miss bizzy-body

Day 7 - plus some help with food choices!

2012-02-09T21:04:00.008-05:00

I have officially completed 1 week of kicking my own butt into shape! WOO HOO!

MY PLAN:

1) Workout EVERYDAY! If I have pilates, or don't have time for the "30-day Shred", then a walk with the kiddies will do.

2) Food Diary - counting calories, specifically. I am writing down everything I eat, using my handy-dandy scale to weigh portions, etc. I've cut my caloric intake significantly without feeling hungry.

3) Drinking LOTS of water - at least 40 ounces per day!

4) Only one 'sweet' per day. One cookie, one Rice Krispies Treats, etc. If you know me, you know how HARD this is!!!

5) No eating after dinner (7:00 p.m.) I crave sweets at night, so I try to eat a sweet after lunch, then I know that I can't have any before bed.

I started out at 185 lbs (+- 1 lb. depending on time of day of weigh-in)
I am now at 182 (+- 1 lb.)

3 lbs of loss in 1 week is HUGE!!!

Jason asked me last night if I feel as though I have more energy now that I've been working out everyday. It's hard to tell with the sleep deprivation I have going on these days (Thank you, Elijah). I think I feel stronger - my abdominal muscles feel as though they are regaining their shape from their jell-o like state.

On the eating front, I am making much better choices about food. Truthfully, I lost about 7 lbs in November and December just by watching what I ate, but fell off the wagon around Christmas, and it took me this long to get back on!

Healthy snacks:

A baggie of carrots and 2 tablespoons of hummus is only about 100 calories - much more filling than a teensy-weensy 100 calorie bag of crackers or cookies.

Breakstone's 100 Calorie Cottage Doubles - cottage cheese & fruit - also have 8 grams of protein.

Okios Superfruits Greek Yogurt (4 oz)- is only 90 calories and has 10 grams of protein.

Hard boiled egg whites are only about 20 calories and 4 grams of protein (or the whole hard-boiled egg is about 80 calories with 6 grams of protein)

For Breakfast:

1/2 cup of un-cooked old-fashioned rolled oats, mix with 3/4 cup water, microwave for 2 minutes, add 1 splenda packet, 1/2 - 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla extract and mix well. Slice a banana on top and the whole thing is only about 275 calories and so filling!

One whole egg & one egg white scrambled together & cooked in a pan with a little cooking spray, sprinkled with 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese, 2 slices of lean bacon on two pieces of toasted light whole wheat bread = about 300 calories! YUMMY!

For Lunch:

Usually leftovers, but I also like to make Mac & Cheese for Jonah then I take 1 cup and mix with a 2.6 oz package of Albacore Tuna = 360 Calories

Or, mix with a sliced Applegate Farms Organic all beef hot dog = 380 calories

Or a veggie burger (no bun) with some ketchup (1 tbsp.) and a side of fruit (1/2 an apple), cottage cheese (4 oz. cup) & chips (7 chips) = 330 calories

Dinner:

Slice a pita in 1/2 (so you have two full circles, not two 1/2 moons), spread 1 tablespoon basil pesto, lay 4 ounces of grilled, sliced chicken breasts, sprinkle with 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese, bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Serve with a salad of Romaine lettuce, cheery tomatoes and a light balsamic dressing (1 tbsp) = 400 calories

In general I make a normal dinner recipe and just REALLY watch my portion size. If it's going to be really high in calories, I just have a small portion and add on a salad or lots of veggies to fill me up. I splurge on the weekends - most notably, Friday night Pizza at Little Italian.

Day 3

2012-02-04T22:56:00.004-05:00

My last post detailed my embarrassing status as a fatty and this post will detail my progress towards being skinny.... um, I mean healthy!

I started the Jillian Michael's 30-day Shred workout regime. I am using Level 1 right now, hoping to transition to Level 2 by the 5th or 6th day. Thursday was "Day 1". Frankly, I had trouble walking up and down the stairs after Thursday, but I persevered, stretched, and took some Motrin so that I could complete "Day 2" on Friday.

Today is Saturday and I have a Post-Natal Pilates class for 1 hour in the morning, which will replace my the DVD, but its back to the DVD tomorrow before Super Bowl. Typically the hardest part of this type of commitment is the first few days. If you can make it through that, and ESPECIALLY when you start seeing results, you can pick up momentum and it becomes a habit, and therefore, easier.

I am proud of myself, thus far, and hope to start seeing some results in my body soon. For now, I'll just have to settle for the aches in my shoulders and thighs which remind me that I'm doing a good thing for my health and my fat belly!

Baby-Weight

2012-02-02T11:07:00.014-05:00

I refuse to be "this woman":

WOMAN: "I am on a diet to lose my baby weight!"
FRIEND: "How old is your baby?"
WOMAN: "5"
FRIEND: "5 months?"
WOMAN: "No. 5 years old."

I remember a day when I was thin, fondly. It was long before I had kids, or was married. I was young and thin. Now, I am old(er) and fat. Yes, I just had a baby, but I was fat before I had the baby. I don't say this so that others will say to me "you're not fat!". I say it because it's true and I am hoping that if I say it out loud MORE, it will shame me into doing something about it. I recently saw an piece on the news about the program tweet what they eat - that way everyone can see how good (or more likely, how bad) a person is eating and it will motivate him/her to eat better. I can see how this could work..... but since I don't tweet, this blog will have continual updates of my progress, good and bad!

If I could be happy in my own skin (and weight), I wouldn't mind, but I am not happy. I want to look the way I used to - as much as is possible given the structural changes to my body caused by pregnancy. I let myself gain entirely too much weight with both pregnancies and now I am paying the price.

Here is a timeline of my decline!

2003 (the year I met Jason) weight: 145 (size 8)
2005 (the year I got married) weight: 155 (+10) (size 10)
2008 (pre-pregnancy with Jonah) weight: 160 (+5) (size 12)
2009 (at delivery of Jonah) weight: 225 (+65) (maternity)
2010 (1 year post-partum) weight: 170 (-55) (size 14)
2011 (at delivery of Elijah) weight: 215 (+45) (maternity)
2012 (3 months post-partum) weight: 185 (-30) (size 16)

WOW- that was both embarrassing and eye-opening at the same time!

Depending upon how you look at it, I have between 25 and 40 pounds to lose. So I don't disappoint myself, I am starting out with a goal of 25 lbs to bring be back to pre-pregnancy with Jonah. Ideally, I would like to be back to around 150 (35 pounds). If you believe in the BMI, I am technically over-weight right now. I hold my weight in my mid-section - the most dangerous place, putting me at risk for other health-related issues including diabetes and heart disease (the #1 killer of women).

I have begun reducing my caloric intake, cutting back on sweets (my weakness) and portion sizes, drinking more water, and not eating after dinner - this has helped me drop several post-partum pounds. However, I know that the only way to get rid of this huge sagging belly is through exercise. If you know me, you know that I HATE working out. I have an aversion to any and all forms of exercise. So, what's a fat girl to do????

Fortunately, I have met several friends that are going to motivate me. They introduced me to Jillian Michaels 30-day Shred! It promises a 20 lbs weight loss in 30 days (given you do the workout every day for 30 days and I think you're also supposed to follow her meal-planning guide. I downloaded it from Amazon directly to my laptop - level 1 was only $2.00 and I could immediately do the 20 minute work-out.... and I am proud to say that I did it!! I feel like Jell-O, but I did it!!! I am also on the hunt for a double stroller so that the three of us can get out and walk as much as the weather will permit.

Goals? Well, as I said, my first goal is to lose 25 lbs. Through diet alone, you can expect to lose 1-2 lbs per week. Adding in exercise, I think I could up that to 3-4 lbs per week - approximately 2 months - April 1st? I am a bridesmaid in my dear friend Cathy's wedding on May 12th....I would love to be back to my 'old' self by then and I think I can do it!!

So hopefully, you'll be seeing a Becca that resembles this: (Maui Honeymoon 2005)

Why does everything smell like pooh?

2012-01-24T10:50:00.000-05:00

I leave the house once in a blue moon without at least 1 child in tow and all I smell is pooh. Not my own clean hair, not my perfume, not even formula, but pooh! Wiping other people's butts all day, everyday has caused this foul odor to be burned into my nose, prohibiting all other 'nice smells' to enter.

Ironically, the child whose butt I reluctantly wipe after 2 1/2 years told ME that my hair smelled bad when I was putting him down for a nap.... Funny, YOU are the reason why I get to shower once every 2 days and maybe wash my hair once a week!!! Not to mention, that 'smell' is probably bacon grease from the delicious dinner I made you last night. Alas, he could care less about any of these details.

There are so many seasoned moms out there who say "Cherish these moments! They are only little for such a short time! It goes by so fast!" I plan to cherish the sweet moments, BUT there are moments that I WON'T miss about toddlers/infants.... wiping butts is one of them.

I suck at parenting

2012-01-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've never been fired from a job, but I'm pretty sure that if my kids could fire me, they would.

On more than a few occasions I have stated that I "suck" at this stay-at-home-mom-thing, or even just the mom-thing. I don't say it so that other people will say "No! You're a great mom!", I really believe that I am sucking at this gig! I lose my temper way too often, my kids watch too much T.V., I resent them when I don't have time for myself, I even curse them when I have to live on only a few hours of sleep. I suppose that most moms feel this way at some point in their parenting lives or their entire parenting lives. Which begs the question: What makes a successful mom?

If I looked at this gig as a regular job, how would you measure success? Well, it seems that most often times we measure ourselves by how our children act or how they turn-out. For instance, I will be seen as a good mom for having a well-behaved child at play group, despite the fact that I fed him McDonalds for lunch? Will I be seen as a crappy mom if my child throws a tantrum at playgroup but I fed him a homemade healthy meal for lunch?

Unfortnately moms end up using other people's judgement as their guidelines for success. In motherhood, unlike regular jobs, there are no raises, no clients singing your praises, no bosses patting you on the back. Instead we need to be able to either look into our child's eyes and see your hard work reflected back OR you use the verbal feedback you hear from friends and family. Obviously, the former is much harder to do than the later. So, what do I judge myself based upon? Some weird combination of both.

My boys

2012-01-09T22:06:00.010-05:00

Many of you are on facebook and so you see the daily mobile uploads of my kids in all their splendor. However, some of you are not and I don't want you to miss out on all the super-cuteness! Also, the pictures are merely a window into their personalities, so I like to use the blog to really showcase what they're up to!

Elijah - on Friday, will be 13 weeks old (but having his 3-month birthday). He loves having his diaper changed, loves bath-time, loves his daddy's voice and loves his big brother. He is the smiley-est baby since Jonah-mo and coos, sings, and nearly giggles. His hair has yet to fall-out, which means it might not! He has blue eyes, like his daddy but (in my opinion) looks like his Uncle Jacob. He is a big boy, filling out 3-6 month clothes, and will soon be transitioning to 6-9 months! I smother him in kisses everyday, and even when he had stinky-neck, he is super-sweet.

Jonah - 2 years, 8 months old on Friday. He is starting to adopt all my quips and phrases - "Need a little help here?", "My hands are full!", "Maybe later", and various other phrases you don't expect him to say. He also cracks himself up, like his father. He awoke from his nap the other day and called for daddy. When I arrived at his bedroom door, he was sitting up in bed, all rosy-cheeked with messy hair and laughed out loud saying "I almost thought you were daddy!" Every night Jason gives him his bath and before he gets in bed, he comes downstairs (sometimes naked!) and climbs onto my lap (where Elijah is trying to fall asleep) and gives me a big hug and drooly kiss. It's the best part of my day, hands-down.

Jason - I won't get all mushy for public consumption.....I will say this: marriage is hard work, no doubt, but it is worth every minute. I love him more everyday, especially seeing him with our boys and being an amazing father, or seeing Jonah mimic him when he puts his eggs on his toast or puts his little pea coat on just like daddy. We are a great team.

I don't know how I got to this place in my life. 7 years ago I could not have pictured this husband, this home, these boys. I look back over the decisions I've made that brought us here, and it just seems surreal. I feel so blessed, so fortunate. I know I deserve it, but I am nonetheless grateful.

Happy Elijah during tonight's bath time
Jonah after licking the batter off of the spatula while making homemade brownies with mama on Monday morning
Big brother covering up little brother on the couch
My three handsome boys!

Back to SAHM mode

2012-01-04T21:58:00.000-05:00

Everyone who knows me, knows that I am a "planner". In other words, I am organized with my life, or try to be. Now that I have children, this is exponentially more necessary and less necessary at the same time. Let me explain:

Children = chaos. You never know how and when things are going to roll - when they will sleep, when they'll get sick, when they'll pee, poop or puke, when they'll have a really good day or a really bad day. The more you try to control this, the more the situation will control you. Therefore, I try my best to control most other things in my life and PLAN for the chaos. Making a menu for weekly meals, with some flexibility built-in, having groceries delivered (thank you Peapod), prepping food when you have the time, even days in advance rather than waiting until the day of..... come to think of it, food/cooking is the one thing I don't procrastinate about. Hmmmm, I think I've stumbled onto something....

I digress. I have shared my meal-planning ideas with many people, mostly because it reduces the amount of stress I feel about feeding my family and I think most women could benefit from ti. Occasionally I think I'll share my weekly menu with links, where applicable, to recipes for others to try.

I plan from Tuesday to Monday - don't ask me why, I just do.

Tuesday: Chicken Cesar Pitas, Butternut Squash Soup, Roasted Potatoes & Onions
Wednesday: Fish Tacos, Brown Rice, Roasted Corn & Red Pepper Salad
Thursday: Fake Fried Chicken, Seasoned Fries, Baked Beans
Friday: Sweet Pork Loin, Mashed Potatoes
Saturday:Date Night!
Sunday: Chicken & Dumplings
Monday: Black Bean & Sweet Potato Enchiladas

(if there is a recipe that sounds good, but doesn't have a link, let me know and I will type it up and post it for you!)

Here I go, getting all political on ya...

2012-01-04T16:37:00.008-05:00

Yes, I am going to blog about Jonah's potty training and my weekly meal planning, but that doesn't mean I don't want to blog about some serious issues too.

White women often don't know what it means to be racist. They assume because they don't HATE blacks or other people of color, they aren't racist, but it is so much more than that. If you've never been exposed to or studied black culture, been friends with black women or been called out for your racist comments, you may not realize just how racist you are. This video (a spoof of another video called "Shit Black Girls Say) is hilarious but has a serious undercurrent.

You may ask why I care to post this video - the truth is that feminism and civil rights are closely tied and as a feminist I also spent a lot of time learning about women of color and how their oppression differed from mine and how privileged I really was as a white woman.

Watch this and then take a minute to think about what side of this conversation you are on, and if you've been the one to say this sh--. I'm guilty of saying things are "ghetto" (namely, my phone), but I'll think twice before saying it again...

Unbeatable

2012-01-02T21:45:00.016-05:00

People often ask me how I find time to cook and bake. I think the same thing about people who read, work-out, and go back to school. Each one of us finds the time we need, when we need it by prioritizing. We decide what is most important to us and we carve out that time. I am well-known as a procrastinator. Some procrastinators just sit on their butts, avoiding tasks. I, on the other hand, am productive in OTHER ways to avoid a certain task. I cook and bake because my family needs to eat, because I enjoy it, because I can usually do it while simultaneously watching my kids, and because the end result can be shared, joyfully, with friends and family. I find time to cook because it is downright fun for me, not a chore like it is for some people.

However, I can't cook my way out of doing other things. I can't use it as an excuse to not accomplish other tasks. For instance, writing my thesis. I have been avoiding this task for a few years!! I have decided to complete my thesis this year. No more excuses. No more procrastinating.

Each year Jason and I set forth goals - NOT resolutions - for the upcoming year. My thesis is #1 on my list. Somewhere, further down on my list, is creating my own cookbook. I want to compile all the recipes that Jason and I love - that we eat all the time. I also want to discover "unbeatable" recipes. The perfect pasta sauce, the perfect chocolate cake, the perfect wheat bread. I am well on my way, especially with the help of my new friends/neighbors, the Taylors as guinea pigs.

Here is the 1st of many unbeatable recipes.

Rebecca's Unbeatable Italian Meatballs

1# ground sirloin (not too lean, 90/10 is good)
1/4 cup dried unseasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup rolled oats - finely ground
1 egg
1/4 cup onion - shredded with cheese shredder, excessive juices drained out
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
2 garlic cloves - minced
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients together. Shape into 1 1/2" balls, makes about 24. Place on broiler pan (for easy clean-up, line inside of broiler pan with aluminum foil). Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until no longer pink and juices run clear.

To pair with spaghetti: Put water on to boil when meatballs go in the oven. When water boils, season heavily (I mean like a Tbsp. of salt) and cook pasta according to directions. Warm your favorite jar pasta sauce - preferably a traditional marinara or tomato/cheese sauce. Serve with Caesar salad.

To make meatballs subs: Remove meatballs from oven and kick temperature up to 450. Place hoagie rolls open-face on a parchment lined baking sheet. Butter one side of roll, place 4-5 meatballs on other side, spoon 1/4 cup warm sauce over meatballs, then top with 2 slices of provolone. Bake for 4-6 minutes, or until cheese melts and buttered side gets golden brown. Serve with roasted potatoes and onions.

To make BOTH meals: If cooking for two people, there is enough two dinners. If you are cooking for 4 - just double recipe for meatballs. If you serve sauce sparingly with spaghetti, one 28 oz. jar will suffice for both meals. You'll have two nights of dinners knocked out!

next time I'll take photos!!

like most moms....

2011-12-19T21:35:00.005-05:00

It's been way too long since I last posted anything. In fact, I realized I had a post in 'draft' state from March of 2011....I just posted it. Sad, that I can't get this done!

My time is limited, although everyone says that. My time is not entirely limited, but my time to think in peace is almost non-existent, unless you count sleep....well, actually even that time is extremely limited!

Since March of this year the following events occurred, in this order:

1) Jason was offered an amazing career opportunity in Naperville, IL.
2) We decided to take the offer
3) We flew to Naperville and bought a house (yes, just like that)
4) We sold our home in Michigan (yes, we still owned that condo)
5) Jason started his job, remotely
6) I quit my job :(
7) We moved
8) We had a baby

I could write about 10 blogs about each of these events, and I'm sad that I did not, but hindsight is 20/20, so I'll just move forward and talk about how amazing we are doing right now!

Naperville is very midwestern and I LOVE THE MIDWEST! I am happy to be so close to my family! I am also happy to have met 3 young couples just like us, with young children living right on my street - JACKPOT!

I've converted to a SAHM for the time-being. Something I swore I could never do - however, my skill set with my kids improves everyday. I hope to go back to work, but that has more to do with the job market than my desire or our need for it.

My children are amazing - Jonah drives me crazy but also makes me laugh hysterically with his sense of humor and I swell with pride at how smart he is, and gosh-darnit, he is handsome!! Elijah, the littlest Meslin, is a happy and beautiful baby who is growing rapidly!!

As a SAHM, I have decided to return to my blog as an outlet for my love of my family, cooking, feminism, and culture. I believe that if I write for no one but myself, inevitably, the truth will be portrayed and will somehow be entertaining to my family and friends who read it. So, enjoy the first of many blogs to come!

Proud Wife

2011-03-17T20:24:00.003-04:00

For the second time in his career, my husband has been honored with the Chairman's Club award. His employer annually recognizes the top 20 (or so) sellers globally with a trip to Arizona for the winner and his/her significant other. I am so proud of Jason (regardless of a free trip) and to accomplish this task TWICE is even more impressive.

In order to make this trip happen we had to call in reinforcements - Linda and Greg (aka. Nana & Bapa). I had to do some arm-twisting, but they came to NJ and Jonah took good care of them while we jetted off to Arizona. Before we left, I got to spend some QT with mom and dad and prep them for the weekend ahead.... although there is really no prepping for a weekend with Jonah.

The weekend brought much needed relaxation to Jason and I, and alone time we rarely get. We met so many nice people from all around the world, ate wonderful food, basked in the sun, and enjoyed some activities. The highlight of my weekend? Sleep.

At home my mom and dad got to bond with Jonah and he loved every minute of it.

Jonah wakes up at approx. 5:45 am, but I instructed my mom to let him hang out for 15-20 minutes before getting him. Fortunately, we have a video monitor to oversee his actions during this period of time. Over two morning, Mom observed the following sequence of events: Jonah removed his pajamas, put them in the hamper (good boy). Put on his crocs (picture just the diaper & crocs). He then lined up his stuffed animals on the bed and put all of his books away. He laid on the floor and draped his blanket over himself making Tarzan noises and rolling around. Lastly, he attempted to remove his diaper, which was mom's cue to intervene. These behaviors were not see prior to my parents arrival, but God knows he wanted to put on a good show!

This weekend gave us all a chance to connect in different ways and I thank Jason for being the cause, and my parents for making the loooooong drive. We have an awesome family.

cooking

2011-01-25T20:04:00.005-05:00

As I sit reading Mastering the Art of French Cooking, I begin to reflect on what cooking means to me....

Cooking is so much more than preparing food for consumption. Cooking is an art form. Cooking requires foresight, preparation, organization, creativity, not to mention skill, thoughtfulness and love.

Cooking is a challenge while simultaneously cathartic. It brings me peace and frustrates me. It's time consuming yet goes by so fast. Cooking a great meal is inspirational, adventuresome, satisfying, and on occasion, disappointing.

What I love most about cooking is the bond it creates between women. I love the way it brings me closer to my mom, when I call her from Wegmans asking "what cut of beef do I need to make your pot roast???" or, my sister when I call her to ask "how do I make healthy brownies??".

Sharing recipes with friends, co-workers, and family members is like exposing a piece of personal information...you're telling them how you conduct yourself in the kitchen, what you love/hate to eat, how you manage your time, how you find your recipes, and ultimately why you butt got so big, or why it's shrinking!

If I had a nickel for every time I copied a recipe for someone, I'd surely be a millionaire. Anyone who knows me, knows I'll thrust recipes on you, whether you want them or not - I'm bossy that way. But I love sharing. I feel like I'm giving a little gift. And when friends come back and say "that was sooooo good", my heart wells up with joy, that I had something to do with another person's positive relationship with food.

To sum it up I want to recall a little story. My sister-in-law Julee made a wonderful (and easy) pork roast one visit home to Kansas. I asked for the recipe and she obliged, letting me know it came from her friend Stacey (origin unknown). I made the recipe at home and it turned out just as good (which isn't always the case). I made it dozens of times again in the past couple of years and once Jonah was eating solids I sent the leftovers to daycare with him. My babysitter Jackie asked what it was (she said it smelled wonderful when she warmed it up!) I gave her the recipe and she made it for her family (4 girls and her husband) and they also loved the taste and she loved the ease. Since then it has been passed along to her mother-in-law who made it at a dinner party and copied the recipe for her guests who loved it also. You get the gist....but my point is this: how cool is it that this little recipe traveled so far and made so many people happy? I think it's pretty amazing.

Do you want the recipe? Cause here it is! Enjoy!

SWEET PORK LOIN

2-3 lb. Boneless pork loin
1 large granny smith apples, peeled, cored & cut into bite size chunks
celery - 2 ribs or so, sliced
1/2 -1 cup golden raisins
Curley's BBQ sauce* or a KC masterpiece
1/2 cup brown sugar

Rub pork loin with salt, pepper and a good amount of brown sugar. Top with the chopped apples, celery and raisins. Pour bbq sauce over - use alot! Cover with foil and bake in 350 oven for 1 1/2 -2 hours.

Serve with mashed potatoes. Makes for great leftovers.

Yep, that's all folks.

* If you've never had Curly's you don't know what you're missing. Since this is a Kansas-sorta-thing, you'll have to order The Curly's Gift Pack for $22.

Hello, 2011!

2011-01-01T13:09:00.000-05:00

I am ringing in the new year the same way I did in 2010:

With optimism! Jason and I set many goals for ourselves (we refrain from using the word RESOLUTION), and we met nearly all of them. I am proud of this accomplishment as well as motivated to try again. First, we need to reinstate last years goals, such as date night, family vacations, etc. and then there are some new goals such as healthier cooking, and more time for personal projects such as sewing, guitar playing, etc.

2010 was an amazing year full of blessings. I can only hope to have another year just like it...and truthfully, with these two handsome boys by my side, its hard to see how it could be otherwise.

P.S. Talk about optimism: I got a stomach virus while in KS, but rather than let it get me down, I realized I lost 3 lbs and thought - this is a great way to start the new year!

Christmas with the Meslins

2010-12-30T12:59:00.004-05:00

Our journeys to Kansas are a little different than those to Michigan. Michigan is a grueling 11 hour drive, filled with its own brand of discomfort. Flying to Kansas, you'd think, would be easier. However, there are no direct flights to Wichita (40 minutes from our our final destination of Wellington, KS) therefore we would need to change planes...not ideal with a toddler. To boot, these flights are EXPENSIVE - upwards of $400 per ticket. Therefore, we've chosen to fly DIRET to KC, MO, approx. 3 hours from Wellington, rent a car and drive. This also allows us to stop in KC and see friends (we saw Shane on our way and had some amazing BBQ at Oklahoma Joes) before moving on. Surprisingly, its also cheaper to rent a car and drive than to fly to Wichita.

Anyway, out week-long stint was full of family fun, as well as stomach viruses and coughing spells. But, what would Christmas be without a little illness. I also traded in my old haircut for a new one, thanks to my Not-a-beauty-school-drop-out-sister-in-law Julee. I loved the results!

Jonah loved opening presents, although he rarely opened his own, and really loved playing with his cousins...I think they all loved it too!

Thanksgiving with the Malotkes

2010-11-29T12:50:00.001-05:00

This Thanksgiving was spent with the Malotke Family in Michigan (we alternate years with the Meslins). Jonah had a ball and so did we. Of course our trips are never long enough to do all that we want, and see everyone we'd like, but they are amazing nonetheless.

I always look forward to my mom's turkey stuffing - actually, it's pretty much all I eat for several days after - and sweet potatoes. The weather was good enough to let Jonah outside on his new go-cart, courtesy of my dad. We managed to pack it into the trunk and bring it back to NJ with us so Jonah could enjoy it all the time!

Enjoy the pics!

Fall Festivities

2010-10-31T14:48:00.006-04:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love to dress up and now that I have Jonah, I love dressing him up too. He decided to be Yoda this year. I couldn't find an appropriate pattern, so I bought his costume. Over-sized as it was, it worked. I went as a kind and gentle queen (long story, but it was a theme-thing at work). I did make my costume and LOVED how it turned out. I wore it to work for annual parade and school-wide Halloween party. I will wear it again tonight when we take Jonah out to trick-or-treat. Although he won't exactly know what all the fuss is about, I am sure he'll enjoy the free candy....right before bed, no less.

Here are a few pics of us in costume.

share and share alike

2010-10-19T21:28:00.007-04:00

So, I told a couple of coworkers a portion of my birth story today. Neither one has yet given birth, so my story was a little overwhelming - or, at the very least, gross! But it went beyond the birth and into the weeks following. I had a rough go of things, but I felt the need to share those stories with other women in an attempt to let others ask questions and say their concerns without feeling judged. I don't want to seem like I'm over dramatizing or asking for sympathy, because I don't need to do either. I do however, wish more people had been honest with me about their birthing experiences before I had a child. (Thanks to Kim H., Dana and Lacey who were very honest with me and shared all the stories, good and bad, and helped me prepare for Jonah-mo's arrival.)

While I'm on the subject....why is it that more women don't share their stories? Not just about giving birth and parenting, but about other things like where they get a fabulous haircut, how to make crock-pot chili, or why their husband rocks. I feel like there is so much conversation about negative things, complaining, and woe-is-me speeches. Why can't we open ourselves up a little bit to friends and strangers alike to share our positive experiences? All I know is that when someone has a good idea, good contact, or good relationship, I'd like to hear about it in the hopes that I can improve my life without having to go through the trial-and-error. Also, you shouldn't feel like your "bragging" when you score a great babysitter or when your husband takes you out for a nice dinner. The world could do with a few more happy stories like these, as opposed to everyone competing for the "worst something-or-other of the year award".

So, next time you have some happy news, or an important experience that you think might benefit others, share it, for gods sake! Encourage others to give you happy messages and do your best to re-direct those Negative Nellys, Debbie Downers, and Sad Sallys.

Speaking of Debbie Downer...

try it....you might like it!

2010-10-14T21:53:00.004-04:00

+
=

Many of you know that I have never been a beer drinker. However, during my pregnancy, every time Jason drank beer, the smell made me sooo thirsty! I now enjoy a beer from time to time, perferring draft to bottle. I went to happy hour with a few co-workers today at The Tap Room and tried the Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale. Wow - I drank every last drop and it was super-yummy! Of course I love anything with pumpkin in it, so it's no surprise I like a pumpkin beer.

Speaking of pumpkin, a new family favorite are pumpkin pancakes. Just add 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling) and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice to your pancake recipe and cook as usual. Of course maple syrup is always a delicious accompaniment, but try it with honey!

Another pancake variation, made very easy, is to add a jar of baby food to a traditional pancake mixture:

1) banana nut pancakes - Add 1 baby food jar of banana puree and 1/4 cup of slightly crushed walnuts. (I am tempted to pour chocolate syrup on top, but resist that urge)
2) sweet potato pancakes - Add 1 baby food jar sweet potatoes and 2 tablespoons brown sugar.

I always make a double batch and refrigerate them so Jonah has breakfast ready for several days. Smaller pancakes can be re-heated in the microwave or the toaster.

Take some time to enjoy the tastes of this wonderful season!

bad fish?

2010-10-12T21:45:00.007-04:00

If you see Escolar on the menu the next time you dine, and you are AT ALL prone to digestive issues (weak stomach, recovering from the flu, IBS, etc.) think twice before ordering this controversial fish:

As stated in my earlier blog, I love me some Top Chef. Most recently in Season 7, NJ native Kevin Sbraga won. He is the executive chef at Rats Restaurant at Grounds for Sculpture, a restaurant where I have actually eaten. However, I have some sad/disturbing news. A coworker of mine decided to make a reservation at Rats for her anniversary and much to her chagrin, ended up sick! The culprit? A menu item that is known to cause intestinal trouble in many who consume it! The fish, Escolar, is a permanent fixture on the menu, however, one simple google search will turn up many sites warning you NOT to eat this fish, no matter how it's prepared!

Not only was I disappointed that his classy restaurant would serve such a thing, I was mad, and I didn't even eat the damn thing! Said coworker called the health department in the hopes of simply having the restaurant add a disclaimer on their menu so as not to mislead patrons. I may enjoy some greasy coney dogs and chili cheese fries on my trips to Michigan, but I am aware of the havoc it will reek on my digestive system. I make an educated decision each time I wolf down that cheesy, chili goodness. But without warning, it can most certainly ruin your evening, weekend, and anniversary!!

Message to Kevin, Rats and the whole gang: I hope you quickly take action to make your diner's experience a more pleasurable one.

"I Like Turtles"

2010-10-11T12:19:00.006-04:00

Because my last few posts have been rather serious, I thought I would share something funny....at least I hope you think it's funny.

I refer to this clip on a regular basis using the punch line as a catch phrase of sorts with my friend/co-worker Amanda. It is important to enunciate properly, including the slight speech-impediment. It is synonymous with "whatever", "duh", "really?", or "just forget it!"*

What I also love is how the newscaster struggles to find a transition. Lmao.

If you watch Tosh.0, you know he did a web redemption of this clip. If you don't watch Tosh.0....what's wrong with you? Just kidding!

* Proper use in a sentence:
I drove all the way to the car wash and it was closed. I like turtles.

Why it is tough being a mom....

2010-10-10T21:41:00.000-04:00

Jonah was cranky today. Very cranky.

I had a million things to do + He didn't want to nap = Frustrated mama & Even crabbier Jonah. Days like today are tough - I feel selfish for wanting to go to Joann Fabrics, talk on the phone to my family, or sit to meal plan for the week. Jason had to run errands, so I was home trying to occupy Jonah while still accomplishing my tasks. I did get a bunch of laundry done, made a VERY quick trip to Joann's, but still feel like 75% of my "to do" list was untouched. It's now 9:45 pm. and the little guy is in bed, but I have lost all motivation and energy to do just about anything, except write this blog entry.

I know this is the common life of a mother ("working" or SAH), and I wouldn't trade Jonah for the world, but every so often I have the moment where I miss my married w/out children days. The lazy Sundays of sleeping in and going out to breakfast at noon. The middle of the afternoon nap with Jason on the couch. The evenings where I didn't have to choose between Jason and the must-get-this-done-before-I-fall-asleep tasks.

A mother's work is truly never done. Jason is amazing, but he can't relieve the stress and pressure I feel from Jonah to be the mother he deserves. I am a perfectionist - it's all or nothing with me. Some days I just want to a break. I want to be Becca again. I know this isn't possible and I was willing to give that up when I made the decision to have Jonah. But I also know that I'm not the only mom who feels this way. Too many women gave me the false impression that when you have a child you cease to be selfish - that you give up your childish ways in lieu of your dedication to being a mother. Well, maybe for some women it is that simple, but for me it's a hell of a lot more complicated.

Please don't mistake this post as a plea for sympathy. This is my way of venting and also letting other mothers and/or mother-to-be know about my reality. It may look like yours, it may not. But I have no shame in how I feel. There is a distinct difference between loving your child and loving being a parent. My sadness lies in my effort to reconcile two versions of myself, knowing that it's an evolution, but anxious to find resolution.

30 days of.....love

2010-10-09T21:46:00.000-04:00

My mom and my sister were charged with bestowing 30 days of gifts upon their lovely Rebecca on her 30th birthday. Beginning on September 12th and continuing for 30 continuous days, I opened one gift per day. Nearly every gift included a personalized card, wrapped or in a cute gift bag, and notifying me of the designated day to be opened either by day of the week (2nd Tuesday) or by emotion (open on a day you're feeling crafty). Arriving in separate packages (one per week) and over flowing with love, this was truly an undertaking. It took a great amount of commitment, money and dedication to complete. While I am in awe, I am not surprised. My mom and my sister go to great lengths to make me feel special, loved, and closer to them both. I received everything from a beautiful dress to a scratch-off lottery card (even won $20), from homemade granola to a meat tenderizer. I text mom and Misha every time I open a new item and I've used nearly everything they sent me! There is no doubt that I am easy to buy for, but they find a way of getting me things I didn't even realize I needed in addition to those things I asked for (the meat tenderizer being one). With my 30 days drawing to a close, I wanted to show my absolute gratitude to my beautiful, wonderful, thoughtful, loving, caring, sweet, creative, talented, and amazing mother and sister for making my 30th birthday better than I ever expected.

Additionally, I need to acknowledge some of the others who made my birthday extra special:
Jason sent me 11 roses on the Tuesday before my b-day, and arrived at my work on Friday with rose #12 to take me out to lunch. He also sent me a beautiful and/or funny card every day that week. (if you know me, you know how much Hallmark cards mean to me). Lastly, he bought me a gorgeous pair of diamond stud earrings.
Amanda (my co-worker) made a dozen cupcakes and brought them into work with a 6-pack of Diet Coke and a big birthday balloon. It made my day!
Jacob gave me a beautiful camera charm for my Pandora bracelet - very personal and very thoughtful.
I received so many cards and gifts all with lovely messages reminding me how blessed I am.

I had a lot more anxiety about turning 30 than I ever expected. During a random conversation with a friend, I realized the source of my angst: My 20s were amazing for soooo many reasons. I felt as though turning 30 was a symbolic "good-bye" to that time of my life and it made me very sad. In many ways my life has just begun, and I need to start looking forward to all that lies ahead.

Dedicated to Kathryn

2010-10-08T21:04:00.000-04:00

I have spent countless hours of my life (in the recent past) crying over my "friend" situation. Getting married, moving, and having a child put significant strain on the already strained relationships between me and some of my female friends. It made me sad, but it also has made me realize that I have a choice in the company I keep. I don't have to remain friends with you simply because I've known you since I was an adolescent. Yes, we share a history, but perhaps that is all we share anymore. I need to surround myself with people who truly care about me and my circumstances, and respect my life choices. I have felt like an outsider, ignored by the people I consider to be friends and it's no longer healthy.

Fortunately, moving forced me to do a couple of things: 1) Invest only in the friendships that result in positive interaction, mutual support, and love 2) Meet new friends and try them on for size. I am grateful to the long-distance friends who have reciprocated the effort to maintain friendships. I slowly, but surely, feel like I've become part of a new circle of friends whose husbands also get along with Jason quite well (bonus). I've also been getting along famously with some of my new co-workers. These situations have allowed me to feel good about myself again. I don't feel like I'm the odd-woman out anymore. I feel like I belong.

One of my new friends is remarkably like me. We share a love of creativity and design, a positive attitude, a healthy marriage, and a strong work ethic. I feel a unique connection to her and it reminds me of being around family - the people who know you and love you no matter what. The people you rarely have to explain yourself to. The people who laugh at you without making you feel self-conscious. The people who give you a hug before you knew you needed it. It just feels good and I'm so grateful.

I think I'm a good friend, but I've seriously doubted that fact for the past year. Now I realize, its just not that simple.

My Favorite Things: Volume I

2010-10-06T20:13:00.000-04:00

Visual Media Edition

So, this is a somewhat boring post, but I thought it was positive. I could post about things I DON'T like, right? That would be less than boring....that would be ugly.

While I don't want to be a couch potato, there are SOOOO many good shows on the boob-tube these days that my DVR can hardly take it! Here is a listing of my faves and why:

1 - Parenthood: For its broad and inclusive portrayal of familial relationships, its sense of humor in spite of difficult circumstances, its very realistic dialogue among characters, great casting, and great acting.

2 - The Good Wife: Cast - Julianna Margulies, BIG, Josh Charles, Christine Baranski, and the list goes on; great acting; story line is unique, dramatic and a little over the top but not ridiculous; makes every woman in America wonder, "what would I do if I had been in her shoes???", the answer isn't what you think.

3 - Top Chef / Project Runway - Each season is a little different, but I truly enjoy watching "amateur" chefs and designers battle it out for the title. Tom Colicchio: You're kind of a dick, but for good reason. Heidi Klum: I love and hate you, simultaneously.

We also watch House, Bones and CSI (LV only!), but most everyone knows about the merits of those shows by now and if you're not into them, then why start now?

In addition to regular TV, I enjoy movies and miniseries when I have time. If you didn't have HBO you might have missed the John Adams miniseries. It first aired in 2008, and is now available on DVD. I HIGHLY recommend watching the entire thing. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney play John and Abigail Adams exceptionally. The rest of the casting was wonderful! It was also a gorgeous historic portrayal of the changing landscape of our nation while vividly telling the story of John, Abigail, their family, colleagues, friends and countrymen as they intertwined with the cultivation of our government. When this aired, Jason and I got excited every Sunday night to watch the next episode, which made me realize that I am a dork and I love history. Especially when history incorporates the voices of women, children and the human element, and not just the old, white, male, authoritative perspective.

Please feel free to post comments that include YOUR favorite TV programs and movies. This should promote an exchange of 'likes'....

Reflections

2010-10-05T21:48:00.000-04:00

Everyday I think a million tiny thoughts. Because I can talk rather fast, I am able to get about 1% of all those thoughts expressed verbally to Jason, my coworkers, my family, my friends and Jonah. Most of it sounds like rambling even as its coming out of my mouth, yet I can't seem to help myself. Yes, I am HYPER-VERBAL. I think that if I don't say all that is floating around in my head it will be lost forever and what a shame that would be. I wish that i could type even faster so that more of my thoughts could be communicated that way....I think it would help my personal life. People would be more likely to listen and less likely to tune me out.

So, this is my way of saying, I need to start blogging more and talking less. I think that if people want to hear me express myself, they can read my blog, but if not, they can just listen. It's a win-win, expect for the fact that the diligence to type everyday doesn't come easily. It requires a little more thought, effort and discipline.

BTW, this is not a ploy to have friends and family tell me that I'm NOT hyper verbal in other to feel better about myself. I am NOT insecure about it, in fact, I own that self-diagnosis. I just thought I would begin my re-kindled love of blogging with an explanation of my rationale.

TODAY'S QUOTE: Don't confuse effort with results. A harsh reality for some, not nearly harsh enough for others. When people "try hard" to "do their best" but constantly fall short, I don't think they should be rewarded for those efforts. In the real world, directed effort will end with successful results. If your effort is weak, ill directed and/or under-whelming, your results will be as well and perhaps you need to rethink your reasons for being in the position you're in. I am using this quote to evaluate others, when truthfully, we should all first look at our own circumstances and see if we have been confusing our own effort with results.

With that I will bid adieu to my readers....or reader... or just you, mom, and subliminally remind myself while I sleep that blogging everyday will promote creativity and sequester my verbal rants.

My Summer Vacation

2010-08-15T21:36:00.000-04:00

Yes, this is the story of my summer vacation….well, one week of it anyway. Unlike the teachers at the school where I work, I only get vacation in small increments. For the purpose of this essay, that increment is 1 week. Waaaaay back in January, we set our goals for 2010 (no, NOT new year’s resolutions, but actual, measurable, tangible goals.) One of those goals was to set aside 1 week for a family vacation. By definition, this means no work calls or e-mails, this trip cannot be in part or in whole to see family or friends for holidays, weddings, etc., it must also be used for relaxation (ie: I do not want to NEED a vacation AFTER my vacation), and of course we had a budget that was reasonable.

After much consideration, we decided that flying would be difficult considering all the stuff we’d have to bring and would limit our budget in other ways. Therefore, a location that was within reasonable driving distance would be criteria #1. Since the east coast is fairly new to us, we asked around to friends and coworkers about great spots in the region. The “Finger Lakes” of New York was mentioned repeatedly and, due to proximity (5 hours drive) it was a nice fit. Criteria #2 was appropriate accommodations. With Jonah’s bedtime being around 7:30 pm, a hotel would require us to hunker down for the night early, therefore a house we could rent would allow us to put the little man to bed and, taking the baby monitor with us, we could sit outside, grill and hang out. Additionally, a full kitchen would allow us to make breakfast, dinner and to pack lunches, saving both money and encouraging healthy eating. Via Vacationsrentals.com we located several houses right on the water available for weekly rentals, we narrowed our focus to those with beach-front property and a fit pit and found one that seemed ideal: The Red Creek Cottage on Seneca Lake. The owners have a 3 year old, so the cottage came equipped with baby gate, pack-n-play, sippy cups, toys, infant life preserver, and high chair (Yea!), significantly reducing the amount of stuff we needed to bring. We purchased a new bike rack for the 4-runner, a used bike trailer (so Jonah could ride in style) and a hiking back-pack/baby carrier.

So, here we are! Today is out last day at the cottage and it has been one of the most wonderful weeks ever! 6 full days of TRUE vacation! The Finger Lakes have a ton to offer: two days of hiking, two days of biking and two days of visiting wineries. Jason also canoed up and down the lake several times while I read and wrote, and Jonah-mo napped. The weather was great and while it rained a few times, we made sure to save the wineries for those days and it worked out beautifully.

The Finger Lakes were carved out by glaciers eons ago, so each side of the lake has dramatic slopes of shale and gorgeous hillsides full of vineyards and farms. The scenery is unbelievable. Just driving along the main access road gives breathtaking views, and because Seneca lake is only a couple miles wide, you can see clearly across to the cliffs and farms located just across the way.

Here is a brief listing of the places we visited:

Day 1: Keuka Outlet Trail
This walking, hiking, biking trail is 7 miles in length and connects Seneca Lake to Keuka Lake (the Finger Lake directly west of where we stayed). Since this was our first day, I decided we should take it easy and do ½ the trail (3 ½ miles each way for a total of 7 miles) so I wouldn’t be sore for the rest of the week. I am a wuss and horribly out of shape, so I had to be cautious!

Day 2: Watkins Glen
The gorge trails is about 1 ½ miles long (or should I say ‘high’) and climbs 832 steps upward through a gorge that time (and water) has shaped. Jason bravely hoisted Jonah on his back the entire way there while we took-in waterfalls and streams full of crystal clear, ice cold water. By the end of the hike, after we ate our packed picnic lunches, I was ready to happily take the shuttle back down to the base of the gorge, however, the shuttle cost $3 per person and we had NO cash on us, therefore, we climbed back down through the rim trail for a different view….I was none-too-pleased, but Jason was eager, as always!

Day 3: Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Ventosa Winery Ventosa had a gorgeous view and good lunch - both of which were comparable to their wines. Healthy portions at the tasting too!
Belhurst Winery Right on the water and epic in proportions, this castle/hotel/winery was beautiful and the wine was good, just pricey.
Lakewood Winery The most friendly and knowledgable staff and some of the best wine we tasted. Try the port - it'll surprise you!
Glenora Winery The biggest of the wineries we visited making it a little more commercial and a little less personal. Nonetheless, the wine was great and so was the local smoked gouda that we picked up while we were there. We also snatched dinner at the restaurant, had outdoor seating, and had a very nice meal (pork chops with peach chutney and filet mignon) with fresh local ingredients. However, the prices did not quite match the quality of food.

Day 4: Robert H. Treman State Park
Wow, wow, wow! This 4 mile hike was a doosey, but when you get to Lucifer Falls, it makes it all worthwhile. The forest opens up into an osasis and you think you're someplace other than New York. Not for the weak of heart, the uphill climb had nothin' on the downhill climb (my shins were killing me by the end). Props to Jason for hauling his own rear along with Jonah's up and down this HUGE gorge.

Day 5: Corning Museum of Glass
We were actually waiting for a rainy day to visit this intriguing place. I wish science felt this cool in school. I learned volumes about glass, chemistry, and science while walking around this museum, art galley and classroom. We saw glass making demonstrations, experienced hands-on displays, learned the history of glass making as both function and art, and then purused the enormous gift shop, full of.....you guessed it, GLASS! We could have spent 3 more hours there, but Jonah was melting down and needed a nap badly, so we vow to come back next trip and actually MAKE glass in one of their classes.

Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Fulkerson Winery This winery had very friendly and knowledgable staff and was the only place we purchased Ice Wine from, although many wineries offer them.
Miles Wine Cellars
Tucked back right on the water, this unique old mansion housed a small but lovely selection of wines (and 2 beers) with a friendly staff and a little box of toys to keep Jonah occupied while we tasted!

Day 6: Keuka Outlet Trail
The forecast was for rain, but when I rose on Friday morning, I found the sun shining and the trail calling. We decided to FINISH the trail we began on Sunday, parking 1/2 way down and trail and riding to Penn Yan. This side of the trail was much easier and took less time, but still offered interesting scenery and a nice pincic area in Penn Yan (with nearby playgrounds).

Sugar Shack Blueberry Farm
Jonah's favorite fruit is banana. But a VERY close second is the blueberry. We decided that blueberry picking would be right up his alley. The Sugar Shack was very accomodating and Jonah was in his glory! He was going from bush to bush, greeting the other pickers, tapping them on the shoulder and holding out his hand. They graciously handed over a few berries, thinking he was going to eat them, but then he turned around and put them in our bucket! Little stinker! If you've never eaten these berries right from the bush, you have no idea what you're missing. It's like a whole different fruit! We walked away with several pounds of blueberries now awaiting their fate in pies, muffins, and ultimately, Jonah's belly.

Several days, while Jonah napped, Jason took the canoe out for a spin and loved it. We also skipped rocks (did we mention that shale makes for GREAT rock skipping?)and fed the ducks. We used this time as an opportunity to teach Jonah words like "boat", "duck", and "water".

Most mornings we fried eggs and sausage, most afternoons we ate picnic lunches and most evenings we grilled out. Nearly every night we built a fire next to the water where we sat and drank the wine that we'd purchased during the day. These "little" moments made the week so peaceful - like home, only better.

BIG Year!

2010-08-05T19:53:00.000-04:00

Jonah turned 1
Jason turned 35
We celebrated our 5-year wedding anniversary
I turn 30 (in a few weeks)

That's a lot to be proud of and a lot to think about!

Our wedding anniversary is a time to reflect on our lives together and the 7 years we've known each other. I love Jason more now that I did when I married him and I thank God for bringing him into my life. He is an wonderful husband and father and he never ceases to amaze me.

My 30th....ugh. I am so proud of all I've accomplished in 30 years, but at the same time, who is really satisfied and thinks "I've accomplished everything I set out to do by the age of 30"? I'm trying not to think about it too much. Jason keeps asking if I want a party or something special...and every time I think about it, I cringe. I mean, I don't think I'm getting old, but I just want to keep moving forward and I feel like 30 is this hill that I have to climb and overcome...IDK, we'll see.

This was a year of goal-setting for us. We spent a lot of time thinking about this year and what we wanted to get out of it - one BIG thing was having our FIRST family vacation. Next week, we will put a check mark in that box! We leave for Red Creek Cottage in Seneca Lake and a week-long vacation. Just the three of us. If we dig this place, it might be an annual thing :)

1 year (a little late)

2010-06-09T22:08:00.000-04:00

Jonah is 1.

WOW

How did I get here? I am the parent of a 1 year old....

Jonah's doctor's visit was successful - 23 lbs, 31.5 inches tall, huge head.
He is walking, drinking whole milk from a sippy cup, only using binky at night/nap time, and jibber-jabbering like mad! Still working on forming words. He says ma, da da, no, and tickle (on occasion).

Jonah's birthday weekend included visits from my mom and dad and my mother-in-law. We celebrated mother's day and my dad's birthday also. Jonah's enjoyed Point Pleasant and Jenkinson's Aquarium.....and most definitely enjoyed his birthday cake!

Reflection of New Mother:
I haven't felt like myself since I had Jonah. I have adopted a new persona, a new attitude and a new role. I don't feel as though I've abandoned anything, simply acquired new responsibilities and traits. The road to 1 year has been rocky (to say the least). My first 12 weeks as a parent are now referred to as the "dark days", 12-24 weeks were better but still trying, and 6-9 months provided a glimmer of hope for my future.

Now, at 1 year, I have begun to feel at ease with being a parent. (While I am sure this is short-lived) I am now able to enjoy Jonah in a whole new way. Jason and I are having so much fun watching him learn and grow into a little independent person.

11 months!

2010-04-13T21:57:00.001-04:00

Today Jonah turns 11 months old - only 4 weeks away from the BIG DAY! He is surpassing all his milestones - walking, chattering, being bad....he likes to test the waters already. Ahhh, truly he is my child!

He started walking with utter confidence at 10 months - Jason and I were both early walkers, so Jonah's development was no surprise to us. He is super-long and lean (still) and his newest nickname is Jonah-mo Peabody Short-Pants....all his sleeves and pants are too short - thankfully summer is coming so he will not have to worry!

He had eliminated his bottle before bed (sad) and is eating much more "people" food that ever before! Keeping shoes and socks on him is an act of futility - but we try. He needs a haircut to reduce the curly mullet he is growing, but he looks so damn cute at the same time!

Aunt Michelle and Uncle Tim came to visit for Michelle's Birthday/Easter weekend. We had BEAUTIFUL weather and spent most of the time outside (see pics below) enjoying Spring and each others company!

Here are some new photos - I hope to post another video soon!

9 months!

2010-02-25T11:57:00.000-05:00

Jonah is officially 9 months old. According to the pediatrician he is 21 lbs, 5 oz. and 30 inches long!!! Yep, he's already 2 1/2 feet tall! 50th percentile for weight, 95th percentile for height.

We have graduated to chunky foods and bits and pieces of mom and dad's breakfast (he sure likes banana pancakes with nutella!) He eats everything you put in front of him, yet seems to burn it all off. (yes, I wish I had his metabolism)

He also graduated from the kitchen sink to the big people bath tub! He loved it (no shocker there!) and thanks to the tubby toys from Grammy, bath time is even MORE fun than before.

Date Night

2010-02-09T20:10:00.000-05:00

While Jason and I love being parents, we also love being a married couple, therefore we have instituted "date night". Ah, the coveted date night. We hired my full-time baby sitter's oldest daughters to watch Jonah for us. Mind you, Jonah is already asleep when they arrive, so we basically pay them to watch T.V. for 5 hours while he sleeps, lol. Last Friday we went to an amazing restaurant in Princeton, Elements, and then saw "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. Both events I highly recommend. At Elements try the Cod Croquettes and the Black Bass or the Garbanzo Bean Soup and Short Ribs.

I hope that Jonah turns out to be a foodie and movie-lover like mom and dad. Considering he will eat ANYTHING you put in front of him, I don't think eating will ever be a problem. Although he doesn't watch T.V. currently, at some point we will start introducing him to movie classics....um, our classics.

Eating Machine

2010-01-18T10:05:00.000-05:00

Jonah turned 8 months (Happy 2/3 Birthday to Him!) last Wednesday and is progressing rapidly through his milestones! He is eating solids (by that I mean jar baby food) with fervor, has 2 teeth and is cutting 4 more (2 top, 2 more on bottom) with minimal fussing, is climbing stairs a little TOO well, and beginning to stand well-balanced on his own. "Ma-ma" is usually only said when he is sleepy, crying or upset (ie: in his crib calling to me in the morning) and he says "Da-da" pretty much ALL the time....I don't think he knows what those words mean, but soon enough he will.

This weekend he decided that he likes puffed cereal (precursor to Cheerios). I have been giving them to him for a couple of weeks now, with little to no interest. Below are the pics of him picking them up with the palm of his hand and then smooshing them into his little pie-hole. I love it!

Tomorrow we go back to the pediatrician for his next vaccine, so we'll have an update on height and weight then!

Promotion!

2010-01-18T09:57:00.000-05:00

I have exciting news regarding my career!

As of January 1st, I was promoted to the position of Director of Admissions at The Lewis School where I have been working since March 2008! It was a great way to start off the year and I am thrilled to have been promoted to such an important position.

Wish me luck!

Holidays!

2010-01-01T14:55:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving in Kansas, Christmas in Michigan, New Years in New Jersey!

We have be travelling with Jonah to celebrate the holidays with our family and friends and, although it was exhausting, it was also WONDERFUL! We are so blessed to have the such loving, supportive and fun families. They showered Jonah with love and attention and made sure his first BIG holidays were memorable.

The BIG guy is now 7 1/2 months old and is getting bigger, stronger and smarter by the minute. He is crawling, furniture-walking, eating solids and babbling like crazy. His bottom two teeth are fully in and the top two are breaking through as I type! He is a bizzy-body himself and makes us laugh everyday.

Here are some pics from our travels:
THANKSGIVING

CHRISTMAS

6 Months Old!

2009-11-19T22:24:00.000-05:00

Jonah turned 6 months old on November 13th. He also had his 6 month check-up at the pediatrician which included his first vaccination (yikes!) We have chosen to postpone vaccinations and have also chosen to space them out over time as opposed to having several shots at one visit, in order to minimize the potential for adverse reactions. He did well and had no reaction to the shot (Thank God!) and the only thing alarming about the visit was his size....are you ready for this?

19 lbs, 10 oz. 95th Percentile
28 1/2" long 97th Percentile (same as last visit, which makes me believe that they measured him incorrectly last time)

He is ONE BIG BOY!

Additionally, Jonah is a milli-second away from crawling...lots of rocking, scooting, etc. but he hasn't quite figured out how to systematically move forward....although I am looking forward to this monumental milestone, I am partially dreading how this new found independence will wreak havoc on our lives!

The other big change recently has been Day Light Savings. Previously just a nuisance, this bi-annual change is now viewed with disdain and contempt for it's unruly impact on Jonah's schedule. His 7:30 bedtime had to be bumped back to 6:30, meaning that bath time begins at 6:00, meaning that I only get about 1 1/2 hours with him after work and before bed. This makes me sad because it really limits my QT with him, however, the fact that he is still able to sleep about 12 hours (only waking up once for a mini-bottle) and get up at 6:00 am, reinforces the fact that he NEEDS to go to bed that early and he is a happy boy for it.

We introduced solids just after 4 1/2 months and he eating well - he loves squash, sweet potatoes, peas and bananas. Not so crazy about carrots, apples or pears. We just increased his daily intake because my pediatrician thinks he needs more food...he is so lean and so energetic, he burns everything so more calories will help sustain him. I can only imagine what my grocery bills are going to look like in about 13 years!

Take a look at these muscles:

I'm Back!

2009-11-19T21:45:00.000-05:00

I have been a slacker-blogger...and I apologize. SO much has happened since my last post that I almost don't know where to begin. October held all sorts of adventures for Mr. Jonah! We has two sets of visitors and, of course, his first Halloween!

Let's start with the visit from Misha and Tim over the weekend of October 17th. Jason had to fly to Wichita to stand up in his friend Chaney's wedding, so my sister and her husband flew up to keep me company and to squeeze the spit out of their nephew. Here are some pics from that amazing visit!

Next, over the Halloween weekend, Jason's BF, Craig and his wife Sarah came to visit us. This was their first time up to NJ and Sarah's introduction to Mr. Jonah. We had a wonderful time with them and are so grateful that they made the trip! Here is a pic of Sarah and Jonah spending some QT together.

Jonah's first Halloween was very eventful! I work at a school so we had our Halloween parade on Friday and my babysitter brought Jonah up to work and he got to participate in the parade in his costume. What was he? Nemo! The cutest Nemo I've ever seen! Thanks to my mom and dad who picked out the purchased the costume. My dad also picked out a super-cute outfit for him to wear in the days leading up to Halloween (Boo!)

Off the charts! Literally!

2009-09-28T17:58:00.000-04:00

Today was Jonah's 4-month well-baby visit. It's two weeks late because he was in the hospital when his original visit was scheduled. So at 4 1/2 months he is 17 lbs, 10 oz (90th percentile) and 28" long.....literally, off the charts!!! Needless to say, I'm proud of my little man!

In other Jonah-News, he had begun to eat solids. The first foray into rice cereal wasn't well received, but when we mixed it with apples tonight - he did much better! I wouldn't go so far as to say that he actually liked it, but he didn't spit it all out, or gag incessantly!

He is still NOT sleeping through the night, however, he simply wakes up, alerts us that he is awake, sucks down a 4 oz. bottle and falls back asleep. Some nights it's one feeding, other nights it's two. The interruption in mine and Jason's sleep is minimal, so we're not complaining too much. Hopefully by 6 months, he'll be weaned off of the nighttime feedings.

He is still drooling like a madman, and chewing on EVERYTHING, but not actual teeth in sight.

Developmentally, the doctor said he looks great. He can almost sit up on his own, he can grasp objects with one or both hands (he can put his binky back in after it falls out), and he tracks beautifully - objects and voices. He is always whipping his head around when he hears daddy's voice in the other room!

ENJOY THE NEW PICS!!

My Birthday!!

2009-09-14T09:04:00.000-04:00

My fabulous husband planned an amazing birthday weekend for me (with a little help from my mom)!Jason planned everything and all his selections were PERFECT!

My mom flew into Jersey and watched Jonah on Saturday and Sunday so that we could go into NYC overnight! We stayed at the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel on the 23rd floor overlooking Central Park (see pic above). We had lunch at Sarabeth's Cafe - amazing vegetable fritatta w/ pumpkin muffin; wine at Clo, dinner at Rosa Mexicana- tableside guacamole, falutas, sangria and puerco pibil; and a night cap at Whiskey Park. ....and the ultimate ending: WE SLEPT, and SLEPT and SLEPT! Ahhhhh! My first full-night of sleep and first time I have slept-in since Mr. Jonah arrived!

We had brunch at Rue 57- mimosas and eggs benedict- and walked around Central Park on Sunday - it was a beautiful day and I think we managed to walk-off at least 1/2 of the calories we consumed the day before! We did some shopping, but generally just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. Then I got to spend a little time with my mom before she had to fly back to Michigan - which was the proverbial icing on the cake!

On Friday, my co-workers celebrated with a huge bouquet of flowers, chocolates, gifts and ice cream cake from Carvel! Yummy!

I received cards and packages from friends and family and lots of texts and Facebook messages - all of which made me feel so special and loved!!

Sick Child: Episode 1 of ?

2009-09-08T17:38:00.000-04:00

(Jonah in his mini-hospital gown!)

We had our first run-in with the dreaded high fever! Jonah spiked a 101.5 temp Sunday morning which eventually got up to 103.9! He was admitted to the hospital Sunday night around 11:00 pm and we were discharged today (Tuesday) at 11:00 am.

RESULTS: He has a non-specific viral infection which is causing his one and only symptom: a fever! He was fussy and lethargic, but that was about it.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?: He doesn't have a bacterial infection so he cannot be treated with antibiotics. He also does not have pneumonia, an ear infection, a UTI or meningitis. All of this is VERY reassuring!

So, we are home now, monitoring his fever and letting him rest - he is just exhausted! Jason and I did pretty well - no panic attacks or freak-outs. I think we knew he would be okay, judging by his disposition and lack of scary symptoms.

So, for anyone who would like to know more about fevers, I feel like I am now an expert! Here is a little info from "What to Expect: The First Year"

"In response to invaders such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, white blood cells in the body produce a hormone called interleukin, which travels to the brain to instruct the hypothalamus to turn up the body thermostat. At higher body temperatures, the rest of the immune system is better able to fight infection. Viruses and bacteria grow best in cooler temperatures, so a fever actually makes the body less hospitable to infection. Fever may also lower iron levels while increasing the invaders' need for that mineral - in effect starving them. And when it's a virus that has launched the attack, fever helps enhance the production of interferon and other antiviral substances in the body. When a person's body temperature suddenly rises a couple of degrees above normal, he or she often feels, paradoxically chilled. The chilling serves to encourage a further rise in temperature in several ways. The involuntary shivering that usually occurs signals the body to turn its thermostat up still another notch and prompts the fever sufferer to take other measures that raise the body temperature: drink hot liquids, throw on another blanket, put on a sweater. At the same time, outlying blood vessels constrict to reduce heat loss, and body tissues - such as stored fat - are broken down to produce heat (which is why it is important to take in extra calories during a fever). An estimated 80-90 percent of all fevers in babies are related to self-limiting viral infections (they get better without treatment). "

More Pix

2009-08-22T22:49:00.001-04:00

Here are the rest of the photos from Jonah's 11-week photo shoot in Michigan:

say "I love my feet"

2009-08-22T21:42:00.000-04:00

This was the finishing touch on Jonah's room that I finally got around to completing!

Jonah has discovered his feet! He went from barely noticing them to having them in his hands (and mouth) every chance he gets! It is the damned cutest thing ever. What else is new? He is super-duper-drooly face. I understand that this is the pre-cursor to teething (yikes!) We need to keep him in a bib 24-7 otherwise his clothing get soaked along with the front of my shirt while I hold him. He is also standing beautifully with barely any help. He will even stand at the coffee table without us holding him. He is also chatting up a storm! He is saying "mmmmm" and "bbbbbbb" and "thhhhhhhhhh" all of which we are attempting to transform into actual words. Of course there is documenation of all of these developments below!

He's been doing great at the sitter's house while I've been back at work. We're both feeling more structure and organization now that our days have schedules. His sleeping, on the other hand, needs a little more work. His body clock can't quite make up it's mind about when it's supposed to wake up, so although we were down to one nighttime feeding a few weeks ago, we're back to two.... but we're trying to work on that!

The Incredible Hunk

Drooly Face!

Playing with my feet!

Standing Tall!

p.s. Sissy, if you are reading this, the title of this post is for you....do you remember where it's from?

My Baby is a Star!

2009-08-09T23:13:00.000-04:00

Jonah has his first official photo shoot while we were back in Michigan. The same woman who took my maternity photos, took the pix of me, Jonah and Jason. Here is just one and click on this link to see some more on Kelli's blog from Purple Tree Photography.

Big Debut!

2009-08-09T22:26:00.000-04:00

Jonah and Nana

Jonah and Bapa

Jonah with Nana and Uncle Jake

Jonah with Aunt Shell

Jonah with Uncle Tim

Jonah made his big debut in Michigan two weeks ago and he was a smash hit! My mom graciously hosted an open house to have all our friends and family over to meet him. We had an amazing turnout and although Jonah was pretty fussy most of the day (due to being deprived of his regular naps) he did the best he could to put on a happy face!

He is now 12 weeks old and his whole demeanor seems to have changed. He recognizes his mobile and baby toys and tries to grasp for them, he drools like it's his job, his waking hours are much more alert, he is now content lying under his play-gym or in his crib for more than 5 minutes at a time, and his hair is growing in nicely!

I went back to work on Thursday - I really love my job and my co-workers, so coming back isn't painful. Jonah seems to love his babysitter so his transition appears to be an easy one too. Staying home with Jonah was not something I planned on doing - and now that I've had a taste of it, I know that I want to work outside the house. It takes a special kind of parent to give themselves so fully, 24-hours-a-day to their child and I hate to say it, but I'm not that person.

I know that it doesn't make me any less of a mother, but in some ways I wish that I wanted to stay home. It is a confusing time for me - trying to figure out what kind of mother I am and what kind of mother I want to be is a lot harder than it looks. Nothing about motherhood is "natural", you have to live it and then learn from it and make it up as you go along. I know that I am doing the best I can, but when you're responsible for someone else's life, your "best" never seems good enough. And to make matters worse I am a control-freak and a perfectionist by nature, making it that much more difficult to accept the chaos that my life has become due to the arrival of a baby. Oh well, it is what it is.

Plane Ride #2

2009-07-24T15:31:00.000-04:00

In less than 24 hours Jonah and I will be arriving in Detroit! I am soooo excited to see my family! Although my mom, dad and sister have met Jonah, my brother, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law have yet to see their nephew! Also, there are tons of friends and family that will be coming by next week to celebrate his arrival!

I am getting myself physically and mentally prepared to fly with Jonah by myself! Jason will be driving in next week and then we will be driving back to NJ with Jonah.... truthfully, I'm more worried about that trip than the flight!

In other news, the last baby in the "baby-boom" group arrived on Sunday, July 19th. Ryan and Nicole Visniski (friends and co-workers of mine) welcomed Grace Elizabeth: 8 lbs, 3 oz, 21 inches long! Here is a photo of the proud mamas and their babies!

Also, if you are wondering what constitutes a "baby boom", here is the tally of our friends recent additions:
March 19th: Twin Babies Annie & Claire Bohon
April 9th: Baby Brady McMillan
April 9th: Baby Darcy McCullough
April 21st: Baby Chloe Polhamus
May 12th: Baby Christian Bullock
May 13th: Baby Jonah Meslin
June 8th: Baby Ellie Herbon
July 19th: Baby Grace Visniski

First Plane Ride

2009-07-20T07:38:00.000-04:00

On July 7th Jonah went on his first plane ride! We traveled to Kansas to see Jason's family and friends! Everyone was so excited to meet Jonah and we were happy to get away and visit with everyone...despite 100 degree heat!

Jonah did great on the plane and Jason and I did pretty well maneuvering through the airport with a newborn and all our stuff!

Although everyone says traveling with kids is not the most pleasant experience, I hope the fact that Jonah has started so early and will continue to travel quite a bit will make this a little easier on us in the future. It makes me laugh to think that my first plane ride wasn't until I was 17 and we went to Cancun for Spring Break my senior year in high school. I remember Dana had flown at least a few times and she seemed to know what to do, so I just followed her lead the entire trip. Here Jonah is, just 8 weeks old getting on an airplane for the first time.

The funniest part of the entire trip was on our connecting flight back from Memphis to Philadelphia, we were seated in the first row and Jonah was fussing a bit - our flight attendant was a rather large, no-nonsense, southern woman who leaned over and began talking to Jonah - when he didn't stop fussing she asked if she could have him - so we handed him over and she proceeded to greet all the passengers on the plane while holding Jonah over her shoulder and patting his little butt! He quieted down and I think all the passengers got a kick out of the whole situation!

Here are some photos from the trip!

Jonah and his cousin Jason

Jonah and his cousin Caitie

Jonah and his Grammy

Jonah and his Papa

Jonah and his cousin Rowan

Jonah with his cousins Rowan and Eden

Jonah with his Daddy and "Uncle" Craig

Jonah with "Auntie" Debra (Riddick's mom)

Jonah with his best buddy Riddick

8 week check-up

2009-07-06T15:10:00.000-04:00

Well...he won't technically be 8 weeks old until Wednesday, but since we'll be in Kansas visiting Jason's friends and family, we had our pediatrician appointment early. It was just a regular check-up for height, weight, vitals and shots (however, we are postponing vaccinations until he's older so no shots for now!)

Weight is 13 lbs. 1.5 ounces (95th percentile)
Height is 24 1/2 inches long (95th percentile)
Head is 16 1/4 inches around

All in all, the Doctor was very pleases (as were we) with his progress. He is a very sturdy little man - very little chub and very strong. I know this doesn't mean a whole lot at only 8 weeks old, but I'd like to imagine him growing up to be a very tall, athletic, handsome man. As for who he looks like....well, he seems to be taking after the Petrovichs (my maternal grandmother's family) and the Wilkersons (Jason's maternal grandfather's family)... in looks and in personality.

I've been taking photos with my phone and video with the camcorder, but not with my regular camera, so forgive me - I'll have more photos very soon!

Wish us luck on our first plane ride tomorrow to Wichita! We are sooo excited to see Great-Grandma, Grammy, Papa, Aunt Julee, Uncle Steven, and Cousins: Caitie, Jason, Eden and Rowan....plus all our friends!

Busy Weekend!

2009-06-29T10:30:00.001-04:00

We were lucky enough to have my dear friend Rachel look after Jonah on Friday night so that Jason and I could go out. She could have been lying, but I think she was serious when she said he was really good - no fussing, ate and then went down for bed without incident! I find it hilarious that we now refer to these nights as "Date Nights" when, before Jonah came along, it was simply "Going Out"!

We saw Transformers 2 - almost as anticipated as X-Men Beginnings: Wolverine. It was AWESOME! Even if you think that it's not a movie for you, seriously consider renting the first one and if you like it, you'll LOVE the second one.

On Saturday we ventured into Pennsylvania to Peddler's Village to walk around and enjoy one of the first nice day's we've had here without rain (you'd think we were living in Seattle with all the precipitation here lately!) We went into a little wine shop for Chaddsford Winery and had a wine tasting (now that I can enjoy wine again.) Jason felt a little apprehensive considering we were toting a 6 week old baby with us. Jonah was fast asleep from the fresh air and stroller ride and feeding time was at least 45 minutes away so I thought we'd be safe! The funny part was that 15 minutes into our tasting a couple walked in with their stroller and 13 week old baby - they let us know we made them feel as though it were okay to bring their baby in. Within another 15 minutes another young couple arrived with their stroller and 6 month old baby.... are we trend-setters or what??? Jason and I enjoyed the wines and Jonah...well, he enjoyed his nap time. He did wake up and eat his lunch before we left there and behaved beautifully!

We even managed to have dinner out with him at Sweet Lorraine's (sweet potato fries were YUMMY, pecan chicken left something to be desired, the ambiance on the outdoor patio was nice.) Ironically, this is a chain resturant and their only other locations are in Michigan!

In other Jonah News - he is sleeping in his crib! Every night! For hours at a time! Bedtime is approximately 9:00 pm, and we are down to two nighttime feedings at 12:30ish (Jason's) and 3:30ish (mine) and then he is officially awake anytime between 6:00 am - 7:00 am. He is still tired, but has trouble going back down when the sunlight busts through his window....he'll usually nap again for me somewhere between 9:00 am and 11:00 am. We're slowly building a reliable schedule that is somewhat flexible!! Hooray!

Oh - and here are some new photos of him in his new sunglasses that I HAD to buy him and the sandals that my dad got for him! Also, the first OFFICIAL photos of him smiling! Enjoy!

NEW Photos!

2009-06-22T22:32:00.000-04:00

Here is my sweet boy enjoying his various "times"!

SWING TIME

TUMMY TIME

PLAY GYM TIME

BATH TIME

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-22T22:22:00.000-04:00

This was Jason's very first Father's Day and my dad's first Father's Day as a grandfather - two monumental events!

I wish I had been home to celebrate with my dad and Jason together - however instead I chatted with my dad over the phone and sent home his gift - a new Dean Koontz book and $$ to buy a new BBQ. Jason got a homemade dinner of Braciole and I took Jonah and left him home alone to sleep and relax for the day without any responsibilities. I also got him some new shoes, new books and some BBQ sauce - special Curley's sauce from Kansas City.

Jason may have only been a dad for 5 weeks, but he's certainly earned his stripes thus far. He has been an amazing dad and husband through these past few weeks - I really don't know what I would do without him. Jonah and I are so blessed to have him in our lives.

Visitors - What a blessing!

2009-06-22T11:50:00.000-04:00

We've been blessed to have so many visitors here, to not only SEE Jonah but to help out with our adjustment period. I want to say a big THANK YOU to all of them for not only the time and energy spent but also the money that it took to get here!

My mom, dad, and sister all drove from Michigan on the day Jonah was born. My BF Dana unexpectedly flew in the day after Jonah was born and stayed a few days. My dad and sister drove back a few days later and my mom stayed for 2 weeks! We survived alone for two days until my MIL (Mother-in-Law) arrived to help for another 2+ weeks. The day after she left, my friend Marisol arrived from Chicago to visit for the weekend. Below are photos of all of Jonah's visitors. We are now officially ON OUR OWN and surviving just fine!

We have gone out to lunch with Jonah, to the grocery store, and to the airport - all without incident! These may seem like simple tasks to non-parents or those who can't remember those first few weeks after a baby comes home, but to me, these events combined are equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest!

This week is also loaded with outings - Bright Beginnings Class with Jonah, lunch with the other mommies in the class, and then my 6-week post-partum check-up - ALL on Wednesday. Thursday I am taking Jonah into work with me to begin the process of re-acclimating to my job. I don't return full-time until August, but I feel so out-of-the-loop that I feel the need to make a slow and smooth transition starting now.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll actually get his birth announcements in the mail this week too! Oh, and all those Thank You notes too.....

Bapa

Aunt Shell

Auntie Dana

Nana

Grammy

Tia Mari

SIDE NOTE: I started typing this post at 8:00 am. It is now 5:00 p.m. and I just finished.... ahhhh

Smiles for everyone!

2009-06-14T12:09:00.000-04:00

This week has brought a few new developments!

At Jonah's 4 week pediatrician appointment he weighed in at a whopping 10 lbs, 4 oz! I am finally seeing some rolls in his little thighs and he is filling out all over.

Also, he has officially accepted his swing as an acceptable place to hang out while awake and also a pretty good place to take a nap.

He has been smiling on a regular basis. This morning he let out a huge belch right in my face after eating and then provided a HUGE smile and almost laughed... I suppose he thought it was funny that mama asked for a burp and got one right in the face!

Last, and certainly not least, he has been spending daytime and nighttime hours sleeping in his pack-n-play (see photo)! Before we could only get about 20 minutes at time, now we can up to 2 hours! Yippee! Sadly, I do miss him sleeping in my arms as much.... I knew this would happen - just when I get him comfortable sleeping on his own, I miss him!

Hope you like the newest photos!

Nearly 4 weeks old

2009-06-08T12:30:00.001-04:00

Now I know what every mom means when she says that time flies by! We are slowly getting ourselves adjusted to life as a family (with lots of help from Grammy and Nana).

For those of you who are curious about my labor, it was long, strenuous, and painful (like most women's) and Jonah's 15" head and 9 lb. 11 oz. body were mostly to blame. However, there were no complications and he is unbelievably healthy, which is more than we could ask for! I am healing quickly and will be back to my bizzy-body self before you know it!

Since many of you reading this live far away and will not be able to meet Jonah for a little while, I'd like to tell you all about him:

The nickname given to him by his father is Kickapotamus D. Fussabout. He kicks like crazy when being changed, he has 1 dimple (hence the D.) and he likes to fussabout whenever he is laid down.

He only sleeps in the arms of someone who loves him....not the crib, the bassinet, the car seat, or the swing. If you have an additional suggestion, I'll take it, but the special swaddle blanket, the special foam nest for inside the crib, the vibrating pack-n-play, the bouncer - none of them work, at least not yet. Right now our schedule is this: I sleep from 10pm -1am while Jason holds sleeping Jonah then wakes me up and I take over and hold sleeping Jonah from 1am - 3am, then I feed him, then sleep again (with him in my arms) from about 4-6am. The glider and the couch have been my second home.

He LOVES to breastfeed and no matter how fussy or mad he is, he will instantly calm when he's feeding and usually promptly fall asleep. Oh, and while feeding he crosses his skinny little legs at his ankles!

He is very long, so nearly all of his pants are huge at the waist and cropped at the ankles....making him look similar to a sumo wrestler.

His toots can rival that of a full-grown man....bringing on his other nickname Toot-Salad-Sandwich.

We will keep you updated with news of smiles, coos, and hopefully sleep-filled nights.

It's a Boy!

2009-05-17T11:28:00.000-04:00

Jason and Rebecca are happy to welcome:

Jonah Aaron Elbert Meslin
Born at 5:16 pm on 5/13/09
9 lbs 11 oz
22 inches long

We are all doing well. I am recovering nicely, Jonah is thriving, and Jason is the most amazing husband and father a girl could ever ask for.

There is so much to say, I don't know where to begin. So much has happened in the past 5 days and every minute is a new adventure.

I am so thankful for my husband who I love more now than I ever could have imagined - he took care of me and Jonah while I recovered - quite a big task. I am also thankful for my mom, dad, sister and best friend, Dana, who came all the way from Michigan to meet Jonah and help take care of our new family. I also want to thank all our friends and family that have visited, called, texted, e-mailed, etc. with well-wishes. We feel so loved!

Here are the photos you all have been waiting for:

Me and my midwife, Katherine minutes after having Jonah - she helped make my birth experience an amazing one!

Getting weighed in - WOW!

Welcome to the world, Jonah!

Our first family photo

The Malotkes!!

My super-cute going home outfit!
>
Me and Daddy getting settled at home.

Labor

2009-05-12T11:52:00.000-04:00

Monday morning I woke up after a difficult night of sleep....random contractions kept waking me up throughout the night. They weren't regular, so I just tried to sleep as much as possible.

When I did finally wake up, I discovered my mucus plug had passed and I had some additional fluid leakage (sorry for the details). I wanted to make sure it was not a slow leak from my water bag so I called the midwife. I came into the office and she confirmed it was NOT amniotic fluid (good news) and then decided to do a non-stress test (which would have been done at my appointment on Tuesday anyway).

After 20 minutes on the fetal heart monitor, the baby's heart rate was awesome, and I discovered those little cramps I was having were actually mild contractions approximately 5-6 minutes apart. I was also dilated to 2 cm. Her best guess was that I would probably deliver within a day or two, but there was still a chance that the contractions would stop and that delivery was not eminent.

However, later in the evening the contractions became more intense, but stayed 5 minutes apart. I was able to sleep for about an hour at a time, with the really strong contractions waking me out of sleep. By 3:45 am I was up and timing them, rocking in my glider, reading a book and journaling. It is now 12:00 pm and the intensity of the contractions continues to increase but the space between them remains the same.

I did not go into work on Friday, Monday or Today. My due date was my last official day of work... which I am rather proud of!

My parents are still in Michigan, I am going to wait until we're leaving for the hospital to have them get in the car and start motoring. We won't leave for the hospital until the contractions are 3 minutes apart and I can't "breath through them" - meaning, they stop me in my tracks.

Jason is a gem - he is at my beck and call, but there isn't a whole lot he can do for me right now. He is standing by, waiting to whisk me to the hospital.

I may or may not be able to update this again before we leave, so keep your phone nearby and await a call from me, Jason, Michelle or Linda!!!

40 weeks + 2 Days

2009-05-09T18:38:00.000-04:00

Technically, Baby Meslin was conceived on this date 38 weeks ago. However, they track your pregnancy based on the first day of your last menstrual cycle and a woman typically ovulates 14 days after the first date of her menstrual cycle....anyway, you get the idea.

I am still feeling good, but no signs of labor.
I expect I'll be back to work on Monday.
However, Jason and I will be celebrating Mother's Day REGARDLESS!

In the mean time my midwife suggested taking Evening Primrose Oil. It's swallowed in capsule form and taken 3 times a day (not just in the evening, ha ha ha).

Why Evening Primrose Oil, you ask?

It is an "excellent source of prostaglandins, which readies your cervix for labor. The ripening of the cervix can help the baby’s head engage deeper into the pelvis, which can help with dilation. Ripening the cervix can cause some of the contractions that start labor. Sometimes, though, these contractions are simply Braxton-Hicks contractions, which help prepare the body for labor, but do not mean you are in active labor yet. Ripening the cervix can help trigger the onset of labor, but it is unlikely that evening primrose oil will bring on labor in a woman whose body is not otherwise ready."

I can say with quite a bit of certainty that my "body" is ready for labor....it's just the baby that is a little too comfy in my uterus.

It's also been suggested that I eat Chinese food - what, so I can retain ANOTHER gallon of water in my ankles from all the salt? No thank you.

Drive over a bumpy road. Well, my ride to work every morning would put most Michigan highways to to shame, so that hasn't worked.

There are a few others that aren't really appropriate to discuss on the blog, if you catch my drift.

In the mean time. Keep checking back on the blog, facebook, or texting me - but please know, if you are reading this, you are on my phone chain of people to call as soon as the baby arrives.

And Happy Mother's Day to my own mom, mother-in-law and all the women in my life! You deserve to be honored and pampered!!

It's a.....

2009-05-06T20:23:00.000-04:00

HUGE BELLY!

For all my blog-stalkers out there:

The 40 week appt yesterday produced no progress from the 39 week appt. however, Ursula still says that I can go at any time.

Tomorrow is the official due date. Since I have NO signs of labor at this time maybe we'll have a Mother's Day baby....or if my father is really lucky, the baby will arrive on his 60th birthday: Tuesday, May 12th. Either option would be nice considering I'd already be past my due date.

The next midwife appt. is next Tuesday. If I still haven't had the baby by then, they'll do a non-stress test where they just hook me up to the monitors to check the baby's stats for any signs of distress.

Oh, and Ursula predicts a 9 lb. baby (at least) but assured me (in her German accent) that my pelvis will handle it beautifully. I laughed. My co-worker Sarah's baby (now 2 weeks and 2 days old - but 3 weeks early) is still not even 8lbs....so my newborn will most likely out-weigh her child....

still waiting

2009-05-04T20:53:00.000-04:00

Yes. It's Monday, May 4th. I know my due date isn't until Thursday, May 7th, but we're all just so anxiously awaiting Baby Meslin's arrival, it seems like I'm already past due.

I will be seeing the Midwife again tomorrow - hopefully with an update that shows progress. I feel fine (down-graded from 'good'). My back and neck are getting a little sore from carrying around an extra ___ lbs. I don't even want to say how much I weigh. You wouldn't believe it anyway!

In order to distract me I went to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I don't care what anyone else tells you.... IT WAS AWESOME! We then had (non-alcoholic) drinks with some good friends on Saturday night - our last night out as non-parents! Then I spent Sunday sewing a super-cute sling for the baby and Mother's Day gifts for my mom and mother-in-law. I can't post photos of either until I have a baby to put into the sling and the mothers have received their gifts. But trust me - all my projects turned out cute!

I will post again tomorrow after my appointment.....keep checking back for updates!!

Let's review the numbers...

2009-04-28T22:19:00.000-04:00

My midwife examined me today to discover that I am 1 cm dilated, 80% effaced and the baby is at station -2. Additionally, their rough estimate is that the baby weighs 8 to 8.5 lbs. What does that all mean, you may ask?

DILATION: The amount the cervix has opened. I need to be 10 cm dilated in order to deliver (9 to go)
EFFACEMENT: The thinning of the cervix. I need to be 100% effaced to deliver - so I'm looking good here.
STATION: The position of the baby's head in relationship to the ischial spines (the bony parts that stick out on each side of the pelvis).
-5: baby's head is floating
0: baby's head is engaged
+5: baby's head is crowning
(refer to diagram above)

The size of the baby is no surprise, and if he/she decides to stay a little longer, that weight will only increase!

All-in-all, the numbers indicate good progress, but can't specify a delivery date. I technically have 8 more days until my due date, so I won't be taking matters into my own hands just yet (ie: trying at-home methods for inducing labor).

In a follow-up to my previous post: While my allergies and water retention are still in full-effect, the window-unit air conditioner was re-installed in my office today, providing some relief from the uncomfortable heat.

How am I feeling, you ask?

2009-04-27T20:26:00.000-04:00

Today was a difficult day.

The temperature in New Jersey was nearly 90 degrees.
We have no central air at my place of work.
We opened the windows hoping for a breeze.
All the trees around the building are blooming.
I have allergies.
I am retaining gallons of water in my hands and feet.

Result?

A day full of sweating profusely, blowing my nose, rubbing my eyes, and the subsequent removal of my shoes to prevent the leather from ripping at the seams.

Not to mention, it was just an annoying day at work. Fortunately, I was able to go home, put my feet up and order a pizza for dinner. Also, the weather channel forecasts a drop in temperature as of Wednesday to a more reasonable 65 degrees.

My next midwife appt. is tomorrow evening. Let's see what she says! If you're counting, it's 10 days until my due date.

I only wish my feet were this cute:

Babies Galore!

2009-04-23T21:38:00.000-04:00

1) At this week's midwife appointment when she tried to manually locate the baby's head she discovered that it is very LOW...and you know what that means? Baby Meslin has "dropped" and is in position and ready to move south....I'd like say that there is a specific timeline, but as all mothers know, the baby will come when it's good and ready.

2) A good friend of mine (and former co-worker) Sandy gave birth to her 3rd child, and, like me, DID NOT know the sex of the baby ahead of time. She already has two beautiful girls and I'm happy to report she and her husband welcomed a healthy baby boy named Brady into the world on Thursday, April 9th. Congrats to the McMillan family!

3) Some of you may know that my co-worker Sarah was pregnant right along with me. Her due date was 1 week after mine (May 14th) and this was also her first pregnancy. We had fun being pregnant together and providing humor and support for one another (we also have the same midwives). I am happy to report that Sarah gave birth on Tuesday, April 21st at 6:00 am to a 7 lb. 5 oz. baby girl named Chloe. Both mama and baby are doing great and I visited her at the hospital to take photos (and also got the low-down on hospital/delivery). Chloe couldn't be any more perfect and I am so happy for the Polhemus family!

In case your wondering, YES, I am slightly jealous that she gave birth before me, and YES, it makes me THAT much more excited for Baby Meslin to arrive.

37 weeks

2009-04-17T21:44:00.000-04:00

I almost can't believe that I'm at 37 weeks! I had a haircut and a pedicure this week in an attempt to feel a little more human and less like a cow, pig, or other fat animal about to give birth.

I have loved my pregnancy and been so grateful for my health and the health of my unborn baby. However, I am slowly losing my sense of humor about being pregnant. I know many women become "hormonal" crying over things like their shoes and clothes not fitting. I already outgrew my shoes and currently have only a handful of shirts that actually stretch over my belly. However, I am not sad. Instead I fit into the category of "angry pregnant lady" - I resort to being mean and nasty (mostly to my poor husband) when I am crabby or at the end of the day when all I want is to be comfortable (something that now alludes me 24 hours a day). One co-worker has affectionately begun to call me "Texas", as in "Don't mess with Texas" and also "As big as Texas" - both appropriate statements. I assume that my behavior at this late state is mostly excusable, but nonetheless, I apologize to anyone I may have offended or may offend in the upcoming weeks!

Now my weekly appointments have begun and in positive news, my midwife assured me that my Group B Strep test came back negative. Yeah!

Baby's Room!!

2009-04-11T15:07:00.000-04:00

Here it is! We don't have a mattress so I couldn't put the bumpers and sheets in the crib, but other than that, the baby's room is complete. We are also going to hang some crafty letters that spell the baby's name - once she/he has a name - above the crib.

I hope you like it. It's fairly non-traditional for a baby's room, which is why I like it!

32 days and counting!

2009-04-05T15:04:00.000-04:00

Here is a photo of me at 35 weeks....yikes!

Oh, and the photo is also a sneak-preview of the baby's room. We have a few more things to do before I post photos of the completed project, but all our furniture is put together (Thanks Jason!) and the baby's things are put away.

We tour the hospital this Wednesday and starting on Thursday I'll be seeing the midwife once a week until my due date. I am feeling good, but slowing down. Maneuvering this belly is quite a chore! I have 32 days until my due date (23 days of work) - I plan to work up until my due date, if my body permits it.

In addition to anxiously awaiting Baby Meslin, I am also awaiting the release of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" on May 1st. For those of you who don't know, I am obsessed with Wolverine! You should be too!

More Showering

2009-03-29T22:15:00.000-04:00

When you move to a new place, making friends can be difficult. You often look to your place of employment to provide you with a social network from which to build friendships. So, when I moved to New Jersey a little over a year ago and found a job, it became a little easier. I have been fortunate to work with some wonderful people, many of whom I now call friends.

Today my wonderful co-workers threw me a surprise baby shower! It was a joint baby shower because my co-worker Sarah is also preggers and due exactly 1 week after me. The shower was at Tara's lovely home in Pennington, NJ. and in spite of some rain, the day was perfect.

Much time, effort, planning, preparation and sneakiness went into the shower's execution. The food was all home-made and DELICIOUS, the presents were from the heart and generous, and the company was warm and friendly....what more can you ask for??? Sarah and I both got showered with beautiful gifts - some from our registry, while others were homemade, handmade or just plain creative and cute!

Tara's mom took a ton of photos, so I hope to have some to post soon.

Thanks to all that made this day possible - including my husband who should be commended for keeping this secret SO WELL!

Movin' and Shakin'

2009-03-28T12:41:00.000-04:00

Baby Meslin was was ball of energy this past Wednesday. I think she/he was just trying to get comfortable and was having some trouble re-positioning. I tried to tell her/him that little feet do not belong in mama's hip bone, but it took a long night of sleep on my side for baby to find a new position that suits us both well.

Jason just bought a video camera so we taped a few minutes of this activity. My shirt makes it a little hard to see, but if you look closely you should still see the movement in my belly. Enjoy!

7 weeks to go

2009-03-21T18:39:00.000-04:00

Photo Courtesy of Purple Tree Photography, Livonia, Michigan

A stranger asked me the other day, "When will your baby be here?". I said, "I suppose whenever it feels as though it's ready to be born." She looked confused, so I followed that up with, "I'm due May 7th." She said, "Oh. How nice!" Some people have no sense of humor!

In other news my feet, ankles, wrists and hands have reached a new level of water retention...causing me to buy a couple new pairs of shoes. I normally wear a size 9 1/2, but I had to buy a size 11...not for the length but for the overall width and in-step....my feet just got fat! Of course I am hoping to decrease in size after baby arrives, but I also realize it may just be another item to add to the "collateral damage to my body" list... and it's all so very worth it!

I've been waking up with numb hands....slightly disturbing. I confirmed this symptom with my other pregnant friends and then read this, which made me feel better.

I also wanted to report a genuine frustration with baby furniture ordering....the dresser we ordered arrived, we picked it up with the help of some friends, carried it up to the baby's room, unearthed it from it's well-preserved box and discovered it was seriously damaged! We returned it only to find that there are NO MORE available. It hasn't been discontinued, but they just don't have any.... we are waiting to hear how long it may, or maynot, take to get the darn dresser...until then, baby's room is in flux....you'll all have to wait to see photos of the finished room. I hope it's finished before baby's arrival.

Jason and I can hardly wait for he/she to arrive. Birthing classes are making the actual labor and delivery process very real....and a little scary. More fear of the unknown, than fear of pain. I feel totally confident that I am in good hands at Princeton Hospital and with my midwives.

Baby Shower

2009-03-11T18:20:00.000-04:00

We returned to our home in New Jersey last night, safe and sound, after having a fabulous weekend with my friends and family in Michigan. The reason for our trip was to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our first child by having him/her 'showered' with gifts, love, and affection. All of the above happened and all of it was overwhelmingly wonderful. As my cousin Christine put it, its amazing how much people can love someone they've never met and be so excited to welcome that person into this world. Our guests were so generous - even with the economic situation as it is. I feel so blessed, grateful and fortunate to have so many wonderful people who care about me and my family.

In addition, the weekend was a great opportunity to spend some quality time with my mom, sister and mother-in-law, Judy. We had time to just relax and visit. Jason had a chance to spend time with my dad and brother and also his beloved Nova (which is coming along nicely)! Everyone got to see and feel the baby moving inside my belly - which was fun, emotional and exciting.

The weekend was documented twice - once by a photographer who came to mom and dad's house to get shots of me, Jason and the belly, and again at the shower by my photographer friend Sean. I just received the images from the photographer (Kelli at Purple Tree Photography) and they are amazing. Click here to see some of the images (Scroll down to the post entitled "May Bump"). Sean took hundreds at the shower so it will take him a little while to get those to me and posted, but they will be up very soon.

So, although I will be sending out formal thank-you notes, this is my blanket "Thank You" to let everyone know how much I appreciate their kindness and for making this weekend so very special!

Baby's Room

2009-03-03T20:43:00.000-05:00

Jason finished painting the room this weekend (tulip yellow) and it looks fabulous! Once the furniture is assembled I will post more photos, until then this one will have to do. We have our shower this weekend so we'll be cramming that little room full of goodies come next week!

The two week visits have begun. I saw one of the midwives on Monday and she and I went over all the blood work from a few weeks ago. I was thrilled to find out that my glucose (which should be below 140) was only 77! I also found out that my iron levels and blood pressure were perfect! I feel good, but its good to know that all the 'numbers' say that I'm healthy too.

The baby is currently head-down (although he/she could flip again) with the spine to the right - great position so I hope baby stays that way.

Only 5 more days until the baby shower (and only 3 more days until we're back in Michigan). Yeah!!!

30 weeks (well....almost)

2009-02-26T19:26:00.000-05:00

In two days I will have hit the 30 week mark, meaning that I only have 10 weeks to go.

According to the average, the baby is about 3 lbs...considering the size of my belly, I am thinking the baby is a LITTLE bigger! Movements have gone from being a kick or a punch here and there, to what feels like a somersault or the baby repositioning itself...so sometimes an elbow or a knee gets stuck in one spot - feels and looks strange....oh yeah, did I mention? You can physically see my belly move when the baby moves (as opposed to just feeling a small vibration with your hand)

Also, the baby got its first case of the hiccups. How do you know it was the hiccups? Well, most movements are random, but the hiccups are small vibrations whose timing is evenly spaced. I also discovered that hiccups are a good thing - a sign that the baby's central nervous system is functioning properly. Yeah!

My gestational diabetes test came back negative too (whew!) - me and baby are still healthy and strong.

Not Fabio!!

2009-02-18T23:16:00.001-05:00

Jason and I religiously watch Top Chef every week. I am aware that Stefan is probably going to win, however, I was really pulling for Fabio.... sadly, he was booted off the show tonight. Fabio had consistently amused me each week with his Italian accent and sense of humor, he also loves to talk about his mother and grandmother's cooking, which is absolutely endearing. Needless to say, I am disappointed and frankly outraged to see him go.

You will be missed.

Next Wednesday is the finale in New Orleans....which reminds me of the trip that Jason and I took to the French Quarter in 2004. This was one of the best vacations we ever took and watching will surely bring back memories of the best food I've ever eaten.

Do you want some cheese with that WHINE?

2009-02-16T18:28:00.000-05:00

Since I found out I was pregnant I have managed to avoid the variety of illnesses that have plagued my colleagues...mind you, I work in a school so the flu and common colds are rampant. However, this weekend I contracted some sinus-y thing. I am trying to "take it easy" and let myself heal, but this illness is more annoying than debilitating, so I feel more lazy than sick.

I have been so blessed to have such a healthy, happy pregnancy. I fully realize that so many women cannot become pregnant and others must be on bed rest or have morning sickness for months.....so I try my best not to complain, or when I do, I throw in a few jokes so I can laugh about it. However, since I am sick and feeling fat, I am cranky and therefore, this is going to be a complaining post:

The baby is moving like crazy....while it's reassuring, it also keeps me up late or wakes me up in the morning....or just tap dances on my bladder...but also, it makes me crazy that I have to wait 3 MORE MONTHS to meet this baby that is performing acrobats in my belly!!!

My stretch marks are in full-effect...one day there were none, now there are a bunch. In spite of the lathering up of pre-natal lotions, nothing worked....and upon investigation, there is no evidence that ANY lotions can permeate the skin deep enough to prevent the muscles stretching to accommodate the baby. A valiant effort, but no dice.

The Linea Nigrea is a line from belly button to the pubic bone underneath the skin that darkens in the 2nd trimester - yeah, although I can't look down and see it, a quick glance in the mirror indicated that mine is approximately 1 cm. wide and VERY dark. It's supposed to go away afterwards, so we'll just cross our fingers until then.

There are a few other things I'd like to vent about, but I won't gross anyone out with the details.

I don't want anyone thinking that I had a symptom-free pregnancy, but I also censor my complaints so as not to seem ungrateful....ya know??

Can I touch your belly? (27 weeks edition)

2009-02-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

Before I became pregnant I always thought it was rude of people to touch, rub or even comment on "the belly". Personally, I am not nearly as sensitive now that I'm pregnant. In fact, I welcome the vast majority of attention my belly receives and here's why: My belly and the baby inside makes other people happy. No one walks up to the belly with a scowl - in fact its the complete opposite! My family, friends and co-workers instantly get a smile on their face when they see me and my belly toddling their way.

The may comment on how big my belly is (which, let's be honest, its HUGE for only 27 weeks) but they usually tell me that I look good (it's always a good idea to tell a pregnant woman she looks good, even if she looks chubby or like she hasn't slept in a week) and then they smile and/or giggle and ask me how I am feeling. The fact that my unborn child brightens some one's day even for a moment makes me feel important and makes the aches and pains a little easier to bear.

Having said that, I have not had the opportunity to be approached by any strangers seeking to fondle my stomach....I will probably not be receptive to that. People are welcome to ask when I'm due, if its my first, guess the sex and congratulate me. But keep your hands off the merchandise.

Here are a few new photos...I figure the closer I get to my due date (May 7th) the faster I'll grow, so I'll try to post new photos every two weeks. These are in the empty baby's room. Thanks to Jason, who has been great at moving furniture and organizing space to make room for the baby and its accouterments!

P.S. Whether you can tell from the photos or not, I appear larger than 27 weeks to most observers....I have decided I might buy a shirt and have it screen printed with the answer "Yes, there is only ONE baby in here".

Baby Bedding? Check!

2009-01-28T19:28:00.000-05:00

I just completed the baby's room bedding which includes the following:

Bumpers

Quilt

Memory Board

Curtains (in plaid)
Bed Skirt (in yellow gingham)

The photos aren't the greatest - since the room isn't set up, you'll have to visualize how it will all look together!

Hope you like it!!

25 Weeks

2009-01-22T19:46:00.000-05:00

Here I am at nearly 25 weeks. Fun Fact: I have gained approximately 20 lbs and my belly measures 45" around....YIKES!

(my face looks fat in this photo....but really, I don't think it is that fat in person)

Jason and I registered at Babies "R" Us this past weekend. My back nearly gave out towards the end, but Jason graciously completed the check list while I tested out the store's gliders.

Since we are not finding out the sex of the baby ahead of time we are not "gendering" the room....truth be told, I don't think I would have gone pastel pink/blue even if we did know. So, instead we've opted for primary colors (yellow, red, blue) and teddy bears - not as a theme, necessarily, but because I personally love and collect them, they are rather gender-neutral, and a very classic toy.

Here are the two fabrics I am using to make the bedding (which is why you will not find bedding on our registry):

I hope you like it - cause we LOVE it!

The Future

2009-01-20T13:56:00.000-05:00

Listening to the words of Barack Obama, I lovingly hold onto my belly and feel the baby inside kick. Just as this child is full of promise and hope, so is our nation and our new President.

I’ve prayed for this day for years. Not just for a new President, or for an African-American President, or for a person’s whose politics I agree with – but rather, I’ve prayed for a person whose spirit would bring together the people of our nation. I’ve prayed for a healer – not for someone to fix the economy or end the war, but a person whose power would heal the wounds of divisiveness and intolerance and replace it with a belief in each another.

As I reflect upon and the nation I call home, I am not angry at the loss of jobs, foreclosed homes, or the military complex. Instead, I am grateful for the ballots I’ve cast, the city streets I’ve walked, and the education I’ve earned – for all of these are freedoms not afforded to everyone in this world. These are freedoms for which others have given their minds, bodies and souls to defend. With such freedom comes the great responsibility of passing along to our children the torch of pride in our great nation.

And so, I shed tears of joy as I think about the optimism into which my child will be born. Only in times of crisis can we truly teach the power of gratitude, humility, and appreciation. My child and my family will not only learn to endure, but learn that beyond these dire straits lies a pool of wealth - not made of dollars, but of love.

Belly Buttons

2009-01-07T17:44:00.000-05:00

Belly buttons are strange and wonderful things. I've been noticing mine a lot more lately because its been changing shape.....from an inney to an outey. The stretching of my belly has currently positioned my belly button to lie flat, but I am sure before this is all over it will be protruding like a thumb!

But inside the belly button (not literally) there is a story of my own birth. It is what is left of the physical bond between my mother and I. 28+ years ago I was inside her womb and she fed and nurtured me through my umbilical cord attached right where my belly button now lies.

Think about it for a moment. Think about your mom and how once upon a time you were tied together through that silly-looking thing on your belly.

It's ironic and amazing that underneath my belly button, my own child is growing. When the baby arrives and the midwife clamps the cord, Jason will be asked to sever that physical bond once and for all. The child that I carried for 9 months will be able to be nurtured and cared for by both of us now outside the womb. Creating an new bond - an emotional bond that will last a lifetime.

Christmas

2009-01-01T23:31:00.000-05:00

With our families being so far away, we alternate major holidays to make sure we spend quality time with everyone. This year we visited my family for Thanksgiving, which means that Christmas was dedicated to Jason's family down in Wichita, KS.

We had a week to catch up with Jason's mom and dad as well as his sister, brother-in-law (B.I.L.) and our 3 nieces and 1 nephew. The kids are always the highlight of the trip because they grow and change so much from visit to visit...especially the littlest one: Rowan who is just under 3 years old.

We also visited our friends Russell and Debra and their little boy Riddick (now 2 years old) and Craig & Sarah. Last but not least, we went to Christmas Eve and Sunday service at church with Pastor John Clayton - I wish that I could fly him here every Sunday to hear him preach - he and his wife Sandy are wonderful and they welcome us so warmly every time we're home.

Jason and I exchanged gifts before we left and I received a new Canon Rebel XS - so you can imagine the excitement I felt as well as the photography bonanza that followed! (see below)

I was able to celebrate with my parents and Jacob & Salama yesterday when we used the webcam to open gifts (ironically, the webcam was a gift from my mom LAST Christmas)....It was waaaaaay better than doing it over the phone and I can't imagine having opened our presents without the gift-givers present to watch. Michelle and Tim's gifts are due to arrive tomorrow and we will webcam-open-gifts with them this weekend. Of course it isn't the same, but it'll have to do until next year!

We are so blessed to have such wonderful families who practically fight over us when it comes to holidays. We're also blessed to have enjoyed such a generous, happy, healthy Christmas. Our families always make it special - not with gifts, but with the thoughtfulness behind every holiday tradition, from cookies to wrapping, it's the little things that make us happy.

My X-mas Morning Baby Bump

Jason Troy

Jason Lee with Rowan Lee (playing with her doctor's kit)

Eden Jae

Caitlin Michelle

Rowan Lee

Riddick

Why a midwife?

2008-12-30T22:25:00.000-05:00

I often get asked the question, "Why are we using a midwife?" The question is a great one because so many people have a mis-perception of what midwives do.

Recently a great article was published by Jennifer Block, (author of "Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care") entitled Midwives Deliver. It goes beyond answering why I am using a midwife and answers the more broad question of why should ANYONE use a midwife. It also discusses why midwives are better for our nation as a whole with regards to healthcare costs.

* I highly recommend "Pushed" to anyone who is even thinking of having a child someday. It gives you an amazingly scary perspective on modern maternity care. As Jason says, I tend to rage against the machine - but considering we're talking about your body and your baby you better know your rights!

another view of baby...

2008-12-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

I know you were all excited to see the baby's ultrasound, but in case you wanted to see what the baby looks like from the outside, here is me at 19 1/2 weeks...

Ultrasound!

2008-12-15T20:46:00.001-05:00

It might be easier to see the baby like this:

Imagine it's standing, looking slightly to the left, waving it's right hand! (the large black circle on the baby to the right of the screen is the stomach)

Although I am technically 19 weeks + 4 days, the baby is measuring at 20 weeks+ 2 days.

Words can't quite describe the pure excitement we felt today. We laughed and cried tears of joy as we took the first glimpse of Baby Meslin. What an amazing experience this was. I can't believe what technology can do! The technician could measure the length of baby's bones, size of the skull and size of its body; she could tell me that the kidneys and bladder were working; she could see all four chambers of the heart; she could even tell us that the baby weighed approximately 12 oz. - healthy and growing at a perfect pace.

To see it open its mouth or move its hands, was surreal - we didn't want to leave that office. If everything goes according to plan, we won't see the baby again until it officially arrives*!! For now I am looking forward to feeling more movements and watching my belly grow :)

*For those of you who don't know, Jason and I are planning to have a lo-tech pregnancy and birth. Our first step was choosing a midwife as opposed to a OBGYN, we've also chosen to have only one ultrasound, and no first trimester testing. We have done our research and know what is available to us, but we're opting out of things that we feel aren't necessary.

Randomness

2008-12-14T23:17:00.000-05:00

During our Christmas shopping session we stopped at Panera Bread for lunch around the corner from our townhouse. Lo and behold, we had a celebrity siting: Andrew Shue. You may remember him for his role on Melrose Place or for being the brother of Elizabeth Shue (who replaced the original role of Jennifer in Back to the Future III, which I watched on cable Saturday morning). More recently (2007) they both starred in the film Gracie - a sweet feminist chick-flick about a female soccer player (loosely based on their own lives). Either way, he is a celebrity and he drank his fresh-squeezed lemonade about 2 feet from me.

One of the perks of living on the east coast.

The Holiday is Upon Us

2008-12-13T19:41:00.000-05:00

We caught the matinee of the American Repertory Ballet's Nutcracker today. They are a professional ballet company but they also run the Princeton Ballet School where I take classes.

The performance was wonderful and the costumes were AMAZING. The only thing that could have made it better was a live orchestra, but otherwise it was simply spectacular. The opening scene brought me to tears....I mean, I am a little emotional right now, but really, it was just that beautiful.

It reminded me of my younger days in dance. I remember seeing these beautiful ballerinas so poised yet flexible, strong yet delicate - they are the embodiment of femininity - real life princesses - disciplined and gorgeous. (Disclaimer: The feminist in me is well aware of the strict gender roles at play in ballet and the idea that it creates unrealistic expectations for little girls. This knowledge does not change my appreciation for ballet as an art)

We left the theatre and ventured across the Delaware into New Hope for an early dinner at Marsha Brown: Refined Creole Kitchen & Lounge. The service was fabulous and the food was even better. We tried the following: Crab Cheesecake appetizer, Seafood Gumbo, Crab & Lobster Bisque, Jambalaya, and Atlantic Salmon - all of which we recommend.

For those of you who do not live in the Greater Philadelphia area (ie: friends and family) please know that if you come to visit, this restaurant will be on our list of attractions.

A True Vacation

2008-12-11T20:27:00.001-05:00

photo courtesy of Sean McClelland

What is the definition of vacation? "leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure" - being home with my family for Thanksgiving was all of that and more. I got to see so many people I love and spend real quality time with them.

We celebrated Chase's 1st birthday with Dana's family and friends - I sometimes forget how long we've known each other and how well I know her family. They're kind-of like an extended family to me so it only made sense to spend part of my holiday with them too.

I visited all my old friends at Shelby Township and carved out a couple hours to spend at Ocean Breeze with my former-coworker, best-friend, and 2nd-mom, Sue B. It was great to catch up on local gossip and to be around people who know me, inside and out.

I got up early most mornings and drank coffee and chatted with mom; I got up waaaay early to re-learn how to make the fabulous stuffing my mother always makes for Thanksgiving dinner; I watched the Woodward Parade; I baked Christmas cookies with mom and Michelle all afternoon, searching for a recipe that came close to Grandma's (which we found); I got some chicken shawarma at Grape Leaves; My whole family sat down together to watch the Polar Express.

Now doesn't that just sound perfect? It was.

Fun at the Flyers Game

2008-11-23T14:08:00.000-05:00

Jason and I went to a Philly Flyers game last night. We had a blast for a couple of reasons: 1) the Wachovia Center is gorgeous (especially in comparison to Joe Louis Arena - sorry Joe) 2) We had seats 8 rows back from the flyer's bench 3) the Flyers won in sudden-death overtime - VERY EXCITING!

Back to my comment about Joe Louis.....can someone tell me why we can't get a new arena? Our winningest team in Detroit gets no respect? I'm not even a big hockey fan and I think they deserve it!

Sorry Lions, but I think it was a bunch of BS that your sorry-bottoms got a brand new stadium! My dad is the most die-hard fan and it is ONLY for his sake that I'm glad you have a nice place to play.

Teaching Our Children

2008-11-23T13:32:00.001-05:00

On a more serious note, there was a downer in the evening at the game. It was a conversation I overheard between a man and his 9 or 10 year old son next to me. A Flyers player had a break-away and missed an opportunity to get a goal. The dialogue went as such:

Father: (angry) Why is that guy in the NHL?
Impressionable Son: Which guy?
Father: The Chinese guy!

a little later....

Father: There he is again!!
Impressionable Son: who?
Father: Pork-Fried Rice Guy

The guy obviously saw nothing wrong with this conversation because he didn't even try to lower his voice - not that it would have made it okay, but at least he would have been conscious that it inappropriate.

I could just see this little boy going to school and calling some Asian classmate "Pork Fried Rice" and not even really understanding what it means or why its so damaging. To this man, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai - they're probably all "Chinese" - the lack of respect for their heritage, the lack of understanding of their diversity, it all creates ignorance and breeds hate. This guy probably says that he is not a racist and tries to "teach" his kids that "black people are good too"....and he really believes that he's not racist.

Homophobia, sexism, racism, etc. are so embedded, so internalized, that we often only see them through the use of everyday language. Referring to an event as "so gay", calling another driver "dumb bitch", saying a woman has a "ghetto booty"....it may all seem funny, or harmless, but it all reinforces a long history of hate for someone because they are different than you.

This is why being "Politically Correct" should not be such a frowned upon term. Being PC simply means being conscious of the fact that certain language historically has been meant to marginalize others.

What we DO teaches our children MORE than when attempt to TEACH them. Good manners, good morals, equality and respect are all born out of modeling, not preaching those qualities to children.

I am mad at myself for not saying something... I don't know what I could have said that would have made a difference. Hopefully this blog is my way of speaking out, but unfortunately, that man will never read this.

NOTE: I wanted to look up info on the player the man was referring to in order to give him his proper respect. Arron Asham is not "Chinese" but rather is an Ojibway native Canadian from the province of Manitoba and is reportedly VERY proud of his ancestry.

Sorority

2008-11-23T13:15:00.000-05:00

I never belonged to a sorority. I wasn't a traditional college student - I worked full-time, went to school at night, and lived at home with the parents and commuted to a local University. I don't necessarily dislike sororities, but I never pictured myself being the sorority-type.

This past week, I was telling Jason about conversations I've been having with women since I found out I was pregnant. All the mother's of the kids at school I work for suddenly have so much to say and share with me regarding pregnancy and kids...it's pleasant, but almost alarming. Jason told me it was as if I was rushing a sorority. I am in the pledge class ("pregnant"), my hazing ("labor & Delivery") will determine my being invited in, and then I will be a member ("mother").....My hubby has always been good with analogies, but this is by far, one of his best.

While I am excited to enter the Mommy Sorority, I am also sad that I am leaving behind my prior designation. My friends who are single and/or married w/out kids will of course remain my friends, but the environment I am moving into is inherently different. Much like how a sorority/fraternity separates you from other classmates and prior friends, so does parenthood.

I don't know that its the same for men...in fact, I'm fairly certain that its not. I am determined to not let motherhood consume me to the point where I am ONLY a mother. I need my friends and family to remind me of the Rebecca I was before the baby came: wife, daughter, sister, friend, feminist, sassy-pants, etc. So if you talk to me and all I can converse about it little peanut's spit-up, the color of peanut's poop, and how exhausted I am, please stop me and say, "can we talk about something else". I will try to remember not to take it personally, but rather appreciate your attempt to remind me that being a mother is more than baby's bodily fluids - it's about being the woman you always were and bringing baby along for the ride!

Thankful

2008-11-19T22:55:00.000-05:00

We went today to meet another one of the midwives at Princeton Midwifery Care and just check-up on me. According to their scales I've gained 3 lbs (according to my calculations I've gained 5 lbs....so I'll go with theirs). We heard a nice, strong heartbeat and confirmed our appointment for our ultrasound the week before Christmas - once again - we are NOT finding out the sex of the baby.

Needless to say, Jason and I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: our health, our families, our future child, our careers, and our successful new life here in NJ. We are travelling back to Michigan for the Thanksgiving holiday - leaving here next Tuesday and returning the following Sunday. We are trying to keep the trip low-key and spending as much time relaxing with my family as possible. Having said that, I am excited to see all my friends at Shelby Township and having a crazy-long lunch with Sue Bianchi, celebrate Chase's 1st birthday and attend my 10-year high school reunion!

I want to be able to hug my mom, dad, sister and brother and have them put their hands on my growing belly for the first time! We talk all the time, but I miss their hugs and kisses now more than ever.

Truthfully, I am most looking forward to eating my mom's stuffing. My mom's cooking has always represented her love and devotion to her family. Her stuffing is the quintessential old-fashioned, unique and delicious product that no one could ever reproduce. Unfortunately, I received a warning NOT to eat stuffing that is baked inside the turkey due to the fact that the internal temperature of bird may not get high enough to kill all the harmful bacteria which can be dangerous for preggo women....umm....seriously, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, will stop me from eating my mother's stuffing. DO YOU HEAR ME?

15 weeks

2008-11-13T20:33:00.000-05:00

Here are some photos of me a 15 weeks
wearing a beautiful top that my mama bought me (thanks!)

Italian food ....in Mexico?

2008-11-09T13:49:00.000-05:00

Jason and I spent a little less than a week in Mexico to celebrate our friend's wedding and take a much needed vacation. We enjoyed the sun and sand as well as the company of some great friends in Playa Del Carmen and in Cozumel. Mize and Deidre's ceremony on the beach was beautiful as was Wyndham resort that we stayed at.

The only disappointment of the trip was the lack of authentic Mexican food. The resort was all-inclusive and had 2 restaurants open for dinner both of which had nice food....Mosaique was Asian Fusion and Roberto's was Italian...um....really? I didn't travel by car, plane, taxi, and ferry for 10 hours to get to an Italian restaurant - I live in Jersey for God's sake.

Proud Moment in American History

2008-11-09T13:28:00.000-05:00

The blogosphere is humming with election coverage and post-election results. I was in Mexico and upon my return last night I tried to read as much as possible. It was sad to not be able to share in the election night excitement but the true excitement is yet to come. I am thrilled for the future of my family and my (unborn) child.

I can't wait to tell the story of this monumental election cycle. I distinctly remember the first time I heard Barack Obama's name. It was long before his bid for the Presidency and Jason was reading a Time magazine article about the rising star Senator from Illinois. My Republican husband said "I would vote for this man for President." At the same time we were taking notice, millions of others were too.

Seasons Change

2008-11-09T12:53:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to post come bright and beautiful fall colors from near our home. I took these a few weeks back - enjoy!

ahhhh.....maternity jeans

2008-11-02T08:41:00.000-05:00

Week 12 has commenced and I am feeling better than ever. My energy is officially back and my eating is too! I eat every couple of hours so I must take snacks and water with me everywhere I go.

Yesterday I wore maternity jeans for the first time! I had to work and I was going to be sitting the majority of the day and the thought of my regular jeans cutting into my stomach for 6 hours was more than I could bear. Let me tell you – I LOVE MATERNITY CLOTHES! They are soooo comfortable and I can let my belly hang out and not even care!

Suffrage: The right or privilege of voting.

2008-11-02T08:31:00.000-05:00

The election is days away and many people have already voted – including me! I will be in Mexico for a friend’s wedding so Jason and I voted absentee. However there are many people out there who won’t vote early or at all...this notion continues to baffle me.

This week I watched one of my favorite movies: Iron Jawed Angels. A HBO film made just a few years ago, detailing the life and times of the women who gave the final push to win women’s suffrage through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920. The struggle that began with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony in 1848, but was not won until long after their death. However, the powerful story is one ALL women should hear. I truly believe, if you watch that movie, you will feel the power and determination that drove these feminists and feel a social, political, and cultural responsibility to vote in every election.

It has an all-star cast with great historic accuracy, beautiful costumes, and commendable acting. Men should also be interested in watching this part of our nations history that is often left out of history books.

This movie moved me - it enraged me – it made me cry. Above all, it made me proud to be an American woman and thankful to my foremothers for their undying passion for the pursuit of equality that has allowed me the opportunities I enjoy today.

"I'm a hungry, hungry, hippo"

2008-10-24T10:28:00.000-04:00

So, as many of you know, my blog is rather random. I like to post what makes me happy and share information that I think others will find helpful, interesting or funny. Having said that, and having lost the vast majority of my nausea, I am once again posting about one of my favorite things....FOOD!

I have my favorite food network shows....don't we all? I love Barefoot Contessa, Everyday Italian, Iron Chef America, Good Eats, Ace of Cakes, and Paula Dean....okay, so I love MOST of the food network's offering. One of my less-than-favorite shows is 30-Minute meals. WHY? Well, Rachel Ray kinda annoys me. BUT, I do like some of her recipes and I found this one on the foodnetwork.com and made it for dinner last night. I thought I would share, 'cause its super-easy, but appears gourmet and fancy.

Also, I wouldn't change a thing about the recipe (which is rare for me) so NO substitutions.

Love Birds - Chicken in Pastry

Ingredients
4 pieces skinless chicken breast, boned (about 8 ounces each)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 sprigs fresh finely chopped rosemary
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 sheet puff pastry (11 by 17-inch), (recommended: Dufour)
8 slices Italian fontina cheese, slices should be 2 to 3-inches square and 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick, cut in 1/2
1/2 cup fig preserves
1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Season the chicken with salt, pepper and rosemary. Cut each piece of chicken in half across the breast giving you 8 equal portions. Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly brown the chicken on both sides, 5 minutes total. Remove from heat.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut pastry into 8 pieces. Place a piece of cheese on each pastry square and top with spoonfuls of fig preserves and the chicken pieces. Pinch and seal the dough up and over the meat and cheese, seal with egg wash, flip the pastry packets over and brush the tops with remaining egg wash. Bake 12 to15 minutes, until golden.

For entree portions, simply leave chicken breast whole and cut the pastry into quarters. Trim off excess dough and use it to decorate the pastry with small cut outs such as heart shapes.

For the recipe click here.

maternity humor

2008-10-18T21:14:00.001-04:00

I've seen a variety of funny maternity t-shirts - many are tacky and in poor taste, but some are downright hilarious. I can't decide which one is funniest...shall we take a vote?

1. "Watermelon Smuggler"
2. "And how does hearing your awful labor story help me, exactly?"
3. "Say hello to my lil' friend"
4. "Do my shoes match?"
5. "Pregasauras Rex"
6. "I'm making a human. What have you done today?"
7. "If you didn't put this baby in here, don't even think about touching my stomach"

These shirts are available here and here.

Hormones?

2008-10-18T20:02:00.000-04:00

I am now at 11 weeks and have been fortunate that my pregnancy hormones have not reared their ugly head...until today.

I was shopping at Barnes and Noble and found the cutest Christmas Cards. I decided to take a photo with my phone and send it to my mom and sister to share in the humor, but while taking the photo all I could think was: if I were in Michigan right now, Michelle and Mom would be with me shopping and I wouldn't be here shopping alone. I burst into tears right in the middle of my 1/2 caf, iced, non-fat, vanilla carmel latte from Starbucks....it took several minutes to get myself under control.

I decided to grab lunch so I headed to Panera. There was a elderly couple kinda-sorta standing in line so I said:

Me: Are you ready to order?
Cute Old Man: I am, but she's not (pointing to his wife). She has trouble making up her mind (winking at me)
Me: Okay. (burst into tears)

The sweet old man reminded me of my Zhidie (grandpa), complete with old-man trucker hat, windbreaker, and slightly hunched back. His wife reminded me of grandma too. I can't be totally certain why I was crying....possibly because they were too cute having lunch together on a Saturday? Or thinking about my grandparents who are no longer on earth with me and how exciting it would have been for them to see a great-grandchild? I was "this" close to asking if I could eat lunch with them in order to satisfy my need for some family time. Instead I cried into my Orchard Harvest Salad.

Then, on my way out, I was hit two more times with reminders of my distance from family. I saw a guy with a Michigan State hat and sweatshirt on and then I smelled a woman wearing my Aunt Cindy's perfume. I bolted from Panera before I started sobbing again.

Of course, Jason isn't home today (just my luck) so I couldn't lean on him, and OBVIOUSLY I can't drink, so I drown my sorrows in a little retail therapy, but even the fabulous red dress I found at Marshalls for $20 couldn't cheer me up.

I miss my family, no doubt, but most days I can text, e-mail, or call them and be reminded that we're not too far away. I new that when I became pregnant, the distance would seem much greater and it has, but at the same time, its brought us much closer.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY:

It's easy to have a relationship with your kids and grandkids when they live down the street or the next town over, but you really have to make an effort when they live states away. My point? My family has shown me how much they care by taking the time and energy to be a part of my life, my marriage and this pregnancy everyday and I know that care will only grow with each passing day. THAT (and not physical distance)is what makes me feel close to them.

WE'RE PREGNANT!

2008-10-14T23:23:00.001-04:00

Jason and I are happy to announce the anticipated arrival of our first child!

FAQs

Q: When are you due?
A: May 7th (I am currently in my 10th week)

Q: Do you know what you're having?
A: A baby. But we do not plan on finding out the sex of the baby...if that's what you meant.

Q: Do you have names picked out?
A: Yes, but nothing definite. Either way you won't know until after the baby arrives. Sorry!

Q: How are you feeling?
A: I was feeling quite a bit of nausea and exhaustion in the first few weeks, but it's beginning to subside.

Q: Do you have a OB/GYN or a Midwife?
A: We have found a wonderful Midwifery practice here in Princeton and the delivery will be at the University Medical Center at Princeton.

Q: Have we had an ultrasound yet?
A: We listened to the heartbeat this past Thursday, but won't have an ultrasound until around 20 weeks (right before Christmas)

NOTE: The blog will not be devoted COMPLETELY to the baby, but it will include photos of my growing belly, the baby's room, etc. and it will continue to include my normal, everyday posts, some with a new perspective. wink!

visitors

2008-10-14T23:06:00.000-04:00

We were very lucky to have Chase, Dana and Scott visit us this past weekend. We had a great time! It was nice to have friendly faces and warm hugs from family (cause they're really like family) in our new home.

We went into Philly for the day on Saturday and took our very own "National Treasure" tour (one of Dana's favorite movies). You couldn't beat the weather with a stick and without massive crowds and traffic, the day was perfect.

Here are just a few photos from the trip:

Inspiration (Part I)

2008-10-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

God has blessed me with so many gifts in my life. Every day I am grateful for my husband, family and friends because they are my inspiration. They inspire me to be a better person, to give much and ask for little, to smile, to laugh, to cry and to create.

There are two blog sites listed to the right that are written by two of my best friends. 30s in Progress (by Sean) and Canning Tomatoes (by Lacey). I am thrilled to have them as fellow bloggers after having them as friends for so long. Their creativity, talent, and energy motivate me. I am constantly amazed by what they write, speak and create through their work. I am also eternally grateful for their love and support. Our conversations often revolve around philosophy, humor and understanding. If you have the opportunity, read a post or two from their blogs and I'm sure you'll see the beauty in their writing that I love.

p.s. this is the first in a series of "thank you" posts honoring people who inspire me.

I could have been a ballerina

2008-10-08T20:40:00.000-04:00

After a serious hiatus from dance, I have returned to the past time I love so much. I began dancing at age 3 and practiced everything from pointe to clogging. Tap was always my (and my mother's) favorite but ballet was the integral foundation to all other classes.

I remember being enrolled in Suzette's ballet class and the severe discipline she would instill in us. To say she "yelled" would be an understatement...she struck fear into my heart and made me question my ability to dance on a weekly basis. I wasn't great, nor was I competitive like some of my friends - I was just happy dancing. After a while I didn't feel like there was a place for me at the studio, I got a little older and I decided to stop. I do regret it sometimes, but I'll never forget what I learned while dancing, nor will I ever regret all the years I danced.

American Repertory Ballet has a ballet school in Princeton (lucky me) and great adult evening classes. I'm in the beginner class on Wednesday nights and I AM LOVING IT! I wish I could take classes 3 nights a week but it would break my budget.

My instructor, Douglas Martin, is amazingly talented and funny. Gone are my days of fearing my instructor and anxiously praying for the minutes move faster. Now, I am dissapointed when I look at the clock and only 15 minutes are left of my 75 minute class.

Watching a beautiful ballet can actually bring me to tears and I love the way I feel while I'm dancing - like yoga or sewing, it provides me with a sense of zen. The rest of the world falls away and its just me and the music.