So...

36 weeks, baby!  Whoooo! I don't know about you, but Daddy and I are ready for you to make your appearance. Your room is finished, including your mobile:

Super Ninja will protect you!

We have all your stuff washed and ready to go and my hospital bag is almost fully packed.  All your grandparents are prepped to come up as soon as they hear from us that you are on your way! But, there is no rush, kiddo... you stay put as long as you'd like (well, not THAT long...)

Today, Daddy and I are heading out to Lancaster, PA:

to get some fresh honey and just to take a day trip out of town for relaxation and fun.  We are also about to buy a new appliance... a juicer! The juice aisle in the grocery store is so confusing these days and I LOVE juice.  I figure with all the healthy fruit and veggies I get from work, we should just make our own. Daddy and I have a hard time making decisions, but I think we are about to take the dive and get one.   Things are super busy around here... not only are we anticipating your arrival, but your Aunt Dani is getting married in October, and YOU will be there! She and her soon-to-be-hubby Joe just bought a farm and house in North Carolina and they are going to have the wedding there and have chickens and other animals, and grow all kinds of yummy things to eat.

PLUS... Daddy has been busy building a cellar:

mmmm, cellar!

to cure meats and cheeses, store wine and veggies. I know, I know... you think we are crazy, but trust me baby. This is the GOOD stuff :)

What else?  Well, my hands and feet hurt due to them being swollen... but I've been able to keep my heartburn under control with some medicine.  I've been doing my yoga at home for the past few weeks because I usually try to rest on Sundays after long days at work outside. 

We just can't wait for you to come! I hope you are happy and healthy. Love you!

Mobile time!

Remember the post in which I said I was making this mobile?

Well, kiddo... I just ordered 1 ninja:

and 2 moustachios:

Why just one ninja you ask? Pshh, because we already OWN two that are just jumping at the chance to be a part of this little project! (we already own a moustachio as well, but it's too big for your mobile) Plus, I wanted to make sure Daddy was represented in your mobile and we didn't want you to have the same mobile as some other kid.

Hopefully they will arrive soon so I can get started making it for you!  This is the last thing I have to do for you and then it's just keeping everything together while we wait for you.  I hope you are as excited as you are!

Holy Time Batman!



Sheesh... time is just rushing along... we are already heading into week 34 , that means we are just 6 weeks away from seeing you! You seem pretty excited to get out.  You are pushing and rolling around a lot.  So much in fact that when I don't feel you moving, I get a little scared.  Sorry you aren't getting much sleep, heh.

I have a bit of a cold and a cough right now. I've been stressed at work and wouldn't you know it, something floated by and I got sick :( I've been drinking lots of water and trying to rest as much as possible. It seems to be getting better, but it's annoying anyway. Plus, it's gotten a lot warmer outside, and Sydney is having some flea issues so she's scratching a lot.  Seems like it's just that time of year, mid-June when things just get a little tough. 

Daddy also went through a stressful week... it was Beer Week here in Philadelphia, which means there

were at least 3 events that he and Uncle Nick did with a few restaurants in the city.  I went to 2 events myself.  Can't believe how much this week has blown up! I remember going to one of the first a few years ago and it was still pretty small.  Now there are lots of cities all over the country that do Beer Weeks. But, none that had 3,000 events..  wowza! You were super happy with the mussels we had for dinner on Sunday.  Seems like you are a seafood lover like me! Good thing :)

We met with a baby doctor (that we didn't really like) and have an appointment with another one next week (that we hope we will like) and I went on a tour of the hospital you are going to be born in, it is so nice!  I'm kind of excited to go to the hospital now! Maybe it's just because I am really excited to see you.  We have another pool party this weekend and I'm pretty excited about that as well.  Look, here's me a few weeks ago at the pool party:

swimmy!



The garden is coming along really well, looks like we are going to have a lot of tomatoes and a good amount of cucumbers and squash for us to eat in a while! I've also been stockpiling food for after you are born and Daddy and I won't have a lot of time to cook.  I made a bunch of zucchini/carrot bread and banana bread, we have a lot of soup bases and homemade chicken nuggets.  We also bought a bunch of healthy pasta and sauce (and macaroni and cheese, my favorite!).  Luckily, my job gives me a CSA share, which means we will have lots of fresh fruit and veggies throughout the summer and into November (yay!)

So, that's all the news that fits, baby! We are still thinking up names for you.  It's tough... we want to make sure you have a great name that says how much we love you and think you are the greatest.  Sydney and Marbles came with names, so we don't have a lot of practice.  It's okay, we'll come up with something amazing! I'm about to go play some music for you before I head off to work today.  Love you bunches!



It's been a while since I posted...

Doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about you constantly. Just been so busy at work and getting all your stuff built and ready for you. We are at 32 weeks baby and that means about 2 more months until you are out here in this world! You have been kicking up a storm, but differently than before, I can feel you pushing on one side or another and when I apply a little pressure, you push back! I haven't felt any contractions yet, but my heartburn has gotten a lot worse :( I'm short of breath and I feel weak and tired after my 3 long days at work. Daddy has been really great, reminding me to drink lots of water and getting plenty of healthy meals and snacks for me to eat.

I know you are just rarin' to go, but you have another 2 months to get ready. No rush at all, you just keep doing your thing and we'll be here waiting for you. We're heading to a pool party on Monday, I'll post a picture of Daddy and I for you. Until then, look at this! It's a picture of me and your Aunt Jodie picking strawberries a few weeks ago!

Love you kiddo!

Woot, woot!

Baby, what a whirlwind it has been... I can't wait to get you out into the world so you can experience all the great things going on around us.  School is over, and now the real work begins. This is the week that all my work prep will come to fruition... this is the week... we start rolling out the produce truck!

I am so excited! And nervous... I hope everything is ready, I hope I have prepared as well as I can.  I have some great people working for me and I know it will all turn out okay, but here it is 2 days before and I cannot sleep a wink!!! It is a metaphor for getting ready for you, I know...  we have spent a lot of time getting ready for you and I hope we don't forget anything.  Everyone is so excited!

Speaking of work, Daddy had a BIG party on Saturday!

There were a lot of people that came out, a big truck full of yummy BBQ and a bullride!  It was so much fun.  It was so great to see how many people support Daddy and Uncle Nick!

Then on Sunday, I went to yoga in the morning and then Daddy and I went to a special class together and we learned about all kinds of good positions to be in for labor.  Daddy massaged me (which felt sooo good) and he helped me feel comfortable and focus on breathing.  We are such a good team.

I hope you know that no matter how long it has been since I've made the effort to write to you, I love you dearly... you are a big part of my life already. I have so much I can't wait to share with you.  The world can be a wonderful, beautiful place and I am so ready to share all those things with you.  I am also ready to show you all the other things that maybe not so nice, so you can be strong and fearless.  We're at 29 weeks, only 11 more to go... I'm impatient to see you, to hold you and to share you with everyone. I hope you are ready for a great life. You just keep right on kicking and moving around.  It makes me feel good to feel you being so active.

Washington DC!

You certainly have done a lot of traveling... First up to the Catskills after the wedding, down to North Carolina to your ancestral home and now, Washington, DC! I had to go for a conference and Daddy decided to come with me because he had never been before.

USDA demo veggie garden

 So, we had a lovely time, I met LOTS of people who are doing the same thing I am- helping people eat better and making sure everyone gets to eat the yummy fruit and veggies that grow near them.

I have been SO busy with work, everything has kind of fallen to the wayside at home.  I had trucks to bring hither and yon, and all kinds of Earth Day events to attend. But, yesterday I spent time doing laundry, sweeping, and scrubbing everything so that we had a nice clean house again! Finally...feels good to have a day off to just get things done! Yesterday was also my 3rd Holistic Birthing class.  In class we spoke about our fears and what we were scared about; by saying and accepting them we can overcome them.  I'm scared that I will end up having to have a C-Section... that all this preparing for you to come naturally into the world will all be for not because something will go wrong.  I'm also scared Daddy will be scared... he says he might be, but that its okay... he'll get himself together enough to help me. Being pregnant, all sorts of things have come up that I thought I had dealt with and moved on.  The Yogi said this is normal... women go through a new metamorphosis during pregnancy and in giving birth.  The physical one is the most obvious, but also and emotional one... wondering if we will be good mothers, knowing that nothing will ever be the same again.  I've been a pet mom 3 times now and I've always known that I am responsible for their doggie and kitty lives and health.  But, you... you are different.  You will grow up to be a real, live human being... someone who has to be responsible for themselves, who may have a family of their own.  I'm confident that Daddy and I will be able to instill in you all the important qualities you will need to be successful in whatever you choose.  But, it's still scary to think sometimes... I'm going to have a BABY!!!  ME!!!

Your room is almost finished being painted, just a few small touches left and we built your crib! All your stuff has been stored in the closet for now and we have this great rolling cart for all your diaper and care stuff.  We have some pictures that we need to hang up.  Some things will have to wait until after you are born because your dresser is on back order... you'll be living out of the closet for a month, but that's okay. We found out that with the crib we bought, the company will plant 10 trees in your honor! We have to wait until your born to register for it... because we don't know if you are a boy or a girl!!! We want to make sure the certificate says the right name and your birthday.  Today, we have to go to the doctor for a test and the first of my now biweekly checkups.  At the last one, the doctor was very happy to hear how active you have been.  I've been counting your kicks and you are so ahead of the game! I have to take a glucose test and I need to ask about some special shots Daddy and I may need to make sure we don't get you sick. 

There is so much going on these days, baby.  I'm trying very hard to keep everything on schedule and not forget anything that has to be done.  I have a great calender that reminds me of things that are coming up (as long as I remember to put things in there!) I've been getting so much done and there is still so much to do I feel like time is started to get short and there is so much I have to do before you come. But, I know I need to take time to relax, breathe, eat right and take my vitamins. It's hard sometimes... it's very important that I do... trying to be super mom isn't good for either of us <3

You are 28 (or 27, depending on who you ask) weeks now... you have grown so much and you kick and push all the time (like right now!). I play music for you from time to time, when I'm laying down in the evenings (haven't had much time for that lately!) You like instrumental Hip-Hip, the Barenaked Ladies Kids albums and Daddy found a Pixies lullaby album which you also seem to like. You are a great combination of the two of us.  Just you wait, kiddo... there's all kinds of great music out there!  I'm warning you now... your music education is VERY important to us, no Justin Beiber or Lil Wayne.  Sorry, baby... I'm all for letting you be who you want, but that is just asking too much.

I'm going to leave you with a pretty picture of a flower I saw 2 weeks ago at a garden.  I love you!

i don't know what it is!