Monday, January 28, 2013

Half Way--20 Weeks


Half way done baby!

We just hit the 20 week mark.  It's all down hill from here.  Right?  I'm curious to know what goes by faster...the first half or the 2nd half of pregnancy?  In some ways I can't believe that we're already at 20 weeks and yet at the same time I feel like I've been pregnant forEVER.  Seriously. 

It's kinda sappy and all maternal-ooey-gooey but in some strange way I feel like I've known this little baby forever.  Like, I can't imagine life without it.  As if he was always a part of my life and yet I'm just now getting to officially meet him and know him.  Weird right?  Yeah.  Cool and yet in some ways it scares me.  I'm so "invested" (for lack of a better word) in him that I get scared and fearful.  I just want him to be healthy and happy and to in the end love Jesus with his whole heart.  I can't imagine how much these feelings intensify once they're here and real without the safe confides of the womb.

Anyways.

Various pregnancy happenings:
  • There is no doubt that I have a baby in me.  I started feeling "vibrations" at 17 weeks with a very occasional kick here and there.  The odd thing about the vibrations though was that I couldn't feel them unless I placed my hand on my stomach in a certain spot where he seemed to like to chill.  So technically...I could feel him from the outside before I could feel him from the inside.  Weird.  Now he kicks.  And sometimes so hard that I jump...and laugh because it's shocking and kinda tickles.  Jason has been able to feel him multiple times.  Love.
  • I feel huge.  I know, I know.  I gotta looooong way to go but seriously, yeah.  I have to sit straight up or I feel like it's hard to breath.  Lord help me in a couple more months...
  • No cravings still.  Really, I'm hungry more often but I don't have a strong desire for food in general.  I for sure don't want coffee, chocolate, or chicken for some reason.  Veggies are still the most appealing.
  • Water.  Oh my gosh I down at LEAST 2-32 oz Nalgene's a day.  I just can't get enough.  Yum.
  • Pants.  Oye vay mama.  I do NOT fit into most of my pants anymore.  My butt is totally bigger and so I'm having some issues getting them over my hips...let's not even talk about the whole zipping/buttoning sitch.  So, H&M maternity has some dang darn cute maternity jeans that actually FIT me...a little FYI.  Shocking.  But, I can't wear jeans to work.  blak.  Finding work pants have been an issue for sure.  Most maternity pants are way too big in the butt, hips, and thighs.  Lame.  Oh well.
  • Weight gain.  Last time I checked I was a good 10 lbs. heavier.  I have never been above 120.  Ever.  Sorta shocking and yet...whatever.  There will be more where that came from for sure.  I am a water retainer though.  I was very briefly on the pill and I ballooned up like the Goodyear blimp, and then as soon as I went off of it...a month later I was pretty much back to normal.  I assume something similar is going to happen with this pregnancy.  Oh well.  Bring on the "fat face".  :)
  • Now that I'm no longer in "miscarriage territory" I seem to have transferred my fear of that to an "early birth" fear.  Ugh.  I'm not a scared/worrying type of person so yeah...I feel like I've become this crazy nut case who I no longer recognize.  It's a continual surrender I tell you...with lots and lots of prayer.
  • Yoga.  I'm doing cardio still 2-3 times a week but I've noticed already that I'm having lower back pain (I have a weak lower back from a tailbone break I had years ago...annoying).  I am also REALLY stiff.  So, yoga and I are becoming fast BFF's.
And that's it.  20 weeks!  Woohoo!
And just some random 20 week facts for you on the little munchkin...
-Supposedly the baby weighs 10 1/2 oz though I think ours is a bit bigger since he was 10 oz almost 2 weeks ago.  He's also about 10 inches from head to heel.
-He can hear our voices.
-His teeth are beginning to appear and he's beginning to swallow.

Yay!  And this concludes my looooong 20 week post.   <3

Friday, January 25, 2013

It's Friiiiiiiiiiday!

  • What up peeps?  This is a bullet post.  Yes, that sentence gets it's own bullet.  First Bullet DONE.
  • It's Friday.  Oh sweet Friday bliss.  I love Fridays.
  • This weekend is all planned and is starting to look a little busy.  Tomorrow we are hitting two, yes TWO San Francisco museums.  Gosh, I am so cultured it's almost ridiculous.  ha.  Also a going away party on Sunday...at some point in there the house needs to be cleaned/organized. 
  • Let's talk about Timbuk2.  For those of you non-enlightened souls Timbuk2 is a San Francisco bag company that we fell in love with long before we moved to sunny (ha!) San Francisco.  As of now between Jason and I we own...4 Timbuk2 bags.  Yeah, I know.  We're ridiculous.  Anyways, Jason's school/teacher bag is a laptop bag.  The bag itself was in great condition but the back was starting to rub off.  Weird.  So we contacted Timbuk2 and hey, guess what, the coolest company in the world has a lifetime guarantee people.  So, they said that yes, it was in fact a defect and that they would basically credit him a bag.  Yeah.  Awesome.  Especially since for his graduation he was going to get a new one.  It was the cheapest graduation gift evuh!
  • So, let's talk about 'dis here pregnancy.  I must confess that I find it hard not to sorta obsess over it.  A small sampling of my thoughts,  "Is the baby growing okay, did I feel it move enough times today, what should we name him, what kind of crib should we get, what stroller is the best, we need a car, what if I have him too early, what if..."  Phew.  Exhausting right?  It's hard to just rest.  Rest in the Lord and the fact that this is HIS baby.  Yeah.  Just thought I'd get that off my chest.
  • Can I just say that I really like my latest haircut.  I know, it's vain.  But a good haircut is hard to come by alright?!
  • I have been cuh-raving some backpacking...like big time.  I know, I know, backpacking for me is in that far off future...and not that I'm complaining.  I just still want to go...or at least camp somewhere, outside, away from it all.  :)
  • I got my fabric.  The one I highlighted below this post and I am slightly obsessed.  LOVE it x's 1,000,000+4.  Yeah, that much.  We were all oooh-ing and awww-ing over it at work when it came in. 
  • And this concludes my always most awesome bullet post.  Ok, ok, they aren't that awesome.  :)  Humor me though.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Quilt for a Baby Boy

I haven't thought much about decor for a baby room because...well, we aren't really going to be decorating one.  We have a spare bedroom but we probably won't be staying in our current house for long enough to invest in decorating a room.  Plus, our house is a bit small and so the "baby room" is also our spare room for when guests come and also has Jason's desk.  Granted all of these things may need to be rearranged but if we end up uprooting in fall...baby boy won't probably even spend that much time in the room.  I'm guessing he'll be in our room at the beginning.

That being said I have decided that I will do a crib quilt.  That transports easily and every kid needs a baby blanket.  :)  Being that I plan on hand quilting I figure I should get started here.  I am half way through this pregnancy already.

I love quilts.  And it usually takes me a lot of time to decide on a print.  But honestly...I came upon this one pretty fast.  I was looking for orange, blues, and grey and this line fits perfectly.  I love most of this designers lines.  I also wanted something simple, relatively masculine, and yet still "baby".

It's the Bella line by Lotta Jansdotter and I love it.  :)

What do you think?





 
Source

Source
Source


I love basic square quilts so I'll do something similar to the one above.  On the back I think I'll do some minky fabric (I don't LOVE the way minky looks but it's so darn soft).  Not sure.  Anyways, a quilt for a baby boy.  Love. 

Saturday, January 19, 2013

It's a....


BOY!

We are rather happy to have ourselves a little man.  :)

I had an odd feeling from the beginning that he was a "him".
Jason was holding out for a little girl...but is of course not disappointed.

The ultrasound was crazy cool...we got to see the little babe in 4D.  Amazing.  He was taking his morning nap and so it was really easy to see all that we needed to see.  Everything looks good and there was most definitely no doubt that it was a BOY.  hehe.  Even I, with my untrained eye, could tell right off that it was a little dude.  

They moved my due date up a week...because he's measuring a little big.  But he's been measuring a week ahead from the beginning so now it's just more official (but what's a due date in the end anyways right?)  :) 

Anyways...bring on all things "boy"!  :)

Monday, January 14, 2013

My Face


So, I'm picky.


Not about all things.  Like food.  Well...okay, I like GOOD food, quality food.  But I'm not picky about flavors of foods.  Anyways.  I'm picky with clothing, home decor, colors, and etc.  I'm also SUPER picky with make-up.  First, I wore mascara through out high school...but that was it.  I didn't learn how to put eyeliner on until my wedding.  Seriously.  Like I practiced for a month before haha.  I have recently (with in the last 3-5 years) started latching on to certain beauty products...that I LOVE.  Wanna know how I know I love them?  Because I've tried a lot of stuff (to my financial demise) and have thus thrown out/returned a lot of stuff that didn't cut it.  Anyways, I so very much adore my daily routine of products I thought I would share it with YOU.  Yes, I know.  You're welcome. 

This multi-purpose superstar does triple duty: it's a moisturizer, sunscreen, and luminizer!I am a FREAK about lotions.  As in I HATE them.  I do not like my skin feeling oily or suffocated in any way, shape, or form.  Putting sunscreen on me as a child was a nightmare.  I refused to use it.  Blak.  I still hate it to be honest but have since grown up...a little.  Anyways, for years I walked around with a dry face.  Did I care if it looked dry and flaky?  Heck no I didn't.  It felt clean and fresh and my little pores were free as a bird.  That's all that mattered.  Anyways, since I'm now pretty much an adult :)  I've realized that it's kinda not so attractive to have a flake face.  So, I have tried...probably 10 facial products with sunscreen and these are the two I LOVE.  (I still can't do full on foundation, yuck, yuck).  On a daily basis (i.e. non-special occasions) I use Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer (Sephora).  It is light as a feather and has the lightest shimmer/tint.  Love it!  Seriously.

As a thicker, Anna's version of foundation, I love Cover Girl Natureluxe Tinted Moisturizer.  This is a tad thicker and has a bit more color so I use it when I want more coverage.  It's also very light and goes on super smooth...and it's pretty darn cheap.  The only down side is that it smells like funky play dough when you first put it on.  When it's dry though...you are stink free!  :)

I am blond.  Did you know that?  With blond hair comes blond eyelashes.  Hence my great love of mascara.  On Saturdays I usually don't wear make-up.  It's my "face can breath" day.  But, if I leave the house I do throw on mascara still.  I have tried a couple.  I used Maybelline for a while but in the end have come back to Loreal Voluminous non-waterproof in black brown.  Seriously, the brush separates your eyelashes so well and goes on so evenly.  Yay.  Love it.  And this too is pretty cheap.  Yay for cheap.  :)

Buxom - Buxom Stay-There Eye ShadowEyeshadow.  Ok, I'm borderline obsessed with this eyeshadow.  It's like my favorite thing to use ever.  I never wore eyeshadow because I'm hecka lazy and that weird thingy-ma-bobber that you sweep onto the eyeshadow and then onto your eyelids always got lost/gross.  Meh.  I discovered this for my wedding.  It's a little wet/dry pot that you just rub with your finger and sweep onto your lids.  Takes 2 seconds.  Literally.  AND...it lasts a really long time (I don't put it on very heavy).  I LOVE Buxom Stay There Eyeshadow in Mutt (Sephora).

Finally, the eyeliner.  Sometimes I wear it...sometimes I don't.  Sorta depends on how I'm feeling.  I have tried a Clinique one that I rather like but I actually stumbled across this Maybelline one which was at least have the price and was seriously just as good.  It goes on butter smooth, and lasts all day.  I wear the Cinnabar one.

And that my friends, is my face for you in a nut shell.  If any of these products go out of production.  I'll cry.  Oh well.

So, now I'm done.  It takes me about...5 min. at the most to put on makeup.  :)

Got any favorite products that you would throw a temper-tantrum if they discontinued?  Please do share.  :)

Disclaimer: I was in no way paid or compensated for the review of these products.  I just like 'em and thought maybe you would too.  :)


Friday, January 11, 2013

A Lil' Bit 'o Random

Happy Friday homies!

I love me a Friday.  This weekend's plans involve a little North Bay to see my lovely friend, and then a little South Bay to see Jason and I's mutual lovely friends.  Oh yay.  And I'm baking an apple pie!  Any weekend that involves apple pie is a glorious one indeed.  :)

So, it's been a while since I did me a bullet post.  It is time once again.  Here we go...

  • I cannot figure out how to organize my ziplocs, saran wrap, foil, and etc.  Seriously.  It can't go in a drawer because we don't have enough space.  It instead gets piled under the microwave...and they fall off all the time.  Any ideas?
  • I am so not a "fantasy" person when it comes to the books I read.  I prefer more "real life" fiction...if you know what I mean.  Anyways, I decided to give Lord of the Rings a try though and I.love.it.  Tolkien is a genius!  Seriously.
  • I cut my hair a couple weeks back.  It's still long but she gave me some layers and side bangs.  I have figured out the key to side bangs.  HAIRSPRAY!  Yeah, I know.  The hair lady suggested it.  Anyways, I've had them before and though I liked the look, my whispy light hair was driving me crazy...they were always in my eyes and I was always flicking them out of the way, "Hello, call me Justin Bieber."  Anyways, a little hairspray gives those puppies enough structure to keep them back.
  • I wore uggs to work today.  I'm not sure how professional they are buuuuut...I did my best to incorporate them in a professional manner.  Anyways, best.decision.today.  I feel so cozy.
  • You know that book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"?  It's a children's book and I loved it growing up.  The gist is that if you give a mouse a cookie, he'll than ask for some milk, and then a napkin, and then all these other things.  So, I feel like our friend the mouse.  I asked for some brown boots for Christmas and I love them.  But apparently, if you give an Anna some brown boots...she'll ask for some BLACK boots too.  :)  Now I want black boots.  Uh-oh. 
  • I'm hungry.  But my lunch doesn't sound appealing.  I WANT to go buy something else.  But I won't.  Because that's the fiscally responsible thing to do.  *sigh*.
  • I have had some cuh-razy pants dreams since becoming pregnant.  Like for real.  They are so vivid and have full on plots and story lines that actually make sense (unlike my more normal pre-pregger dreams).  I had a dream that San Francisco was a full on war zone and Jason was the total hero getting us out safely, I had a dream that I had a black baby who was born with two cute afro puff buns on the side of it's head and leggings on...yes, in utero.  Nice.  Two nights ago I dreamt I was at Downton Abbey and Mary and I were super tight and going to go shopping for a new Audi.  Pregnancy does weird things to the body...and apparently to the mind too.
Welp, that concludes dis here bullet post.  Have a great weekend all!!!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Life in San Francisco

Well, as you may (or may not) know...Jason is an official holder of an M.A in English.  As in, he is DONE!

The life of a college teacher is real rough folks.  He has...get this...a 5 week Christmas break. FIVE!  It baffles my mind.  He doesn't go back to work until the very beginning of February which means this man is all mine until then.  And let me tell ya.  It's been a blast.  It's kinda like falling in love all over again.  I mean, that's a little bit dramatic but seriously.  With him teaching and going to school I pretty much just stepped back and said, "You do what you need to do and when you have some time, I'm here."  We had mandatory hang out times each week, like Friday date nights, but yeah.  I feel like this break has renewed us well.  It's like, "Oh snap!  I DO really like hanging out with you all the time.  You're like my total fav person in the whole wide world."  It's good to have these realizations about your huz.  ;) (Not that I ever doubted these truths...they just get muddled and lost sometimes in the hustle and bustle of busy life).

Anywho...

So, here are some things we've been up to.

We explored Golden Gate Park some more and found this old 1800's bridge.  Kinda cool yo.
There is an Anglers Lodge in the park...where you practice fly fishing. REALLY?
We're thinking these are the "goals" that you try to hit with your fly (the hoops)?
Oh, and there are a couple of windmills.  Yeah, we've lived here 2 1/2 years and we're just now figuring this out.
And bison.  Yes, bison.  Sort of sad because they used to be everywhere...but we sorta killed them off.
And there you have it folks.  A little tour of Golden Gate Park...complete with bison, windmills, and yes...fly fishing.  I love our funky city.

And while we LOVE our city.  We get a little tired of it too.  Our hearts are really drawn to the mountains/great outdoors.  So, on New Year's day we escaped, crossed the GG Bridge and explored Mt. Tamalpais.  And let me tell you.  IT WAS FREAKING COLD!  I couldn't believe it.  We were still technically in the Bay area peeps!  Anyways, we were somewhat prepared thankfully (Jason always makes us pack extra stuff) :)

We made it to a cabin at the top that offers hot cocoa and coffee on the weekends.  Yay for hot cocoa!
Apparently I was looking into the sun.  :)
Good grief I love me a mountain man. 
Our camera doesn't capture it but the city is way off in the distance...and that's the bay.
 And there you have it.  A picture heavy post.  But isn't that what we all want to see anyways?  Who wants blah blah blah?  :)  Have a great rest of week friends!

Monday, January 7, 2013

17 weeks

Let's start out with some bump pics.  Seriously, isn't that what you REALLY want to see...secretly hoping that the girl is ballooning up like the Goodyear blimp.  Wait, no?  That's just me?  Shoot.
Super early on---I think 5 or 6 weeks.  (aka flat lil' tummy)
14 weeks...I think (new mattress still on the floor)
16 Weeks (bed FINALLY set up...yeah)






















I'm just over 17 weeks.

Both those pics are taken in the morning.  I figure that's "just plain bump" time.  By the end of the day I feel/look twice that size.  Seriously weird.  I guess all that food/water/gravity from the day does something to ya.  :)  And taking a side angle picture?  Awkward x's 10.

We find out the gender in a little less than 2 weeks.  Crazy dude.  They also do a full scan of organs and all that jazz.  That sounds very cool and exciting...and yet it makes me super nervous.  Bah.

We have no preferences really.  I imagine a boy for some reason and almost every friend I have thinks it's a boy too.  Jason's voting for a girl.  I have no gut feeling one way or another.

No cravings really.  Food is more desirable but I still have times when nothing sounds good...and yet I'm still hungry.

The last dr. appt I had 3 weeks ago...I had gained 3 lbs.  Yay me.  :)  The gym scale is now telling me it's a solid 5 lbs.  I'm pretty sure that most of those lbs are found in one primary location.  I'll give you a hint.  They're above the rib cage and there are two of them.  Holy cow dude.  For real.

I haven't felt the babe move yet.  There were a couple of instances this last week while I was falling asleep that I kinda thought maybe it was the little dude or dudette moving...but it could have been gas for sure. :)

I'm suddenly very thirsty and my throat is DRY as a bone all the time.

Foods that I DO lean toward when I do WANT food...every and all vegetables, bananas, greek yogurt, and pears.  Pretty much the same foods I normally eat.  Don't hate me.  I know it's healthy.  Sweets and coffee...little to no desire for it.

My current favorite product...that I think I would die if didn't exist...METAMUCIL!  'Nuff said on that topic.  :)

Overall, I'm feeling a great deal better.  Nausea here and there and a bit more energy.  Yay for that!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

You Bake Me Happy Winner

Thanks for all the yummy comments on what bars you would like to gobble up if you had the opportunity.

It gave me lots of ideas of recipes I'd like to try in the future.  yum yum yum.

So thanks guys.

But enough chatter.

You wanna know the winner right?

Right!

And so...

with out further adieu.

The winner is lucky numero seis!

6!

Which is...

From another fellow pregger lady I'm sure you'd totally understand when all I want is anything sugar!!!! But if I really had to narrow it down that first photo of the Chocolate Caramel Bars looks divine! or maybe some bomb chocolate covered toffee, or how about some really yummy chocolate chip cookies...surprise me! Thanks so much Anna!!

So, your wish is my command Kate!  I'll make you one of those above and send it on over to your abode!  :)  

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!  <3

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

You Bake Me Happy Wednesday--January

It's...YOU BAKE ME HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Hollah!

The first Wednesday of the month where I, yours truly, bakes you something luscious (luscious is such a weird word...wouldn't you agree?) and delicious and sends it to you in the mail...for free...out of the kindness of my lil' ole' heart.

Wanna know the reasoning behind this madness???  Well, how 'bout ya take your little red wagon on over to read The Full Story behind You Bake Me Happy Wednesday!

The sum of it is...I LOVE to bake.  I LOVE to give people my baked goods.  I mean really, is there anything better than a homemade, from scratch, little morsel of goodness that didn't involve you stirring a spoon or turning on your own oven?  I.think.not.  Thus, I bake for you and mail it to your lovely house for you to eat and fill your belly.  yum.


So, here are the details...

SO, it's January.  Time to pick a new "baked good" to help direct your choices.  I had to look through the archives to see what I've already done.  I was rather excited to see that I have yet to do BARS!!!  You know, brownies, chocolate chip cookie bars, caramel bars, fake Starbucks cranberry bliss bars.  The list just keeps going.

What you, lovely reader, have to do is leave a comment with the treat that you would be overjoyed to have show up on your doorstep. Bars, bars, bars.  And if I pick your name (very randomly of course) I will mail you said treat (so you better pick wisely).  For example, say my name is Bertha and I left a comment saying that I would love smores bars (oh yes, they do exist) to show up on my doorstep.  If I choose beautiful ole' Bertha, I will mail her said smores bars.  Understand?  Bueno.

The little drawing ends Sat at noon!  So comment before then.  Sat evening I'll let ya know who the lucky winner is!

************************************************************************************

So, what yummy bar would YOU want to magically appear on your doorstep???  Ready.Set.Go!

Side Note:  Yes, I will mail free baked goods to a complete stranger.  Don't be shy.  So long as you promise not to sue me for food poisoning.  :)  Also, if you won last month you have to sit this one out.  After that...it's fair game!

And just in case you need some bar inspiration...here are a few delightful one's on Pinterest.
Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars Recipe
Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars
Sugar Cookie Bars
Sugar Cookie Bars
Chocolate Chip PB Cookie Bars
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2013

2013.

It's here.

I don't make a big deal about the new year usually.  It just kinda comes and goes, I forget to write 2013 for a good 2 weeks at work, yada yada.  This year won't be much different.

Last night we tried to do a movie marathon and stay up until midnight.  I crashed at 10:00pm.  Jason tried to send me to bed but I convinced him to let me sleep on the couch...waking me up at 12.  So that's what happened.  Jason popped our non-alcoholic chardonnay at midnight.  I used my glass to take my prenatal vitamin, kissed my man, and went to bed to the sound of the city erupting with firecrackers and other such things that exciting city dwellers do.  Watch out.  Party animals here!

But, I don't mind.  It's very "us".  And I like us a lot.

So, any resolutions?
For me?  Not really.  I have some goals in regard to this pregnancy but that's about it.  Other than that.  Nope.  :)

Although every year we tell each other at least one thing that we'd like to work on/improve.  I think it's a good practice to reflect on the things that we aren't content with in our character.  Things that God probably isn't content with too.  It's easy to just sail along, getting caught up in what's around us, absorbed in our lives, and not stopping to reflect on what abundance we have and what things we need to work on internally.

So there you have it.

I'm praying that 2013 is filled with many blessings, much growth, and a deeper love for our sweet God.  I pray the same for you my bloggin' peeps! 

Happy New Year!!!  <3
 
SITE DESIGN BY DESIGNER BLOGS