice from here on out. I had been dreaming of that Llano Poblano burger all day and it did not disappoint. The local, grass-fed beef is ground there, the buns are cooked there, all the toppings are organic and local... My burger of choice has a roasted Poblano pepper, smoked applewood bacon, pepper jack cheese, and chipotle mayo. I am drooling as I type this. And now I realize I have written the world's longest paragraph about a hamburger. Food takes on a new meaning during pregnancy. I will be back there frequently.

What I Miss: Working out regularly. After my little scare last week, I've been advised to avoid anything too strenuous. That combined with spending all my free time (and energy) on move-related chores means exercise has fallen by the wayside. Hopefully once we get settled, I can get into a new, pregnancy-safe workout groove.

What I Can't Wait For: I am dying to get settled into our new place and have this move behind us. It feels like we've had this move hanging over us forever now (OK, since May), and my to-do list is still a mile long. But the end is in sight...

Milestones: Working our way through the produce aisle, our Bean is now about 3 inches long and the size of a medium peach. Fingerprints have formed on his or her tiny fingers, and s/he weighs in at about an ounce.

Week 12

July 15, 2011

Best Moment: Unfortunately, we had a little scare this week. On Sunday, while I was home visiting my family, I woke up with some light spotting. My mind immediately went to a very bad place. And, even worse, I had 6-7 hours of air travel ahead of me that day before I could get home, and then would have to wait until Monday morning to call my doc anyway. I was sure things were very wrong with the Bean, so I called in sick on Monday morning. My doctor was able to squeeze me in for an appointment late that afternoon. I had prepared myself for the worst, but they quickly found the baby's heartbeat and said that everything looked great. In fact, my little 11.5 week Jelly Bean was one of the more active babies they've seen at that early stage. I have not been that happy in a long, long time. Prayers most definitely answered. Bean was kicking and waving and flipping around, so we got to see all of his/her body and everything looked just as it should.

Symptoms: See above. This may be TMI, but apparently I have a very low-lying placenta, which may result in continued spotting until my uterus becomes much larger. This knowledge hasn't prevented several mini panic attacks this week, but I keep telling myself that I just have to trust my doc (which I do.) Aside from that, I'm back to being really, really tired. I think all my travel last week wore me out.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing really. My appetite seems to be normalizing.

What I Miss: My energy. Come on second trimester!

What I Can't Wait For: Getting settled into our new house. We're just a week away, but so much to do between now and then...

Milestones: Making it to 12 weeks is a huge milestone. Although not technically the end of the first trimester (I still have 2 more weeks), I feel like it's a huge validation that I really am pregnant and maybe there really will be a baby at the end of this thing. Oh, and I told my boss this week. I wasn't too nervous, but he was super excited and supportive, so that was nice. Now I can stop sucking in all day!

Week 11

I took a picture in Week 10, but didn't do a recap. I didn't get a picture for Week 11, so Week 10 it is. The hands-on-hip pose makes the bump look pretty minimal, but it's definitely there and growing!

July 8, 2011

Best Moment: This week I traveled back to Portland to co-host a bridal shower for my brother's fiancee along with my sister, Laura. I hadn't been back since late December when we took a quick post-Christmas visit, so it was great to catch up with my family and celebrate my sister-in-law to be. Laura and I had a fantastic time planning out the menu and decorating for the shower, and we're pretty sure Brooke had a great time at the event.

Symptoms: Not too much in the way of symptoms. I traveled to Portland straight from DC, where I had some work meetings, and despite a hellish night spent at Reagan National Airport (and then in Alexandria, VA Hampton Inn because my flight was cancelled), my energy was pretty high all week. My appetite seems to be back, and no nausea to speak of. I don't want to jinx myself, but I think I may be over the worst of the first trimester. My bump, on the other hand, is just getting started. I purchased and wore a Belly Band for the first time, and I am getting to the point where I can no longer button several pairs of pants.

Cravings/Aversions: Again, not too much to complain about here! I definitely have an enhanced sweet tooth and continue to love all the fresh, summer fruit, but that's about it.

What I Miss: Nothing, really.

What I Can't Wait For: I'm looking forward to my 12 week doctor's appointment and a chance to see Jelly Bean again.

Milestones: Jelly Bean is now the size of a fig and his or her organs and major bodily systems are almost fully formed. Teeth buds are developing beneath his or her gums and bones are beginning to harden.

Week 9

June 24, 2010

Best Moment: It was a quiet week-- no doctor's appointments or other big milestones. The highlight of the week was dinner with our friends Anne and Gregg last weekend down in San Antonio at Bin 555. I felt good enough to eat-- and enjoyed it! We had a variety of tapas, including grilled asparagus, delicious herb and sea salt fries, prosciutto wrapped dates, and goat cheese empanadas to name a few. I think I might really get into pregnant lady eating! We also celebrated Jason's (sort of) first Father's Day on Sunday.

Symptoms: Still nauseous. Still tired. Other intestinal difficulties that shall remain nameless. The usual at this point. Oh, and my pants are starting to get a wee bit snug around the waist.

Cravings/Aversions: Anything I cook is totally unappealing (if I can even get past the smell and cook it in the first place.) If someone else cooks it, it's tolerable. J has been a good sport about picking up the slack and cooking most meals for us these days. And somewhere along the line, salad became completely disgusting. The thought of salad is almost unbearable. I hope the copious amounts of fruit I'm consuming can carry the weight for the veggies I'm definitely not consuming. But chocolate chip cookies? I've got those covered.

What I Miss: Not much, really. I feel like I'm getting the hang of this pregnancy thing. Although I will be happy when I start feeling a little better.

What I Can't Wait For: I feel like I'm in a good groove this week. There are a lot of things I'm looking forward to in the longer term pregnancy-wise, but I'm not dying to get there immediately. In terms of other areas of my life, I am really, really looking forward to finding a house. Hopefully that happens soon!


Milestones: Jelly bean graduated from an embryo to a fetus this week. I've got a real baby in there!


Quote of the Week: I just had to add this. Said by my husband, totally out of the blue:


"You know what I'm most looking forward to having a kid for?"


dramatic pause


"Pinatas!"


Dead serious. He is looking forward to having a child so that he can play with a pinata at some point. At least he is entertaining!

It's hot here. Really, really hot.

I interrupt my all baby all the time broadcast to bring you this... the 5 day forecast for Austin. Really? Really?? 108 degrees? There really are no words. I know it's hot pretty much everywhere right now, but I just need to whine a little bit. Sigh. So. Many. Days. Until. October.

Fortunately, I am headed to Portland on Thursday to celebrate my brother's wedding. Just look at that beautiful forecast...

I haven't been this excited about anything in a long time. Sleeping with my window open! Bringing a jacket for the evening! Jogging outside after 7am! Oh, um... er... and celebrating with my brother and his lovely fiancee as we toast their future lifetime of happiness together.

In 80 degree weather.

Priorities. ;)