The Ticking Time Bomb...

Hello 37.5 weeks...honestly I'm starting to lose count.  I literally just asked Gramza but I'll get the final answer tomorrow when I go see Dr. Rachel tomorrow afternoon.

So we're just counting down now and we're starting to put our bets in.  We FINALLY finished washing all the baby stuff, unpacked all the boxes, put together the swing and stroller, the crib has bedding and now all we have to do is bring this little girl home.  We already pre-registered at the hospital.  Yesterday, we visited two pediatricians and a possible daycare...

Let me tell you about this daycare. It's affiliated with a Catholic church and the director and teachers are filippino.  Everyone was very nice and I even left calling the director 'tita' instead of Ms. and throughout the whole tour she called me 'Anak'.  Well watching the teachers in the infant room reminded me of the Lola's (filippino for Grandma) that take care of baby's.  Well, I have a feeling our little girl will get special treatment =)  Well we still need to fill out the paperwork and we're looking into enrolling her at the beginning of January. 

I'm not going to lie...I'm a bit freaked out but at the same time I'm a little calm.  It's kind of weird that in a few weeks there's someone in this world that's going to be looking to me as 'mom'.  It's kind of surreal because I've been about me for so long and Gramza is a big advocate that I still think of me from time to time.  It's crazy to think about but I'm already thinking about my first race I want to run and Gramza is cheering me on to just pick a race.  Awesome. 

Well it's getting late so off to bed ---

One of the last nights' out together -- awesome dinner at Fig and Olive for my cousin's 40th birthday this past Saturday

And one of the last (probably last) comparison's of Gramza and me...

And one just for fun-- we were strolling in Liberty park and wanted my first photo with her in front of the city I lived in for 6 years...



P.S. I guess I have a thing for purple...or those are the only things that fit me and I refuse to buy anything new =)

The docta's touch...ouch!

First of many new things, I got an iPhone :) it's an awesome gizmo and I get to update as I sit in bed. Talk about technology and thank you for welcoming me...

Ok- down to the real deal. Today was my last two week visit with Dr. Rachel, as my cousin and I refer to her. I has my strep B test and the first check up on my cervix dilation. Well I'm happy to report that at 36 weeks and 4 days, I've gained 27 pounds. To celebrate I pigged out on pizza today :). Back to the doc, well when she checked to see how much I was dilated, I was like hello! Uncomfortable! But she reported I
2 cm dilated right now which she said it could stay that way until my due date. I told her I felt some cramping and thought they were Braxton hicks but doc said I prob experienced light contractions and not to worry they'll feel 100 times worse when the real thing happens. I'm just too excited!

Anywho, off to bed as Gramza is knocked out and he already thinks I'm cheating on him with my new phone ;)

Happy weekend!

Unselfish Beginnings...

So, we're now at 36 weeks and things are starting to set in that this is the last month.  I feel like we're almost set.  I have a list of the things that we need to get before the 'baybee' arrives, so hopefully we'll have everything crossed off within the next week or so...

For the last month, I feel like I was so busy with everything...especially work but finally this past Friday things started to calm down.  As my boss told me "You're preparing for another project that's going live in about a month"...it's nerdy lingo but I get it. 

There's one thing I'm a little torn about -- for a good two weeks, I've been working past 7pm and on my walk home I would call my mom just talking about things I'm kinda worried about when she enters this world...she definitely gives great advice, but the one thing I told her that's hard is that even though I'm walking out of the door when the sun is down, I actually, genuinely really like and enjoy my job.  I get it, it's all about balance and I know that everything will fall into place once things settle down, however...it still crosses my mind what am I going to do.  It's only something minor =)  My work baby shower or tea as we're calling it is on Tuesday.  I don't know any details but all I know it's during an afternoon tea.  My plan is to bring the camera to capture those moments of the great people I work with.

Moving along -- I have been a little panic-y about this whole birthing process.  I'm just not too sure how this girl is going to come out of me.  As I told Gramza, I'm just not going to give birth...hehehe  I'm finally feeling some effects on my body.  I feel heavier, I now have to roll off the couch and sleep with six pillows.  That's right six, while Gramza has one.  Getting a little more graphic, my pelvic bone hurts like a mother at times and Gramza was been named my designated back and leg massager.  Thankfully, I can still tie my own shoes but I've heavily relied on slip ons =)  I drink about 2 liters of water a day and about 3 glasses of milk and I go to the bathroom about 100 times a day.  The worst is when I've woken up with a bad leg cramp and I'm grabbing Gramza for dear life and he doesn't flitch.  Awesome.  It's such a painful feeling, I never even had these bad boys when I was running long distances...

Honestly, after all the things going on now, I'm not going to say it's the best experience ever.  I'm counting down the moments I get my body back!!  Yes, I'm saying it because as much as I feel blessed having this baby growing in me and just watching my stomach jolt because of her hiccups...it definitely is a self esteem stigma when I walk into the stores I use to go into and nothing fits and I just look.  I went to Marshalls and TJ Maxx the other week to buy sweats...but Stylish sweats...hahah

So other things we've already scheduled is the daycare tour and the pediatricians office....we're talking 10/17 off to see everything so we can't wait to corss those off the list.  We've also been blessed to have my sister drop off about a million boxes for the baby.  Being a little sarcastic...it's so much stuff and we have to give her some back as she's trying to trick us into giving us boy clothes...

Ok...until next update...

Talk about time flying and we're counting down the days until our life changes =)  Here are some photos...not the greatest but still capturing some moments...

This is where the baby is going to sleep...just need to put the sheets on.

The versatile baby bag I got on eBay.  I'm looking to only carry one bag =)

36 weeks

I'm Back!

I feel like I've been on Hiatus...well, mostly because we didn't get internet connection until about two weeks ago, but I'm here now.

Well I feel like time has just flown by, I'm already at 34 weeks and in 3 weeks, I'm already considered full term.  I still feel like this is a dream sometimes and I"m going to wake up and be skinny and just go to work like any normal day.  But I wake up everyday and look in the mirror and there it is, my basketball of a belly staring me in my face.

I must say, so far, I've been having a pretty good pregnancy.  Thankfully, I've gotten many compliments that I've only gained in my stomach.  I have been able to be active whenever possible either it be the freakin' elliptical, walking home from work and having to travel to and fro to NY...

Ok, feel like I'm dragging here but with everything going on, we've gotten so much done.  We've finally settled into our new place, have a car and now baby preparing is in motion.  It's amazing how much there is to do to prepare for a little nugget to come into this world...the list is starting to get longer.  My old dress is now painted and Gramza put together the crib today and oddly enough the furniture goes well together.  Now to do the baby's laundry.  And thanks to ebay I finally got my diaper bag.

I have so much on my mind, yet it's blank now.  I'll be back...

Timeline of events...

So lots of things have happened since I last wrote...with my growing belly and Gramza and my relationship.  I'll start things in order...from what I remember.

Gramza and his ol' lady.
On July 23, 2011, Tom and I celebrated the sacrament of marriage.  I know it sounds a bit insane but the way it came about was quite interesting.  So here's my side.  After we found out we were pregnant, I was very adimit of getting married for the right reasons, not just because here's this man that knocked me up.  So in the beginning we were of course going to be together and then we went on vacation and we got engaged.  We then had a long talk and agreed that we would get married after the baby was born since we had so much going on.  Also, we just didn't want to go to the courthouse, in front of strangers to get this piece of paper.  If we were to get married, it was to be in a Catholic Church with family. 

Anyway, things started to come together for us and we were just relaxed.  One Saturday we were running errands, long story short we stopped by the frying pan, a boat parked along the hudson, to grab a beer.  Well him not me for obvious reasons.  We just got to talking and were loving the idea of getting our family here and getting married sooner than later.

To our luck, we found a church in the city, met with the priest and agreed to marry us.  Our families penciled in the date and we planned everything.  My brother in law helped us tremedously get the restaurant for the reception and sister helped with making the flower girls bal boquets.  Everything came together perfectly and I wouldn't have changed it for the world!  Of course we wanted everyone who cares about us there, but knowing who we are, we aren't the kind of people to have a lot of attention drawn to us.  There's nothing wrong with it, it's just what we wanted and it felt so right.  The family enjoyed!  We're planning next year to have something with our friends...in Houston.  Again, it won't be anything big, but it will be something special and this time around our little girl will be able to join in the fun =)

Ok. I'm most likely going to hyphenate my name...I know it's long but it's an identity thing with me and I just LOVE my last name.  Great thing is Gramza is totally behind it. 

So that long breath is done....I'm now 27 weeks.  On the cusp of my 3rd trimester.  Well I had my doctor's appt last week and I gained 7 lbs since my last appt.  I've been doing everything right except one....carbs.  I've just been eating to many of those darn things...from pancakes, cookies, popcorn, hotdog buns, biscuits, etc....you name it I ate it.  So my challenge is to stop a little...moderation only.  Well, doc told me to just watch a little more bc if I continue on the carb train, I'm just going to be miserable at the end of the pregnancy.  Definitely noted! 
Hopefully, this calms it down some....

Well next weekend, we're FINALLY moving into our new place!  I definitely can't wait!  I'm pretty much packed and Gramza is packing as we speak.  We've purged a lot of our things and we've decided we'll be getting new kitchen stuff, which is pretty exciting because we love to eat in =)  A broker has been showing my apt and let me tell you, my place may be small, but it's a hot commoditiy...I think there's already a new tenant, as the broker said she has a client who wants to move in a few days before 9/1...

Have a great week everyone!  It'll be an awesome one for us!!

So for our honeymoon, we went to Turks and Caicos for some relaxation

Here I am at 26 weeks...

The water was just beautiful

Gramza got camera happy...

I couldn't resist.  Gramza ALWAYS blinks in photos...

Fish Bowl

Well unfortunately these updates are not on real time basis...I'm currently 26 weeks pregnant, however posting 24 week old pregnant photos...I'll catch up, one day.

Gramza may look small, but he's actually quite taller than me...so anyway, this is what rain on vacation does...It gets me to update this...I'll be posting more later.  Sunday Funday without the alcohol.

They Exist!

You know when you're a child and you hear stories about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny...you never see them but they believe they exist?  Well, that's sort of the comparison with Gramza's friends. =)  I always heard stories and believed they exist and until this past weekend, they exist!  They're real!  See photo attached =)

We had a great weekend in Boston.  I got to meet his life prior to NY and he got to show me his town.  I've been so used to walking the streets of NY and showing him the way but it was so relaxing to be a part of his world, not knowing where to go and he led the way.  Awesome tour guide, who needs the duck truck...or that's what I termed it.  I figured why go on one of those when I see them everywhere in NY and don't dare to go on it...walking tours are always the best =)

Thankfully, we came home a day early...need I say to rest...because we are boring now.  But the sad thing is that we're back in our different towns...until next weekend...

Congrats to Sarah and Justin!!  They welcomed a baby girl, Rachel Stephanie into this world today.  And as Xtina says, "Rachel came and said Tah Dah!"....I add "with spirit fingers and the shimmying" =)

P.S. not cool when a stranger asks me if I'm 7 months pregnant....ummmm far from!