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!

22 weeks

So, here we are at 22 weeks!! I still can't believe how fast this is going! According to my weekly email update about what's happening inside my body, the baby is now almost a foot long and weighs in at one whole pound!! Nothing else too exciting going on visually, belly just keeps getting bigger! This week, someone said to me, "Everytime I see you, your belly is bigger!" Well, yes, that is the ultimate goal...would be worried if it was getting smaller at this point!

This baby has been busy practicing his/her soccer skills and dance moves this week! Eric and I have been better about our daily walks, as we have recently turned off our cable (another item off my 101 in 1001 list!!). We go for a good 2-3 mile walk, after that and some yummy dinner the baby starts doing a little happy dance inside my belly! It really is the most amazing thing to feel the little one moving around. Eric has felt it moving once, but usually the baby calms right down when dad puts his hands on my tummy. Sure hope the baby responds like that in the future!!

Let me tell you a little about life without cable. It is....AMAZING! So much stuff is getting done around the house, we've been enjoying the beautiful spring weather, and we actually get to hang out and spend quality time together! Don't get me wrong, we're still watching plenty through Netflix and Hulu and what not...but it's so nice to have the TV off and enjoy some peace and quiet as well! I highly recommend it!!

Don't have much to write about, so here are some pictures. None too current, but a little update!

Here is Baby B and I at 20 weeks.


And here is Eric and the new crib and dresser we've put up in the baby's room.


And here I am trying to get Bella to help test out the glider we'll be using, thanks to some great friends for sharing this (as well as a million other baby items!) She doesn't love it...

21 weeks

As of today, we are more than halfway done with this pregnancy. That, to me, is crazy! This is going by so fast, I can't even believe it! And we're on the downhill slide, so I'm sure the next few months will go even faster!

We've been working on the baby room. It has been converted from my belly dance room, so mirrors are down, holes from said mirrors are being patched, etc. Crib is up, dresser is up, glider is up...things are coming along! (Pics coming soon!)

I am making the switch to maternity clothes, slowly but surely! And man, are they comfy! We really should wear more pants with elastic waists...they are AMAZING!!! I'm going to save them for holidays...okay, maybe not really, but it sure sounds nice!

Also? I have been feeling the baby move over the past few days. I had thought I had felt it on several occasions already, but now know that I was mistaken! I first felt it on Sunday morning while I was rocking in the rocking chair. Since then, I have been feeling it move around in the evenings after our nightly walk. It's a somewhat bizarre feeling, but totally amazing at the same time. Feeling a little tap from inside is one of the coolest feelings! Now, if I could just catch it in time so that Eric could feel it!

This pregnancy business, is SO cool!

Top 10

I stole this idea from my friend, Aarin, who started a list like this when she was pregnant.

Here is my Top 10 list of things that people have said to me and that I recommend you not say to pregnant women. Luckily, I'm not able to have a full 10 yet and am hoping I don't get that far!

And if any of you have said anything on this list...I apologize for putting your comments on here!!

1. "I thought you looked like you'd gained some weight." When a woman tells you that she is pregnant, the correct response is "CONGRATULATIONS!"

2. "Pregnant in the summer? You're going to be so miserable!" Actually, I love summertime and I'm looking forward to it!

3. "Look at your little pooch growing." Please don't make me go into this again!

4. "You don't look too bad for ____ weeks." Really? You don't look too bad either, for whatever circumstance!

5. "You're just as far along as ______. She isn't showing at all and she hasn't gained any weight yet." That's great for whoever it is that you know, but all bodies are different and please don't try to make me feel like mine is failing in some way!

6. "Oh, Sarah! I barely recognized you!" Okay, I know I've put on a few pounds and I have a little bump going on, but I don't think that I'm unrecognizable!

We'll see how many more I have to add over the next 20 weeks!!!

Hi Baby!!

Today we got to make the trek to Grand Junction for our one and only ultrasound! I was so nervous and anxious this morning ... it was extremely difficult to get through half the work day! And luckily the 16 inches predicted for today didn't turn out to be quite 16 inches!

It was absolutely amazing to see our little baby! Baby did not want to participate for the whole viewing and was moving to get away from the ultrasound machine. The ultrasound tech told Eric and I to close our eyes several times, as we had requested to not find out the sex of the baby. Kind of funny knowing that an ultrasound technician in Grand Junction is the only person who knows the sex of our sweet baby!

The ultrasound confirmed that there is in fact only one baby in there and we measured right on track, with our due date still August 27. Heart rate was 150 and baby weighed in at 10 ounces, which seemed big to me but our very sweet technician reminded me that is still smaller than a can of soda! We were also informed that my placenta is in the front, which doesn't really mean anything unless we wanted to have more ultrasounds but also that it may be more difficult to feel kicks and punches, as there is more 'stuff' to get through!

This all seems so much more real now that we have seen the little one growing inside of me! So, thought I'd share some of the pics we got to see today!!!

Baby was hanging out or sleeping on knees

On the left is the abdomen and on the right is the cutest face ever! Maybe I'm biased...


Itty bitty hand


And some tiny feet

3D image of cute little face!

And a little video (the blob in front of the baby is placenta)