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! 

Tweedle Dee...

Tweedle Dumb?  Yup, that's me.  Or that's how I feel at the moment.  I'm either forgetting something or I'm losing my mind...sometimes I have conversations with Gramza and next thing you know he's asking me about something we talked about....and I have no recollection to what he's saying.  I completely forget.  Talk about not cool.  Work is a different story, I'm constantly writing EVERYTHING down...my morning lists, things I have to do, etc. etc. etc.  I really hope this is temporary but I hear it only gets worse.  Lord, help me.  =)

On another note, I'm starting to have fun with people.  Some co-workers ask me in the bathroom, hallway, pantry etc. if I'm pregnant.  I look them straight in the face and tell them..."no....why?"  For that split second, they look confused but I rescue them and tell them the truth.  I just ate too many hotdogs.  Again, I kid again.  We then go into stories about children and whether its a boy and a girl.  There's only so much I can say about a growing fetus in my belly.  "Yeah, I'm having a girl."  "I know, can't wait to dress her"  Followed by "girls are precious" yada yada yada

I actually ran into an old co-worker today waiting for the train, which I hadn't seen him since March.  We got to talking all the way back to NY.  He looked a bit concerned and gave the disclaimer "I know you're never supposed to ask but are you pregnant?"  I tell him the truth with the polite, "Yes, I am"  His response "Thank goodnes, congrats!  I was about to say I know you ran a lot and were thin but is that what happens when you stop"  No offense here, I just proceeded to tell him how I've been telling him how I sometimes say no when people ask me.  Again, he tells me, "nothing has changed I see, still giving people a hard time (or in lamens terms, you're such a jackass)".  But after all small talk, he kindly told me that I look really happy and pregnancy is doing me good.  Such a nice way to end the day =).

Well tomorrow is my 20 week sonogram and I'll probably update this thing again.  We can't wait to see her again.  Oh I forgot to mention, baby girl is starting to move! I started feeling her about a week or two ago and at first I thought it was gas, but later figured out nope, it's the baby.  She's probably doing tumbles and dancing in there,like the cha cha or something.  I just can't wait until Gramza can start feeling what I'm feeling...probably not for awhile.

My parents are in town this weekend.  Proud grandparents to watch Polina's dance recital.  Speaking of nieces, I told Polina that she has to show baby girl the ropes around this town...and what does she ask me, "Tita Leez, can she dance?"  I tell her, "no, not yet, but will you teach her?"  But Polina tells me, "but Tita Leez, she doesn't know how to dance."  Girl has high standards.  But Polina's told me the baby has to be this big before she comes out.  Which babygirl is in fact true.

I had a point, oh yes, my parents and Gramza's parents were supposed to meet this weekend...unfortunately, we had to cancel due to unexpected circumstances and Gramza's parents couldn't drive up...next time.

I'll continue later with more updates...we're getting ready for a thing and I'll expand on that tomorrow or so.  Gramza is coming into town tonight and staying all the way until after July 4th.  So great,  he's going to be showing me his old town next weekend. 

Toodle loo...

Life's Expectations

So I was at the gym today jogging along and my mind got to thinking...about how my relationship with Tom unfolded and the women in my life that helped mold me to who I am and who I want to represent to my daughter...

(the first weekend Gramza visited me in NY, he REALLY liked me =P)



Before I ever met Gramza, I was very content with my life and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I was okay with whatever way it was going to turn out...if I was going to meet anyone or not, stay in NY and anything and everything.  I was able to travel and do the things I wanted to do.  Then I think back to when I met Gramza.  I thought nothing of him being someone in my life...no offense to him but I did think he was a nice person but I was not thinking of inserting a relationship of any kind.  I guess I was content with being alone...but the thing is, when Gramza entered my life everything about our timeline seems so relaxed, everything fell into place, and it was meant to be that way.  And when I found out we were both scorpios, I thought this is either going to work or not.  I'm not an astrological person but it did come to mine.  Needless to say, he makes me calm and became a great addition to my life...our baby's due date is 11/5, which is Gramza's birthday.  If that's not meant to be, than I don't know what is...

I have been very open with not having the maternal instinct...yet and just today I thought to myself, what kind of mother am I going to want to become.  I know there's no wrong or right answer and I thought of the women in my life...aunts, cousins, sisters...and mother's...my mother.  I thought about what she did to raise me and how our relationship is today...and thought that's the mother I want to be.  My ma has always been a woman who is sensitive, always wanted the best for me, gave me her opinions and helped me through everything.  She's a quiet soul who's experience everything from the sun and back.  She handles sitiuations with her head held high and at the same time presents a laid back personality that I adore.  Of course there's differences every now and then but respect is always present.  She's always trusted the decisions I've made and I thank her for pushing us toward independence.  I remember, when I graduated high school, she really wanted me to go to school out of the city.  I went 2.5 hours away to try it out but welcomed me back when I came back home to finish school.  She provided for my siblings and me...everything.  She's a funny woman that makes me laugh and still to this day cooks anything we request.  There's so much more about my ma that I can't even describe into words and that's exactly the person I want to try to become to my daughter.  Another women that I have met recently yet will be apart of our lives from this point foward is Gramza's mom, Mo.  At first it boggled my mind how children can call there mother by her first name, but quickly learned its a sign of recognition.  Not everyone can call her that...my point being and what I've quickly learned is that she helps when she can and is maybe as laid back as my ma.  Blessing, definitely.  Life expectation, most likely.

At this point in my life, I've been the most relaxed.  It's funny because my boss is probably the person that sees me on a daily basis.  She knows everything that's going on and she looks at me and says, "you're so zen"  Maybe I am, but this is where I'm supposed to be.  Right here, right now.

Science Experiment Numero Uno

and so it begins...

Well, we're playing around with our new camera and starting to document.  So it begins...I'm starting to show and I thought it would be a good idea to see if Gramza will grow too.  Ask me again in another month or two and the idea may change...

But here we are at 19 weeks and 1 day taken in the lovely Syracuse, NY.  We met here for family fun weekend and as soon as arrived at the Syracuse airport the first thing that came to mind was...'are we on the set of roseann?'  Yeah, seriously.  But other than that, the weekend was really nice and the Gramza clan is just very...awesome.  Knowing they grew up on watching the price is right, followed by Y&R and sticking to Guiding Light.  I must say my family was on the same schedule...

Now back to resting and getting ready for the new week.  Team blue but really pink =)

Around the world in 80 days...

Well...in my head at least.

We're just about 19 weeks and things are coming along.  We have an apartment and it's just perfect and in Jersey.  The great thing is though, the NY skyline is in our view and the statue of liberty to gently remind us of the freedom we once had =P  All kidding aside, it's a fabulous place.  A park right next door, on the water, two bedroom and two bath, gym, balcony, and I think what sold me was the washer/dryer INSIDE the unit.  I couldn't believe that those existed on this side of the world.  The neighborhood is cute and it's near work, the potential daycare and near the trains to Gramza's work.  That's something to check off the list =)

The baby registry has been created...we're looking into Amazon.com and Target.  Fun!  I just have to get things situated and plan with my mom's schedule...so we're thinking about a Houston baby shower in August since I won't be able to fly after...

Another great thing is that I was going to be taking 3 months off but now it turns out I'll be taking 4 months off.  It's kind of weird to me because the last time I had that much time off was when I graduated college.  It's just because I have to use up my 2011 PTO by then.  Yup, that much vacation and I'm very grateful. 

I'll admit.  I'm human and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.  There's a lot going on between now and when the baby comes.  Gramza and I have our weekends and plans we have to have things by until August..and to be honest it does get exhausting and sometimes I do get emotional.  But I have a moment and move forward because these things have to be done.  I've always thought of myself as a good multi-tasker...with work.  But to juggle things is a different story but it's getting handled.  I remember during college, I didn't work.  It was only until my schedule cleared up was when I got a job.  The sound of that sounds so easy right now.  I'm just trying to juggle all the balls and hopefully not drop one...we're trying to find a home and create a nice environment for baby girl Gramza, plan our future together, work and meet our deadlines, car, moving dates, baby showers, doctor's appts, etc. etc...all in a matter of months.  No pity here, just a small 2 minute vent session.  My career is to work on projects and meet deadlines and ensure everything goes as scheduled...I lived my life sorta the same way but lightened up a lot within the last year and "just went with it"...talk about an accelerated life project.  But the greatest thing is the support we do have from those we love and love us back. 

Life is life...and this is what makes it worth while.  A wonderful 2011,  new babies are coming into the scene!!