Twenty-Nine...going on thirty-nine

"lying in my bed, I hear the clock and think of you".

That was the first thing that ran through my mind this morning. Time after time...

There's a new chapter that's about to begin in my life and it's hitting me... Right about now! Today is my 29th birthday and every year I think about the past year and evaluate if it's everything I expected and wanted to accomplish for that year and I think about a new list and things I want to do in the next year.

Sometimes I wonder "how can I make the following year worth it". Well for starters, Gramza and I always joke around with how thing happen. The usual fairy tale is boy meets girl, boy falls in love, boy proposes and they enjoy there time together before starting a family. Most span it out for months, even years...but we were able to accomplish everything in less than a year...well it's been more than a year now but we're able to say we got pregnant, engaged, married, took a honey/baby moon, and move in a matter of 9 months. Not to shabby, we think we can almost write a book. Haha jk.

That's just how our life worked out, but getting back to my point...this past year was everything and more I ever expected. I met my partner in life, a man that takes me for who I am, I have an awesome family and extended my family beyond belief, wonderful friends that keep me smiling and laughing and young, a career that I enjoy and people I work with who are just absolutely great and learning from, and one of the greatest of getting to know this little girl that's been growing in my belly and is teaching so much without knowing it.

I love the fact that everyone goes through different experience and has different stories that help mold them into who they are today. I absolutely feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I think back at all the experiences that I've had, the different chapters through the years and life lessons I've learned. I wouldn't change it for the world because I love the person I've become and am looking forward to the person I'm going to be...

Cheers to 29! The last year in my twenties and a new year to new beginnings I'm looking forward to :)

Purple people eater...

Gramza and I went to a wedding this past weekend.  We didn't stay too long but it was nice to get dressed up and go out.  We think this is probably the last time we'll be out together like this until baby girl arrives =)

Again, with the purple...

Control issues...

All is fine out there, thank goodness. But let me say out loud that I have control issues and this baby is teaching me a lesson. She's toying with my mind and I'm starting to think the doctors has a small dose of weather man syndrome. There's going to be a 10% chance of rain tomorrow, all weekend, next week and the week after. Just as I keep hearing it can be any day, next week, up to my due date or after. So I've patiently bought a flower and am going to watch it grow :P

False Alarms?!?!

So I'm sitting at home at this very moment watching "a baby story" on TLC. I went about my usual routine: wake up, get ready and go to work. Well I'm in a morning meeting and I start to feel a gush...down there. Yes, probably TMI but I don't think there's nothing about pregnancy and labor that's pretty, which those are just educated guesses based on assumptions :).

Anywho, I'm in the work bathroom and it's not a pretty site. So I call my doc, which she's conveniently out of the office today, and the back up doc is in emergency surgery, so I leave my number with the office. I walk back to let my boss know that I need to go because I just didn't feel like I should be waiting at work. The funny thing is that I contemplated it. Sad but absolutely true. So I take the light rail home and at the same time Gramza is driving back home...

So here we are, he's working from home and I'm here waiting for a call from my doc. The "gushing" has sub-sided and ive researched on the Internet and our trusty book. Well, I'm monitoring her movement and resting on my couch. Curve ball número UNO...hopefully all is well and we can go about our day...

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