Pancakes...and Pictures

My big pancake breakfast took place this weekend! It was fun and delicious...but I was full and felt kind of crappy all day yesterday! I usually eat agave nectar on my pancakes and don't think I ever want to eat syrup again! We meet with Jasmine next week to find out if the results are good. I didn't eat all of the food in pictured...but had to eat 2-3 pancakes, 1/8 c. of syrup, 2 forms of protein and at least 8 oz. of juice. See amazing feast below...

And here is a picture of me and our baby at 27+ weeks. I am getting big these days! But that is the goal! Baby is about 14 inches long and weighs in at a whopping 2 pounds this week. The third trimester has officially begun...cannot believe how soon this little baby will be here!



Lastly, here is a picture of beautiful Harvey Gap. Western Garfield County gets a pretty bad rap sometimes, but look at this picture! How beautiful is that water and the mountains...just breath-taking! The water is so clear and the most wonderful shade of blue-green, it looks like it could be a tropical island. But it's here in Colorful Colorado...and only a few miles from our house!



We had a great visit with my Dad and Pam this weekend! Got to see some great sites and spend some time together! Strange to realize that the next time we see each other, there will be a tiny new addition to the family! And this is just the beginning of the visitors that will be coming out to see us this summer...so excited!!!

Meeting Ronda

Yesterday we had the great pleasure of meeting Ronda, who will be Baby B's future daycare provider! I know it may sound a bit early to be worrying about this, but when I started calling in February, several of the daycare providers I spoke with already knew that they didn't have room for any new kids come this fall. Other providers I spoke with weren't willing to take us on a waitlist or couldn't be sure that they would have room for a little one come October(ish).

And then, we found Ronda! One of the many perks of Ronda's daycare is that she is just blocks from my office. I could literally walk over to her house anytime during my day to get a baby fix, if needed.

Miss Ronda might be the sweetest little gal, which is so great! We got to watch her interact with her own children and the other kids at the daycare and she treats them with respect and gets respect in return. It was quite nice to watch her interact with her teenage son and hear him respond so respectfully. Sure, you can help me raise my kids if they'll turn out like that!!!

Needless to say, I couldn't be more pleased with our future daycare provider!

Also? We saw Jasmine yesterday. Baby B is growing very well! We got to hear Baby's itty bitty heart beating away at 152 bpm. She also was able to feel the baby's head, which is already down. I laughed and said, "For now, but I'm sure the baby will move around 1000 times between now and August." Jasmine informed me that most babies are in their delivery position by 28-32 weeks...so good job, Baby B! Now just stay put and keep growing!

I get to do my glucose test this week, to check for Gestational Diabetes! I know most pregnant women don't get excited about this, but...we get to do it a little differently! I get to eat 75 grams of sugar, which translates to a big ol' pancake breakfast! I am so excited for this feast! And...she also provides me with a glucometer so I can test myself as needed. So much better than drinking some little drink and then sitting at the hospital.

As of the end of this week, we will be 27 weeks along...with only 13 short weeks to go before we get to meet our little baby! At 27 weeks, our baby weighs about 2 pounds and is about 14.5 inches long! We're almost to the third trimester...I can't believe it!!

Bring on the pancakes!

Guess the day!

So, we thought it would be fun to see what you guys think we're having and when it will happen!

Here's some background...

We're not finding out the sex, so we have absolutely no idea if baby is a girl or a boy. And, no, I don't have a feeling one way or the other and I haven't had any dreams about gender.

Our estimated date of delivery, according to my cycle is August 27, 2010. According to our ultrasound, our estimated date is August 25, 2010. (We're sticking with August 27 because it's not enough of a difference to change anything!)

I was born a month premature and Eric was born right on time.

So, tell us what you think the following will be...

Gender
Weight
Height
Date of birth
Time of birth

Anyone can post a comment here, so go for it! And we'll see if anyone out there has some psychic abilities!!!

Enough Already!

When I decide to share with 'you' that we are having a home birth, that does not give you permission to relay to me the one sad story of the one person you've heard of through a friend of a friend who decided to go the home birth route.

Nor does it warrant the responses, "You're going to do THAT? Who's going to clean up the mess?" But I'm not all fired up about comments like that right now...I'm more worked up about the terrible story 'you' have chosen to share with me and my baby. If I could cover Baby B's ears when 'you' start telling these stories, I totally would!

Eric and I have done our research and chosen this as the safest, best option for us. Need I remind 'you' that home birth has THE SAME fatality rate as hospital births, for women who have normal, healthy pregnancies. And the rates for other interventions are much lower. (Perhaps 'you' should read my previous post talking about home birth statistics. Or better yet, do some research on your own so that you're not reading the facts that I've found...there are tons more out there).

And the fact that I have chosen to share this information with 'you' means that I trust and respect 'you' and didn't expect that 'you' would have one of these comments to share with me about our decision.

I am well aware of the fact that newborn babies pass away all the time, in many different settings. Matter of fact, I get to see some terrible situations working with 0-3 year old children and am well aware that parents can lose a child at really any time, any age, any situation. So please, try to refrain from reminding me that mom's lose their babies all the time...not just at home, but in hospitals, too. I'm guessing 'you' aren't sharing terrible stories of babies dying in hospitals with other expecting moms.

Of course, this isn't directed towards anyone reading this blog...these comments are aimed at people who I have chosen NOT to share this blog with. I know, preaching to the choir, but it sure felt good to get that off my chest!

Mother's Day

Today is my official first Mother's Day. I may not be holding a baby just yet, but I am working on growing a baby and I think that is cause for celebrating this day!

My wonderful husband got me the cutest maternity dress, which I can't wait to wear! And, of course, the sweetest card ever...he's so good at cards, it's unreal! However, that's about where the celebrating ended today! I have been fighting some terrible allergies this weekend, luckily Eric had to work and I spent the majority of the day on the couch! Doesn't sound like the most glamorous Mother's Day, but I figure it's the last Mother's Day I'll spend all alone! I did enjoy spending the day doing whatever I wanted or needed...which consisted of watching girly movies, taking a long hot shower, giving myself a manicure and pedicure and snuggling with our sweet pets. Next year I'm sure we'll be out and about doing something fun with an almost 9 month old...totally different ball game! And I can't wait!!!

I have had a week of recovering from Elevation, where I calculated that I danced for 20 hours in 3 short days! I took 8 workshops in those few short days...no wonder I needed some time to recooperate! In reading this, it sounds like all I do with my days is relax and sit around...I assure you this is not the case! Eric and I continue to go on our almost nightly walks, I do yoga and I am belly dancing! Hoping this will all help make labor and delivery go smoothly...and help with getting back in shape once this little one arrives!!

On the baby front, we hit 24 weeks this week, which is 6 months by my calculations! I calculate 4 week months, which I know some people calculate differently...but regardless 24 weeks down and only 16 to go! CRAZY!!! This has gone by so fast, I can only imagine how quickly the next 16 weeks go! This baby is going to be here before we know it!

Didn't get a picture taken today because I look like a million bucks with my stuffy nose and watery eyes...but will get one posted of this growing belly soon enough!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!!!!

Elevtation!

I have just returned from one of the most amazing, yet intense, 4 day weekends ever! We went to Golden, Colorado on Wednesday night for a 4 day bellydance workshop, Elevation. I was able to spend some time with the girls I dance with in a troupe called, Bella Luz.

I took 3 classes on Thursday...starting with the amazing Rachel Brice. If you don't know her, check her out on youtube. Simply amazing. Also learned a little about dancing with fans and finished the day with one of my favorite classes of the weekend, by a troupe called Unmata...also amazing, check them out! We ended up skipping the 4th class of the day...me and Baby Bro just could do 2 more hours of dancing, as we'd already put in 7 for the day!

The next day was more of the same...another 3 worshops. Starting with Miss Brice, then a troupe called Zafira, again check them out, and ending with a class by a talented dancer, Elizabeth of Tribe Marrakech.

Then, on Friday night...we got to perform. We have been working on this particular dance since September, so it was beyond ready for this performance! Our costumes were amazing and each of the women I dance with looked absolutely amazing. And, I have to admit, we totally rocked it...and the crowd ate it up! Was so awesome to dance for a crowd of such enthusiastc viewers! And, as Eric pointed out, this was Baby Bro's first bellydance performance, so that was pretty cool! Lots of comments about my growing bump...but all loving this weekend. In one workshop, a woman even asked me to stand in front of her because she "loved to watch me dance". Well, thank you very much!!

Finished up Elevation with one last class with the amazing Rachel Brice on Saturday morning...never would have thought a 3 hour bellydance class could be so amazing...and her classes were, every single day. I think I have another bellydance crush! :) (See also Zoe Jakes on youtube).

And last night? Last night, I got to go to Colorado Springs for a wedding...and tons of my college girlfriends were there! It's so much fun to catch up with such a great group of gals!! And the men they have?? Also amazing!! Eric always has a great time chatting it up (and maybe drinking) with the men who are now associated with these great gals! It was a beautiful wedding, in a beautiful setting, for two beautiful people...shared by a bunch of wonderful friends! Can't wait to see all these girls again!!!

Sorry for the rambling...and lack of pictures. I'm exhausted and calling it a night!