Countdown to spring break!!!

29 weeks 0 days :)

I am so excited for spring break next week. Work is really beginning to get to me. Some days it is all right, but days like today- where I have to stand and actively teach/lecture for 6 45 minute periods are killer. Fortunately my planning does not fall that way too often, but I am beat. I am definitely going to subtly hint for a foot rub tonight (and by subtly I mean lay on the couch and throw my feet on Eric's lap while we watch American Idol).

The next 2 weeks are going to be a whirlwind. In my spring break alone we have: Sat: 3D ultrasound, Sun: I am spending the night at my parents,Mon: going shopping in new york with my mom and sis, tues: my monthly appt. plus I am finally getting a cut and some highlights, wed: nursery furniture gets delivered followed by Passover with MIL, thurs: my growth scan/ultrasound followed by Passover with FIL, Sunday: Easter. Then I am back to school for a full work week, and that next Friday my mom and sis are staying over here, saturday is my shower, and sunday is our maternity pics. I think I am going to wake up when I am 32 weeks pregnant and wonder what happened to weeks 30 and 31 :)

Above is a 29 week belly picture- taken before going out for Eric's birthday and celebrating. We went to a new bar that had a free cocktail hour (i was very interested for the appy's they served up). I hung out until about 10 and left him there with his friends. Then on Sunday (his actual birthday) he got breakfast in bed, cake with his mom, and we went to the Flyer's Bruins game. The game was fun (although getting home at 10:30 on a Sunday night is a bit much for me). Have I mentioned I am an old lady now??

In other awesome news- My step-MIL was super super generous and told me as a shower gift she would like to buy us our glider. We picked one out- and it is SOOOO nice. I love that it looks like a regular chair just because it was kind of more than we intended to spend- so I felt like it should be able to be used in a family room or den someday (or at least have the option). It is a Dutailier glider that locks so can stay still, glides, reclines with a popout footrest, and is super comfortable. I love that it is wide and it has high arms so you can easily rest on them, especially when holding a little one. Here is a picture- we got the same shade in a slightly different fabric.

So my BELLY is growing!!!

It may be silly thing to say- but I have been pretty paranoid feeling like my belly has not been changing much. I know it is getting better- but have not had too many comments, was told a week ago I don't even look pregnant, and just want to have a nice big old belly for my maternity shots in 4 weeks. I even was debating rescheduling the shots for later in the pregnancy in fear I would not have a belly in 4 more weeks LOL.
So I put together my belly shots and I think I can definitely see a difference- I think 4 weeks from now will be great timing for my maternity shots. (Not to mention it will be the weekend of my shower so I want to look good!)
I am sure before I know it I will feel huge- but this is a fat girls anxiety I suppose.

In other pregnancy news- nothing big to report. My vag and my hips hurt- lovely huh? Seriously though if I walk too much I start to waddle because of hip pain. Not a big complaint, just what is up.

It was a very busy, yet exciting weekend. Saturday morning the movers came and moved all our furniture and boxes around the house. The nursery is officially empty and ready for furniture delivery- I am SOOOO excited :). We spent the day having lunch with MIL, going to the mall, getting the dog groomed, going to babies R us and just running around. Saturday night we went to friend's for dinner- the wife is 36 weeks pregnant so we had a good time. I got really really upset though, to the point of tears in the cab on the way home. We were talking about baby movement and how Eric has not felt Lester yet. As we were saying goodbyes her baby got the hiccups and she put Eric's hand on her belly- and he felt it. I was really upset- he has never felt a baby before and now the first time wasn't for ours.
Today I slept and relaxed- Sounds indulgent but no joke- Saturday wiped me out and I was so beat, I don't feel much better for it. Tonight we had dinner with some guy and his wife and their 1 yr old daughter. My H went to high school with this guy, hasn't seen him since his reunion prob. 5 years ago, and reconnected through facebook or something. Turns out they live 4 blocks away- so they had us over. It was nice and it will be nice to know another mom in the area.
Hope all is well with everyone else!

Updates...

I feel as though I have not updated in a while because of my Grandma- so here we go.
Last week I had my 26 week appt- up 3 lbs (total of +7), Blood pressure was higher again (boooo) but not too high, and heart rate was holding steady at about 140. I took the 1-hour glucose test as well. I spoke with a nurse yesterday and she told me I passed- with a 132. Sometimes I wish I didn't know google existed because apparently some dr's (like mine) use 140 as a cutoff for passing, and others are more conservative with a 130 cut off before making you take the 3 hr glucose test. For now I have passed, and I can ask about it at my next appointment- I should stop worrying about every stupid thing.
Good news is I was given a prescription for a growth ultrasound. This is good because we get to see the baby- the dr. acted like it was routine but when I made the appt they said there had to be a reason- I think it must be because my uterus was measuring 2 weeks ahead (not looking good on the GD front, but my numbers were ok)

So the big question now- that I HAVE to decide in the next couple of days- to get a 3d ultrasound or not. I was definitely going to because I wanted to see the little one, but now that we get another u.s I am not sure. I don't want to regret not doing it though. I have to admit the pictures freak me out a bit, but you get to keep a dvd and I don't know- I am torn.

I hope everyone is doing well. It is only Wednesday and I am exhausted. I pee every night twice a night at least, and am just sleepy. This is my first 5 day work week in a month between the funeral, snow days, registering, presidents day, etc. I got a little spoiled :)

A Beautiful Service

Grandma's wake and funeral were beautiful. A lot of our 'sad' was released at the hospital when we all went to say our goodbyes on Sunday, so there was a lot of happiness at the funeral in reminiscing about great stories and memories we had.
One weird thing- the church did not allow eulogies, so at the funeral home this morning, the director had everyone (it was mostly close family) sit and asked if anyone wanted to eulogize her. No one was prepared for this at all, and it didn't seem like anyone was going to stand up- so I did. I am proud of myself for standing for Grandma, it was certainly not the best speech I could have given if I had prepared, and I can think of a million things I wish I said, but I spoke for her and I know it meant so much to my mom and dad that I did. I don't think they could have handled it.

I have to put in a picture of something I inherited from Grandma. I can't believe it was already given to me, but she wore it for the viewing and when they removed the jewelry my aunt gave it to me as instructed by grandma.




What you see is a pendant she had made, it is a bit smaller than a quarter. If you notice, the outer circle has two layers, two rings within each other. The thicker outer ring is my grandfather's wedding band, the more gold-toned, thin inner ring is my grandmother's wedding band. The cross in the middle with the diamond is actually my grandmother's engagement ring, bent into that shape. I cannot express how much this means to me, I am in tears typing it. My grandparents were an amazing couple- they celebrated their 50 yr wedding anniversary the summer before my grandfather died 10 years ago. I LOVE that she chose me to receive this, she hd a lot of special items that went to a lot of special people, but I LOVE that I will have this piece of her. I am already envisioning it on our child for his/her christening.
I would like to thank everyone for all their kind words this week- I really appreciate it.

I'll miss you Grandma

In loving memory of my Grandma- July 16, 1928- March 8, 2009

My Grandma passed away last night and it was a complete shock to us all. She went into the hospital about a week ago with a UTI and was put on antibiotics. She was to be discharged 2 days ago to a rehab facility because she was weak from infection, her bags were packed for the transfer, and she suffered a heart attack. That very night she suffered a massive stroke that she would not be able to recover from. On Sunday we were able to go see her and say her goodbyes before she passed Sunday night.

I am trying to be positive and just be thankful for all the time we have had with her- but especially the last year and a half. Grandma was hospitalized once before, from May 2007-July 2007. She was on life support and not waking up from a coma, and we were prepared to lose her. She made a miraculous recovery and the past year and a half with her have been wonderful. She was such a happy person, grateful for every extra minute here.
In the past year and a half she was able to attend my sister's wedding, see my house for the first time and come stay here for a holiday, go visit her 92 year old sister in North Carolina, have her big 80th birthday party with about 50 people who she could truly say she was close with, and more amazing stuff like finding out her first great grandchild was on the way. Grandma had more faith in God than anyone I know, and I would like to think the extra time was God's gift to her to do all these wonderful things.
I have many fond memories of Grandmas from before this point, she has been a major part of my life always. I am trying to get over the shock of all this because we had that extra time, and truly how many people get that. She used to joke that when people say "you look like a million bucks" she could say, "seriously, I do" after the bills came in from her first hospital stay (pre insurance of course). My mom lost both her parents in her early twenties, so my Grandma has been with us for every holiday, every life event, everything for as long as I can remember. On the off years when other relatives were with the inlaws- it was the 5 of us and Grandma.
So Grandma- we love you, and miss you terribly already, and of course are praying for you.

tested out some baby equiptment...

poor dog, but i love my kangaroo korner fleece pouch!