ISLANDS IN THE STREAM....

At the beach...

2011-03-06T11:28:00.001-08:00

Revival

2011-02-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Our vacation was just what I needed... although I am not sure 2 weeks with a toddler and no childcare is really much of a "vacation"... ;) Smoosh picked up a bug and woke up at 5am every day, wouldn't take a nap except in the car, and tried his best to destroy everything in his path. Still, it was wonderful. I tore through the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and it's successor, played on the beach, went out for a romantic Valentine's dinner with DH, a wild martini night with my sister, and my parents got to spend lots of time with the babe.

I am doing fine with the M/C I think, although it is hard re-adjusting everything in my mind. Even though I was only PG for a few weeks, I had a whole version of what the rest of the year, the summer, our LIFE was going to look like. I won't be PG at the river this summer or at my BFs wedding, I won't have kids 2 years apart. I don't need to start looking for baby swings or researching cloth diapering again.

Intuition

2011-02-07T07:21:00.000-08:00

I woke up Sunday from a horrible dream. I was chasing after one of my clients, a young girl who recently had a miscarriage (in real life) and I realized I was bleeding. I went to the bathroom and there was red blood. I wasn't really surprised. I went back to bed and told my husband and cried for awhile and went back to sleep. When I woke up in the AM, we went to the ER. They did an exam and found the cervix open, did blood work and found I was still PG, did an ultrasound and found the baby only measuring around 5 weeks and no heartbeat. I had to have a rogan shot since I am 0- blood, and went home with a prescription for some pain pills and an order of bed rest for 2 days. I am supposed to have my betas done again in 48 hours to confirm.

The hospital was clean and nice DH and DS were able to hang out with me and watch HGTV. But, I am a little confused as to why I had to have a horrible internal exam and get scraped and swabbed when they could and were going to just look with the u/s anyway, And who cares about my betas anymore if there is no heartbeat? My first appointment is already scheduled for tomorrow, so I guess I need to inform them that the situation has changed. If they had listened to me last week, would any of this be any better? I guess not. We will see what happens tomorrow. I am praying that I don't need a D&C.

Mentally, I am fine. The pregnancy wasn't planned and I the timing wasn't great. Emotionally, it is another story. However, with something like 20% of pregnancies not making it past the 1st trimester, I kind of feel like it is a common rite of passage of womanhood that I am going through and I will be stronger in the end.

We leave for the Caribbean on Thursday. Perfect timing for big dinners with my family, running on the beach with DS, and some alone time with DH - which will now include NON virgin pina coladas. And there, my friends, is the silver lining.

No Symptoms :/

2011-02-01T06:56:00.001-08:00

SO I have kind of been freaking out. I have no symptoms to speak of. No sore breasts, my stomach is now totally flat (not bloated at all which it was when I first tested), no nausea, not particularly starving. I am tired, but that may be because I switched to de-caff/ half-caff. I told DH about my concerns and he insisted I call the Dr office to see if I can get some kind of check before next week. The receptionist put me on with the nurse who said there was nothing they could do before 8 weeks, except a blood test which would be the same as a HPT. Really? I know I have heard ladies on the boards talking about getting beta's and levels and numbers doubling to confirm everything is OK. I know I am not high risk, so I don't deserve any special treatment or anything, but I a pretty sure they could check somehow. I guess I just wait until another week and hope I just having a very easy pregnancy so far. I know they are all different, I was just SO sick with DS by this time.

I wrote this the other day then decided to post it to the boards instead. After encouragement from lots of girls with no symptoms, I calmed down a bit. Still, feeling a little nervous. Oh well.

Baby Things

2011-01-26T09:26:00.000-08:00

I guess you only get to register the first time, huh? ;) Still, it is nice to keep a little list for myself - and they have come out with so many more cute things in the last 2 years!!

I made my first Dr appointment and it isn't for another 2 weeks. Here, they see you at 8 weeks and do an U/S. That is fine, but it means 2 more weeks of wondering how far along I am and worrying about whether everything is ok in there. I told one of my bfs since we are kinda pregnancy buddies (and I have ot have SOMEone to talk to). I am waiting until after the dr to tell our parents.. and probably 12 weeks for everyone else. I am just a kind of cautious person in that way.

Some things I am thinking about for baby #2

Uppa Baby has a rumble seat! This is so cool, I just strap it onto our Vista and viola - instant double stroller! It also fits with the car seat in the adapter (which we have) and clicks back off if you want to back to a single!

Where will baby sleep?
I am thinking of a rocking bassinet holder, in which I will put the Uppa Baby Bassinet. I can't imagine I will use it in the stroller much around here. I am guessing we will be using the car seat more since we now drive everywhere. I better watch out for flat head this time around! This was NOT a concern in NYC.

Otherwise, nothing to report. No morning sickness - yet - pleassssse not this time! Tired, but DH has been out of town so that is exhausting anyway. Bloated, so bought 4 new pairs of "yoga" pants AKA "stretchy wear-24-hours-a-day-and try to look like I have been working out not just wearing my pajamas" pants. Slowly making the switch to decaff. Not easy, but DH brought me some AMAZING Blue Bottle coffee (in decaff) back from NYC so that should ease the pain.

xox

Motherhood is so en vogue these days..

2011-01-24T07:54:00.000-08:00

Model-of-moment Arizona Muse with her son in this month's Vogue.

So....Yeah.. :)

2011-01-23T17:01:00.000-08:00

This is kind of unexpected. I mean, we have been talking about it a lot and I have been stressing about it a lot. (e.g. When? Will I be too old? Will I still have time to have 3? But where will we be?? Blah blah blah)
DH is thrilled and I am honestly still a little in shock. But so very excited. I cannot remember for my life when I had my period last month. I know it was somewhere between the 10th- the 25th... The holidaze, right!? So I am 4-6 weeks? Another September baby!!
I have a feeling I am going to be blogging a LOT more again. So many details to obsess over, new products to research, and conversations with family members/strangers/myself to be emotional about. :)

It feels good

2010-11-22T05:33:00.000-08:00

to shoot again!

The Return of the Blog!

2010-11-21T06:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! So it has been almost 3 months since we left New York and almost 3 months since I have written... Why? I am not quite sure. Somehow, now that things are easier, and I have so much more time to myself, blogging has fallen to the wayside. Maybe I was more stressed in NY and needed the outlet more than I do here? Maybe I just needed to get settled. Now, I am ready to continue my online journal here. I am definitely ready to start shooting more.

For a brief re-cap of the last few months:

-We now live in a beautiful cabin in the woods in Tennessee.
-Smooshie now goes to daycare AKA "child development school" 5 days a week and LOVES it! More about that soon.
-I can now drive to the store and bring home as many groceries as I want - and at half the price. :)

We are feeling a little isolated and friend-deprived out here, but all-in-all we are getting so much work done and are very very happy. :)

Enjoying a fall festival last month...

Birthday Invite :-)

2010-08-23T06:51:00.001-07:00

The party is next weekend, then we leave! So excited!

This is going to be one of the craziest weeks EVER. We can't decide if this is crazier than last year when I gave birth, DH started teaching, and had to play a festival in Bristol the same week.

Today I must :

1. Call our lawyer to get a rider written for the lease
2. Go to lease signing with new (hopefully) tenants
3. Call freezer repair to come AGAIN because it still isn't working
4. Book a strorage space in TN
5. Bring more things to Goodwill
6. Pay bills
7. Pack
8. Do laundry
9. Work
10. Oh yeah, take care of my now-running child

Well, better get to it.

I think I am falling apart..

2010-08-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

Just a little bit. And not in a dangerous mental breakdown kind of way, just in a "wow, I haven't looked in the mirror in months" kind of way.

It kind of clicked the other day when my best friend was telling me how she admires what a great mother I am, and how "selfless" raising a child is. As she sat there in her cute new dress with her recently cut hair, perfectly manicured nails and tales of this and that dance party/fabulous event I realized that I, #1. Haven't been dancing in years (not counting baby music class), and #2. basically look like crap, and this was her subtle way of telling me.
p.s. this is the same bff who stopped me from wearing a frumpy empire waist dress to my wedding because "she would look hotter than me on my wedding day" and coaxed me into a fabulous mermaid silhouette dream gown (which thank God I wore because I will never have that body again).

Then I read this post over at the818.com where the blogger actually passed out from dehydration - nursing, sweating, running around. Crap, this could be me. My spare moments when Smoosh is asleep are spent working or researching toys and birthday party themes. I haven't had my hair cut in a year and the spit ends are reaching 3 and 4 prongs. My nails.. I can't even talk about. I am gaining weight again and love handles are spilling over the tops of my jean shorts. :( And now, with the lovely AF coming back, I have having those little neck break out bumps again.

DH tells me every day that I look gorgeous, but I know the stress of the move is getting to us, and I am looking a little worse-for-wear. But what to do? No extra time, no extra money right now. I think I will initiate a simple plan. Here are my new rules:

1. Stretch every morning first thing. This makes me more aware of my body and what I put in it and decreases stress.
2. Make a natural scrub with some sea salt and olive oil and give myself 5 minutes at the end of my shower to exfoliate.
3. Take the bag of clothes I don't want to the exchange shop and get one new outfit for myself with the money.
4. Have DH give me a little trim, for now.
5. Drink MORE water!!

Namaste ;)

Walking!

2010-08-11T05:46:00.000-07:00

Mr. Man is walking full speed ahead all of a sudden - crazyness! You know, it just almost doesn't look possible, walking on those fat little feet. Kind of like a worm walking upright.. Know what I mean?
There is the LOUDEST freaking jackhammering going on outside right now, just in time for Smooshie's nap. I am SO ready to get out of here.
We did have a nice night out with friends last night though. Austrian beer hall then Brazilian bar with watermelon vodka! Won't be getting much of that down in Tennessee.

I have been looking for the perfect birthday gift to have delivered to the Tennessee house. Most of the suggestions on websites seem a little bit off. An exersaucer for a 1 year old? Yeah right, we got rid of that months and months ago. I was thinking the Plan Toys drum set, but now I am thinking bigger. What he REALLY loves to do is go through daddy's desk, open and close things, ound on things, and make a big mess. What about a work bench?

This one is Melissa and Doug and gets great reviews on Amazon.

Party Planning!!

2010-08-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

It looks like we are already going to be in Tennessee for Smooshie's birthday, but we are going to have a party here right before we leave. And since I have nothing else to do (haha like pack up the house, get it rented, care for the child, oh and work) I now get to obsessively plan the first birthday party I have been dreaming of!
The in laws have moved into a fancy new building in the neighborhood and they were able to reserve the rec room for the party which is AWESOME. At first I was worried it was going to be ugly and tacky, but it is actually done quite well - modern in muted colors. It has a big kitchen, bar stools, big grey wrap around sofa, low table for the cake, a cool pool table (grey and wood!) 2 big flatscreens (And yes, even though it is kind of obnoxious, I think I am going to have to do the photo slide show of Smooshie's first year on those), an i pod dock with surround sound. It also opens up onto a huge roof deck with a grill and cool furniture. It is also pretty much totally baby-proofed which is awesome.
Still, it needs a lot of work to give it the country - vibe I am going for. Luckily, I still have the gorgeous flags my mom made for my baby shower which will look great. Then, I think I will try the tissue paper puffs in white and blue. There is one ugly painting I will need to cover with some kind of banner.
This might sound a little crazy, but I am SO happy that all the parties that have to be thrown for me are over I can finally execute the control I like! Haha. Seriously though, it has been the wedding, the bridal shower, bachelorette party, baby shower. All paid for by someone else (for the most part) and considered in bad taste for the guest of honor to say too much. NOW, I finally have ALL the control mwah hahahaha!! :-)

SO, I love this bandana idea. I am going to look for bandana paper for hats I think.

Some kind of banner would be good..

And the famous puffs see to give good bang-for-your-buck!

There is also a wonderful organic cake baker in the hood who we can order from. Now these are the things I will miss when we leave NY.

First Steps...

2010-07-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

Smooshie took his first steps yesterday, and we are taking our first steps in leaving New York. This photo taken this morning sums up how I feel about the daunting task of packing up our life. Overwhelmed.

As for Smooshie's first steps, he was standing by the lamp, holding on. Then he let go of the lamp and was just standing there for quite awhile... then, two little steps over to the sofa! So cute and I am so glad DH and I were there to see it. I don't think he is super interested in taking off into full time walking quite yet, but he is close. :-)

We decided on a Sept. 1st move date so we are selling furniture we don't care about and renting a trailer to bring the rest to store in Tennessee. We somehow have to simultaneously pack up everything, and get the place looking good enough to show renters. I would look better to show empty and with a new coat of paint, but I don't see how that is possible since we can't keep everything in a trailer out on the streets of Brooklyn for 2 weeks! I am really looking forward to taking this as an opportunity to rid myself of excess baggage - clothes, books, trinkets and other things I have dragging around for years and years. I am trying to be Zen, but I guess I am a bit of a hoarder deep down. I have a serious case of "I may need this some day for a shoot!" and I always have.

10 months!

2010-07-18T03:37:00.000-07:00

Mr.Smoosh is 10 months! He celebrated by standing up from sitting without holding on to anything, and stayed standing for about 20 seconds. Of course, when I started freaking out and yaying and clapping he quickly sat back down and crawled away. ;-)
I must say, I am looking forward to him learning to walk, so I can hold his little hand and walk up the 5 flights of stairs together. It is HOT and he is HEAVY!
We saw the DR on Friday and M is holding strong on size - 75th % for weight (23lbs) and 95th % for height. Unfortunately DH had to take him in because he woke up in the middle of the night with a horrible cough. Turns out it is the croup, yuck. :-( He got some medicine and is feeling OK but it is so sad!
We have a lot going on right now and we are making some really big decisions.
Namely, we may actually be leaving NYC. I know I love to complain, but I will really miss our friends and my wonderful play group which has become almost my entire social life and kept me sane. I will miss the precious babies I have known since birth who are now Mason's best friends.
However, this life is ceasing to make sense. We pay a crazy mortgage and live in the most expensive city in the country and why? So DH can play music and adjunct teach for peanuts while he tries to finish his dissertation in between all this craziness in our cramped apartment?
My parents have a summer house in Tennessee that is open to us - plenty of bedrooms, fireplaces, a swimming hole, trails. Even an extra car. DH could write looking over the river in complete serenity while Mr.Man and I go on walks in the woods, swimming at the amazing community center. I also have some family and friends there. I could still work from home, I would just need to come to the city every few months.
Another major factor, we could rent our place here and more than cover the mortgage while it hopefully goes up in value until DH gets a job and we are ready to really settle somewhere and buy a house.
I am nervous, sad. excited... We are thinking of going in late September. Will I be able to find organic food? Will I get fat? ;-) I must say, the thought of another winter in NYC is DE. PRES. ING. OK, enough angst. Here is a first - a video! Smoosh thinks playing catch is pretty funny..

4th of July

2010-07-09T04:25:00.000-07:00

I remember last 4th of July weekend - 8 months pregnant. hot. no margaritas. no sangria. We went to a BBQ and watched the random fireworks coming from the projects since we couldn't see the Hudson river ones from the roof in Clinton Hill. It's sometimes so mind blowing that we have this little person now who was just pulling on my leg and rubbing his little eyes, ready for his morning nap.

We went to the Hamptons for the weekend with my BFF and stayed at her parents house who are in total Grandparent-biological-clock mode. They wanted to hold Smoosh and keep him all weekend - except for when he woke up at 5AM. Then I was on my own. Anyway, we had a nice time and went to the outlets and Montauk for the day which was awesome. However, we really learned that we are truly our own family now and we really prefer to be in control of our own surroundings. i.e. not stay with people! It is hard having him in our room, trying to keep him quiet in the morning, find him things to eat (like explaining that we only give him organic things without seeming like a psycho)! I guess if things stayed too comfortable we would all live with our parents forever and not have the drive to push ourselves so we can someday buy or own beach house. :-)

All Joy and No Fun

2010-07-07T04:52:00.000-07:00

All Joy and No Fun

Super interesting article in NYMag about happiness and parenting. Here are my highlights...

Not only did they find that couples’ overall marital satisfaction went down if they had kids; they found that every successive generation was more put out by having them than the last—our current one most of all. Even more surprisingly, they found that parents’ dissatisfaction only grew the more money they had, even though they had the purchasing power to buy more child care. “And my hypothesis about why this is, in both cases, is the same,” says Twenge. “They become parents later in life. There’s a loss of freedom, a loss of autonomy. It’s totally different from going from your parents’ house to immediately having a baby. Now you know what you’re giving up.”

One hates to invoke Scandinavia in stories about child-rearing, but it can’t be an accident that the one superbly designed study that said, unambiguously, that having kids makes you happier was done with Danish subjects. The researcher, Hans-Peter Kohler, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, says he originally studied this question because he was intrigued by the declining fertility rates in Europe. One of the things he noticed is that countries with stronger welfare systems produce more children—and happier parents.
Of course, this should not be a surprise. If you are no longer fretting about spending too little time with your children after they’re born (because you have a year of paid maternity leave), if you’re no longer anxious about finding affordable child care once you go back to work (because the state subsidizes it), if you’re no longer wondering how to pay for your children’s education and health care (because they’re free)—well, it stands to reason that your own mental health would improve. When Kahneman and his colleagues did another version of his survey of working women, this time comparing those in Columbus, Ohio, to those in Rennes, France, the French sample enjoyed child care a good deal more than its American counterpart. “We’ve put all this energy into being perfect parents,” says Judith Warner, author of Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety, “instead of political change that would make family life better.”

Amen! I am going to look into Warner's book, she sounds like a voice of reason to me. Why are we the biggest and best industrialized nation in the world, yet the most unhealthy and most miserable?? Come ON health care!

This article really hit home with me as I found DH and myself last night on a crash course from "having a baby" into full-on "PARENTING", all centered around Smooshie's inability to clap. Yes, he is only 9.5 months and he is progressing quite wonderfully, but I have tried and tried to teach him to clap and he isn't having it. I told DH that most of the other babies can clap (Have I really become that person? Did that really come out of my mouth?) and so he decided to teach him. Well, Mr.Man wasn't having it at ALL. This is sounding even crazier as I write it, but it really brought up a lot of issues on how we want to deal with discipline, and how we want to relate to this little person. We decided to let the clapping go and just focus on his strengths ;-) but I can see we are at the beginning of a lonng and winding road.

Summertime :-)

2010-07-02T05:18:00.000-07:00

These photos are actually from St.Thomas last month but I just got around to editing them. I made Smooshie a baby pool out of one of the big white coolers we bought for our wedding almost 3 years ago! It worked great with just a few a few inches of water in it and he splashed around with some kitchen utensils.

Tomorrow we go to the Hamptons for the weekend. Can't wait to get my little baby beluga back in the water!

9 1/2 months

2010-06-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

How cute are the Dwell Owls? Once the bumpers came off the crib was looking too sad. Luckily, the new Dwell Owls collection totally matches the Charlotte so it looks awesome with the quilt (which is on the rocker) and the crib skirt (which I had to take off too now that the mattress is at the lowest setting). My mom also gave me my old baby quilt which I have up on the wall. I need a wide angle lens to shoot the room, it is too small to get anything in the frame otherwise!

My sweet baby is SO funny these days. He has his own little sense of humor and we really have the best time together. He is standing on his own now, but when I try to lure him to walk or get up from sitting he defaults to his highly effective super-speed crawling instead. He LOVES jamming to his LeapFrog table thing and pushing it around the apartment like a walker. He is eating more than ever, so much food! A typical day will go something like this

-wake up, nurse have a banana or a bagel
-play
-morning nap
-eat another banana or papaya, melon, apples, and a cream cheese sandwich cut into pieces
-play
-Daddy gets up, we all have bruch (where he eats more of whatever we are having - eggs, cheese cubes)
-play
-snack
-nurse
-NAP
-Snack on more fruit, veggies
-play (the park, music class, etc)
-dinner! A little meal I make him- Couscous, squash, chicken, pasta are all favorites
-naked playing and naked story time
-Bath
-coconut oil massage
-nurse
-bed at 7

Then DH and I have our dinner, a glass of wine and chill. :-)

Yesterday we went to The Little Mermaid sing-a-long at The Knitting Factory - amazing! "Part of Your World" is my jam and it was so nice to spend some time in the cold room on a hot Saturday singing with strangers.

Today we are going to see out friend's newborn -eek! So cute!

Highchair Fail

2010-06-19T03:51:00.001-07:00

So we had the lovely Svan High chair bought generously off our registry. It is gorgeous, but it is a piece of crap. The bolts fall off and the tray slopes. I have to re-configure everything every day and the tray is sloping down and the food is falling off AGAIN. It is also IMPOSSIBLE to clean. Gross food down in the grooves and bolts all the time, ugh. And for $300, not cool. So I decided to return it and go with the IKEA Antilop which has great reviews, easy to clean.. and $25! Unfortunately, I returned the Svan (yay Buy Buy Baby, you guys are awesome) but now IKEA has been out of stock of the Antilop all month at all locations anywhere near me. Hmm.. Isn't this what happened with the IKEA crib I was going to get, and that is how I ended up with the expensive Argington? (By the way, I LOVE the Argington crib and am so glad I didn't get the IKEA)
Now Smooshie is eating in his walker which has a tray, but he rolls around the apartment while he eats and gets food everywhere, so we need a new highchair STAT. We are also on a super limited budget right now. What to do?

1. Wait for IKEA highchair
2. Put credit toward Stokke Tripp trap (which we should have bought in the beginning) but is even more expensive with all the ad ons.
3. Get hideous other high chair that is less expensive.

The Svan, too good to be true..

The Stokke Tripp Trapp, tried and true but expensive (up to $400) - especially once you add the chair rail, cushions and tray.

Bloom Nano is cute and only $170, but the reviews are so-so..

The elusive IKEA Antilop

Any advice? I will mull this over.

Highchair Delima

2010-06-19T03:51:00.000-07:00

Island Time

2010-06-14T05:15:00.001-07:00

Well, we are down in the islands for another 2 days and I all but completely forgot about my blog. Things are going great, but I am looking forward to getting home. It is always like this on the last few days of vacation. Smooshie has slept through the night every night here once again, and I am REALLY hoping this carries over at home now that he has his own room. He turns 9 months tomorrow (!) and has been doing quite a bit of standing sans holding on to anything. I want to get him a nice push-cart when we get home. Yesterday we went boating and he loved that. He LOVES the ocean and the waves and getting splashed... More pics soon!

ONE LOVE

Baby-Led Weaning ;-)

2010-05-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

Haha, I am still making delicious purees as well, but Smooshie LOVES to eat things with his own hands. Banana, strawberries, pieces of squash and sweet potato, big hunks of crusty bread.. Luckily the farmers market is open so at least he is eating big hunks of locally made multigrain loaf with no preservatives! Also, the strawberries are in season!! Super exciting since they are one of the fruits that absorb the most pesticides so it is super important to buy organic.
Smoosh is LOVING his Leapfrog musical groove table thing - and now he pushes it around the apartment. I think it is time for one of those push toys! He is "cruising" and holding on to the wall with one hand...
We go away next week - St.Thomas again yay- he is going to be a handful!

More design Inspiration

2010-05-17T05:15:00.000-07:00

With Mr.Man on the move, we are confronted with how horrible our wall of Ikea shelves are. He can pull everything down off the first 2 shelves so DVDs and books are up on the table. his travel crib is blocking the record collection. I won't even start on our bedroom which is too small for the shelving we had now that we converted the apartment into 2 bedrooms.

These are from NY Mag's design issue. This look is called Neo-Rustic I think? While I don't love everything in the rooms (not so much the modern chairs or the weird art over the mantle- I think we would put a flat screen), I LOVE the shelving and it would work perrrfectly here.

Moi

2010-05-16T03:56:00.001-07:00

They sent me a few shots from the thing I modeled for on Mother's Day... I highly suggest that all new mothers get some really nice photos taken at some point. Proof that you didn't ALWAYS wear sweatpants, a pony tail, have spit-up on you, and have your belly pooching out. Even if you really did ;-)

Mother's Day First Tooth

2010-05-13T03:47:00.001-07:00

After months and MONTHS of drooling, gnawing, and "he must be teething" excuses, Smoosh FINALLY cut his first tooth on Sunday! He had been up a few times shrieking so I could tell something was a little different, and there it was, his first little fang.

Some husbands seem to take this holiday as an opportunity to get something for their wives once they become a mother, but I will just wait for my first drawing or macaroni necklace from my sweet child himself. Not that I would have turned down a gift, but since we like to decide on all purchases together, it didn't really seem like a top priority.

Smooshie and I had quite a nice day together on a photo shoot that I was actually modeling in, not photographing! It has been AWHILE since I have been in front of the camera and it was fun getting my hair and make up done and lounging around drinking chardonnay instead of freaking out, metering, etc. Smoosh hung out in his travel crib and had a grand time being fawned over by the models. Then after bedtime routine, DH made a lovely candlelight dinner for us.

Monday I had to work, an all-day fashion shoot in the city so DH took Smoosh for the whole day. The first and last time we did this it didn't go well, but this time went perfectly. They had a great day hanging out, for a run at the park. He didn't take a bottle all day, just ate some food I made for him and LOTS of Puffs! I think he may be 99% Puff.

Yesterday we had a check-up, I guess it was his 8 month? He will be 8 months in a few days! He is doing great - in the 95th % for height and 75th for weight. Not as chubby as I thought haha.

The Search for the Elusive White Baby Tee

2010-05-05T05:35:00.000-07:00

I just don't understand why this is SO difficult to find. All I want are some white short sleeved kimono tees in a size 9 or 12 months. Organic would be nice, but I will settle for any cotton. I will even settle for plain tees, no side snap! WHY is it so hard to believe that I don't want my baby to look like a rainbow every day, or to be branded with a truck, dog, monkey or train every day of his little life?!

Maybe I am starting to loose it, but if anyone is out there and has any leads, I would appreciate it.

The best baby

2010-05-04T05:01:00.000-07:00

I always say this when he is asleep, but he really is the best baby. ;) Here he is eating his sock (clearly a genius!). Maybe I should have wiped the food off his face before I took this?

It's 8 AM and Mr.Man is back asleep (nursed at 5:30) but I stayed up to get some solo work done.

Music class starts back today, and we might go to a Beatles sing-a-long!

I made my home made yogurt, and the home mad granola is in the oven baking.. Things are good. :)

7.5 months

2010-04-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

And my little crawl-monster is QUITE the handful. He is soo fast, pulls up on everything, pulls everything off the shelves, goes into the bathroom and tips over the trash.. He is a terror in his walker and zooms around the apartment pulling down more things. It is intense!

This week has been kind of rough with more teething (but still ZERO teeth) and horrible napping. He has only managed to sleep 15-20 min in my arms and scream when I put him in the crib. At night, not too bad. Waking twice to nurse then back to his room. But just as I was thinking "I have spoiled him! Where is the that sleep training book??!" .. this too has passed. He is sleeping happily in his room for morning nap as I type. And only 1 nurse last night, so it looks like we are back on track to STTN again. :)

I launched my photography website this week and so far I have 3 shoots set up for next month. My other business has picked up, but it looks like it is going to be another long summer completely devoid of shopping sprees. :( Luckily I will have warm weather and my little darling family which is really all I need anyway.

Totally mobile..

2010-04-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

Smoosh is ON. THE. GO. It happened so quickly! Here he is stuck inside the barstool..

We had to bring out the travel crib and put him in there when I am cooking. I pulled my back out from lurching after him, but now I have gotten used to it. He is pretty good at catching himself, but we need wayy more babyproofing supplies. And a new china cabinet.

We were also all down with a stomach bug last weekend and into the week a little. I got it the worst and couldn't keep anything down or eat for a few days. On the bright side, there go those 5 pounds I was trying to loose at least. ;)

Inspiration..

2010-04-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

Maybe it is the warmer weather and the the promise of trips upsate soon to come, but I am so in love with this aesthetic right now. These are from a NY Times piece on this wonderful house/farm/art gallery in rural Alabama. So inspiring!

7 months 1 day!

2010-04-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

My little sweet pea is 7 months, and to commemorate the event he pulled himself up in his crib AND began crawling- like for-real crawling! He has been army crawling for awhile now, but this was a whole new crawl with his belly up and his arms sprawling out like a Clidesdale!
He is just getting more and more fun.. and more and more work. I pulled my back out from spazing around trying to catch him as he constantly pulls up on things, does downward dog, falls, crawls directly to dangerous areas and hurts himself.. exhausting!
Sleep has been pretty good. I am totally amazed that he is sleeping in his own room, in his own bed at all. He sleeps through the night most of time, getting up sometimes not till 7 or 8, sometimes around 6 to nurse and back to sleep (with us since I am too lazy to put him back). The last 2 nights he has nursed around 2 or 3 as well, but he has been doing a lot of extra work with these milestones so I understand he must need some extra late night milky. ;)
Yesterday was wonderul. We had our new class, Dancing Babies, then went for lunch with some friends from class/group at the most delicious new place Saltie - yum! Then meet up at the park for awhile, then a long walk to a cool bookstore in Greenpoint, Word, and all the way back home. Bedtime routine, some Lost, and a nice long sleep. Life is pretty awesome these days. :) Oh except we are out of money again. Oh well.

Today's mission is to exchange our latest 1 hideous piece of plastic baby gear -EXERSAUCER - for another - the WALKER. The former has been great, but he is totally sick of the toys, too big to do much jumping in it, and now that he is mobile it just isn't cutting it anymore. We need to try a new contraption to help me get my work emails and phone calls done a few times a day. Thanks to craig's list and mommy group, the switch should be done by the end of the day.

Here he is, QUITE pleased with himself :)

And yes, I have now removed the bumpers...

Home Again

2010-04-07T18:07:00.001-07:00

Wow, those 10 days in LA felt like forever, like another world kind of. We got ourselves totally immersed in the idea that we are moving to LA .. asap. We looked at some houses, found one we LOVED, and mentally sort of "moved" there already, we spent every day deciding how to make the leap. Then we got back home to our new walls. And 70-80 degree weather, meet ups in the park and all that is great about New York as soon as the weather gets nice. We will see. I don't want to spend another winter here! So we will plan and plot some more. Look at Craig's list for houses, look for jobs and other signs that we should move on along.

It was so nice having family around to help with the babe. We looked at the most amazing pre school in Bel Air and I think MIL even put Smoosh on the wait list. We saw the most adorable house right up the hill from the school and the ILs. Private, gorgeous views, big brick fireplace, wood beam ceilings..

ANYWAY, enough daydreaming We had a great trip all together. Passover was great, we ate tons of great food. DH and I got to go to the movies (Crazy Heart finally), out on the town, and relax a little. We saw my BF who now lives out at the beach and I photographed her son. :)

Smoosh's first Easter did not disappoint. We woke up to little felt Easter basket a trail of Easter Eggs and candy all the way into the house where there was a big basket with gifts for everyone (see why I want to live close to me MIL?). Smoosh got an adorable bunny and a set of Peter Rabbit plate, cup and bowl from Pottery Barn kids. So sweet!

The new Stella McCartney for Gap also happened to come out while we were there, so we got Smoosh the cutest Western shirt for Easter!

Here is Mr. Man (or Mr. Mannington as we now call him) on Easter morning. I know you can't see it here, but I swear he grew some hair while we were away!

California Dreamin'

2010-04-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

So, we have been in LA since last Friday, and we are loving it. Really loving it...

Parks and Recreation..

2010-03-22T07:19:00.001-07:00

And a new look - for the blog. I just happened upon this and thought I could use a little make over around here. Never mind the squished heads over there on the side, I will fix that!

We had the most awesome weather EVER this weekend and spent Wednesday, Thursday Friday, Saturday and Sunday outside in various parks and walking all over. It was kind of a tour of NYC parks actually!

Wednesday I met some baby group friends at the East River PArk in Williamsburg/Greenpoint. It was so gorgeous being right on the water and not crowded since it was a weekday. Then DH met us and we walked to our 6 month dr appointment. Everything looks great. Smoosh though everything was hysterically funny - getting weighed, measured, poked, his ears checked, his tongue checked - all SO funny! I am somewhat relieved that he is now down to the 75th % in height and weight. The 97th was a little scary! I have to heave him up 3 flight of stairs for who knows how long and he is already 20 pounds!

Thursday I met more friends at McCarren park -gorgeous and so fun.

Friday we went to Clinton Hill to shoot our friends and their 2 month old. Now I know why no one does 2 month portraits. It's a pretty awkward age - lots of flailing and tongue thrusting. :{ I still got some good shots I think.. We went over to Fort Greene park which was just gorgeous with the huge old growth trees..

Saturday we went back to McCarren park for weekend meet up with the baby group + dads. We brought wine in Clean Kanteen bottles and lounged on blankets while the babes played and slept. DH brought his guitar and entertained the adoring fans - so cute!!

Sunday I decided to FINALLY take Smooshie on the subway into the city by myself, motivated by my 30% off Gap coupon. I didn't want to deal with stroller + stairs so I went with the Ergo. It was OK, but a bit exhausting. The F train wasn't running so I had to walk miles underground and up a million stairs. Smoosh didn't want to be in there anymore and was trying to escape - screeching and pushing away from me. We went to 34th street to the H&M with the kids department and got some cute things. Then DH called and was on his way to Central Park with his band, so he picked us up and we lounged at Central Park for a few hours while DH and his band filmed their new music video. :) Now the whole reason I went into the city was that GAP coupon, so I then made DH drive me around until we found one (Google maps is very unreliable) and I ran in and got some 6-12 month things which we desperately needed. All his PJs and onesies are stretching off his neck. I think he is kind of long waisted maybe?

Ahh now today we are off to Hope Depot and Lowes to get paint for Smoosh's nursery and doors for the new wall!

my shoot :)

my guys :)

Yes, another diaper bag..

2010-03-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Is on it's way. Can I just say how I love diapers.com and their next day shipping? It is dangerous though, so easy to add expensive goodies to the diaper order and have almost-instant gratification!

Sometime today, my 3rd diaper bag will be here. It is the new Dwell Sullivan, and I have high hopes. So far the Dwell tote and the Skip Hop Duo have struck out. I want simple, chic, not too big... An over the shoulder strap for when I have baby in a carrier.. Not such bulky material and I don't need THAT many pockets. Will let you know how it goes...

Little darling only woke up once last night, my sweet babe. :) Another glorious day today so off to a meeting and the park again I think..

6 months today!!

2010-03-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

It's Smooshie's HALF-birthday! Woohoo!

Since I see how differently the babes in our playgroup are developing, I am not huge on the milestone touting thing.. BUT since I have failed to fill out the baby book, I guess this is the baby book.. SO here is what Smoosh is doing..

-Rolling both ways
-Sitting totally unassisted
-Rocking on hands and knees
-Scooting around, backward crawling, and somehow getting where he wants to go!
-Feeding himself veggies with his little spoon (very messy, but he gets it in there!)
-Picking up toys he wants, upset when I take something away
-Talking up a very LOUD storm! (Mamama Dadada Shriek!!)
-LOVES bathtime. We bathe together so he can go crazy with the kicking and splashing
-CRACKS himself up. This isn't really a milestone, but he is SO funny. He is super ticklish and we just all laugh so hard, he is such a little ham.
-Standing, he has been "standing" for quite awhile, now we only need to hold 1 of his hands, or he can hold on to something to stand by himself.
-Sleeping is better. He has slept through the night quite a few times, but still prefers to nurse once or twice. Not a big deal, but that will hopefully change when his own room is built. :)
-Eating is good, he loves EVERYTHING he has tried. Happily, he seems to like greens the most. Maybe he will have a sophisticated palette like his mommy. :)

I have to say, there was a bit of a rough patch there around 4-5 months but things are so amazing these days and we are just having such a great time treasuring every moment with our little Smoosh.

Slow down, were moving too fast..

2010-03-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

We've got to let this feeling last.. lalala feeling groovy!! Or something like that. I cannot believe the big HALF year is coming up in a few days. I am so excited for the next stages, but I also want to slow down and enjoy every minute of Smoosh's squishy cuddly little self. He is up on all fours bouncing all the time and I know crawling is right around the corner. Terrifying!
Some wonderful news, we have gotten bids from a few contractors to build Smoosh his own real bedroom and they prices are under what I was afraid of. Now we just have to convince Grampski to fund this little project, and see if we can make it happen while we are in LA at the end of the month. Right now we have an atrocious maze of crappy Ikea bookcases making a treacherous kind of wall/room. It looks like crap and isn't sound proof at all. If it works out he will have a real room that I could actually paint and put little baby things on the wall! I think he will sleep much better too, although, last night he did STTN - 7:30 to 6AM or so - not bad! Tonight we are going out of the town and have a sitter so I hope he does a repeat performance. :)

We have had some awesome spring weather this week, so we were out in the park quite a bit with our friends. I am sooo looking forward more of that! Here is the little man lounging in the park on Monday..

new toy, new tricks!

2010-03-07T04:41:00.001-08:00

So, IKEA is the most amazing place ever. Especially the new shiny one in Red Hook, BK. Tons of parking, panoramic views of the statue of Liberty and the skyline. Fun playrooms, $1.99 for a plate of Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, loganberry sauce and cornbread?!! YUM!! And the cutest little wooden toys! We got Smoosh a wooden bead toy ($7), a little wooden push cart ($25) and some adorable bowls .. and a $1 cinnammin bun on the way out. :)

Of course, like everything else, this has to go into the mouth..

Speaking of into the mouth, we have been having so much fun making him little purees of whatever we are eating. He LOVES food - bug surprise. SO far we have done avocado, carrot/banana, zucchini/pear, cauliflour/cucumber..Beastie loves them all.

And last night, Smoosh was hanging out naked on a towel in the bathroom and got so excited about his bath that he got up on all fours and did a little crawl! Eek!

Goodbyes..

2010-03-06T05:18:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile, things got sort of turned upside down the last 2 weeks.. We had a wonderful time on St.Thomas. We celebrated Mema's 102 birthday on Wednesday night. The next morning she and Smoosh watched cartoons while I packed for the airport. I put Smoosh down for his nap and went to do some laundry and heard what sounded like Mema choking. I called 911, called my parents to come home.. within 15 minutes she had passed on, in my arms.. We all laughed at her birthday wish to "not live another year".. She made it clear that she though it was "disgusting" to have lived for so long, but it was still so unexpected. She was sweet, gracious, and quipping funny remarks up to end. Needless to say, I extended my trip a few more days. I still can't believe it, but I am so happy that we got to spend more time with her and that I was with her in the end..

I got back to NY on Sunday night (NIGHTMARE flight because of the blizzard over the weekend, stuck on the runway for hours, NO upgrade, Smoosh screaming..) Worked Monday. Got sick on Tuesday, in bed with fever for 2 days.. Feeling better now.

On to the good news.. Putting Smooshie in his own room worked wonders, he slept through the night the 2nd night and EVERY night we were there! It was amazing. I would go get him in the AM and he would be playing and smiling and so happy all day. Now we are desperately trying to make another real room for him here ASAP. SO far, it is a catastrophe of Ikea Billy bookcases. Better, but not soundproof and no door. Contractor coming to Tuesday to do an estimate.

It is beautiful today. Sunny and warm-ish (40s). I cannot WAIT for summer. I have been daydreaming about heirloom tomatoes and watermelon already!

More good news.. I somehow lost 8 pounds. Weird, maybe I should have held off on buying the fat jeans! ;)

At the beach...

2010-02-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

So Smoosh and I are on our own down in the Caribbean at my parent's house. I was super nervous about the flight (I hate flying and cry for days before), but it was pretty good. I got upgraded to 1st class which definitely helped since we had plenty of space to get up and down and nurse and scatter toys around. Even though we got up at 3AM for the airport, he managed to only nap for about 20 minutes the entire day. He spent most of the flight making his pterodactyl shrieking noises and wanting to stand and jump. Oh well, everyone was nice and said he was wonderful anyway. It has been pretty rainy this weekend so I hope to get some better shots in the next few days...

Here he is at the beach yesterday, looking like such a big boy. He has a bunch of 9 month summer clothes that people bought him but they fit now so I am glad he has somewhere to wear them!

Sleep is still a massive problem so I am doing an experiment in sleep training tonight. :( The last week he has been up every hour or 2 to nurse. Last night he nursed for 20 minutes every hour! Even Dr.Sears says this is not normal at his age, and I can't have an all night milk bar going. He also manages to roll himself over to me and cries if I won't feed him. At this point, I feel like he is getting out of control. He is huge for his age and very willful. I feel like if I don't put my foot down now, he is going to be running ALL over me. Soon he will be crawling over and pulling my top off and helping himself whenever he wants! So, while I am here at my parent's, with an extra bedroom and concrete walls, I am letting him cry. It is hard, but at this point I know he is OK and I know I have to do something to get this under control. He went to bed at 7 so I will go get him and nurse him every 3 hours tonight. I am not about to leave him in there ALL night, that is not for me. I think this is reasonable. When I checked on him after an hour, he was awake fussing and took it up to full screaming when he saw me so I left. Now I just checked again (30 mins later) and he is fast asleep. YAYY. Tiny victory. It's going to be a long night, but I think it is all for the best.

5 months today!!

2010-02-15T06:12:00.000-08:00

OMG, and that means he is almost 6 months eek!! I can't believe he is going to be eating solids soon.. and crawling, and talking and walking.. Sniff sniff. Last night I actually got in the crib with him to nurse - I figured it was easier than nursing him in our bed and having to move him. And I am less likely to fall asleep. It was cool seeing what he sees with the canopy and the ceiling, the stars from Twilight Turtle and the waved crashing coming from Sleep Sheep. I must say, it is very nice and relaxing in there. I think I figured out that the reason he has been having so much trouble at night lately is definitely teething.I gave him Sophie in the middle of the night when he wanted to nurse AGAIN, and he went to town gnawing on the legs. Poor little thing.

Our Valentine's Day was pretty awesome. I had big ideas about going to Marlow and Daughters and getting some amazing local meat, making molten chocolate cake and home made whipped cream but I didn't actually budget any time to do all these things. Instead, we went to visit our friends who had a baby a few weeks ago. Their house is always spotless (even a few weeks after a C section, come on!) which makes me feel like a big mess, so when I got home I ordered a Roomba! This will fix everything I am sure ;)

We ended up getting home in just enough time for Bedtime Routine, so Smoosh and I took a nice bath together (he discovered making huge splashes, very funny) while DH ordered fancy pizza. Smoosh sleeping in his crib, nice wine, truffle oil pizza..perfect.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T04:55:00.000-08:00

Last night he really out did himself with the non sleeping. Why, Smooshie, why?! Sigh. It feels like one step forward, two steps back with the sleeping sometimes. I can't believe I had him on 1 feeding per night and was so sure we would be sleeping through the night by the new year.. LAst night was HELL. And he doesn't want the bottle from my husband. Well, he drinks it but then he wants to play. Only nursing puts him back to sleep.. over and over and over.. I am going a little crazy I think! Not to mention, he takes NO naps. Seriously, 10 minutes after nursing total per day. I was talking to my mom about it and she said she once knew a baby who didn't nap at all.. That would have been me.

We had a really fun day yesterday. My Valentine's present was a shopping spree! Now that I have the bigger jeans, I seriously needed some new shirts that 1. Fit 2. I can nurse in. I got lots of flowy tunics and loose cardigan things so I can stop feeling like a stuffed sausage.

Of course, I had to get Smoosh a few things - some beautiful Petite Bataue long sleeve onesies (one is 50% wool - genius!) and a little Ralph Lauren romper for our trip to St.Thomas next week. :)

Then we headed to Buy Buy Baby for our newest purchase, le travel stroller. I decided we needed something that I could carry on the subway, in the airport and on trips when the Uppa Baby is too big and heavy to bring. As a sidenote, I do have to say Thank God for the Uppa and it's SUV wheels this week in the snow! I have been crushing through snowdrifts, pools of grey sludge, icy crosswalks.. the thing really performs! Anyway, after reading a ton of reviews I decided on the MacLaren Volo. It is their lightest stroller. It folds up easily, has a little strap to carry it, and it is super cute in black and white. I hear it is great quality and really does last forever so hopefully that is true and we will be pushing Smoosh off to preschool in it someday.

Wonderful Weekend, Wonderful Baby (right now)

2010-02-08T05:33:00.001-08:00

My MIL was in town this weekend for a short and sweet trip since #1 It was her birthday on Saturday, and #2 If her work brings her anywhere within 5 states of us, she finds a way to get here! Totally understandable since she is on the West Coast.
We went out for sushi Friday night (with MIL holding baby and us getting to eat care free!) The Saturday we had wonderful time shopping in Soho in the snow. MIL loves to take us shopping, and we have our little circuit we do in Soho - Bloomingdales or AG for jeans or something for DH, up to MIL's favorite store Babette, down to my favorite store Jill Stuart, and over to Giggle to get something for Smoosh. Since I still have 10 lbs to go before buying any cute designer dresses, we skipped Jill Stuart this time.
Instead, I finally caved and got new jeans, 3 sizes above my normal size, but oh well. They are Paige, my favorite, and sooo comfortable. Fat hanging over the jeans does not feel good or look good so enter new jeans size X.
After all that shopping, we finally got a reservation at In the AM, we got sandwiches from a new place down the block. DH went to band practice, and I left Smoosh with MIL (eek!) and went and got my hair cut. Some things were in weird places afterwords, but still very successful. And I feel awesome in my new jeans and blown out layers. :)
Oh, and for the wonderful baby part. Not that he isn't always wonderful, but he has been sleeping IN HIS CRIB until 8:30 AM!!

Sleep Breakthrough!!

2010-02-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Just when I thought things were never going to get better.. Things have been crazy lately. Smooshie has been sleeping 100% in our bed (hates the crib, despises the co sleeper, laughs at the bouncer..) and nursing on demand alll night long. He had also ceased all naps and was getting sooo cranky. We tried No Cry Sleep solution, and while we now have tons of data on Smooshie's every waking and sleeping move, he was still not sleeping even with all the tricks implemented. So a friend gave me Weissbluth (sp?) and we have been easing in to that. We let him cry himself into a nap the other day which was tough, but he actually slept much better that night. He did half the night in the crib, then I brought him into bed to nurse and he stayed.

Last night we went out so we had a sitter from the co-op. We did his bed time routine at home and dropped him off at her house in his car seat at 8PM. I was terrified that he was going to be a nightmare, but he slept the entire time we were gone (3 hours) and when we got home I nursed him and put him in his crib. DH gave him a bottle of BM at some point and had to walk him around a little, then I nursed him at 4:30 -but this time put him back in his crib- and he stayed in there until 8AM! YAAY! I know it isn't exactly sleeping through the night, but it is a big step.

Smoosh LOVES his milky and I don't see him going without a night feed any time soon which is OK with me. Honestly, I really just want my bed and privacy with DH back. Since I co slept with my parents until a ridiculous age (6), I just don't want to fall into that pattern when I know it isn't what I want. It was great for me and my hippie parents, but not for us.

MIL comes tonight for the weekend, got to clean!!

More Registry Fun, Puff the Magic Dragon, and our first trip on the subway (finally)!

2010-02-01T04:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a big day. My friend got us tickets to a benefit concert to see Paul Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary, Puff the Magic Dragon, etc..) at the Housing Works bookstore in Soho yesterday morning. It was going to be my first big day out in the city alone with the babe and the Ergo, BUT it was 16 degrees, so DH agreed to drive me. The concert was totally crazy in that New Yorkers-with-kids way - jam packed with Bugaboos and McLarens, not enough space, pushy parents. Somehow I managed to squeeze my way in there and find seats - feeling and looking like a pack animal with the Ergo, the winter coat, the bag, hat and scarf getup, the baby (in his snowsuit and hat getup). Paul himself was a little strange, but Smoosh was mesmerized when he was actually singing. After berating the sound guy for awhile, he started with fox and hen song ( a favorite from my childhood) and did a few more kids songs- starting and stopping a lot, bringing kids on the stage, one of the microphone stands almost falling down onto the kids sitting in the front, caught at the last minute by a lunging parent from the back, more berating.. Apparently Mary passed away of bone marrow cancer so for him this was a tribute to her, and he sang "Leaving on a Jet Plane" with all the adults singing along. Smoosh passed out at this point. The finale was of course "Puff the Magic dragon" and he asked 10 kids to come up on the stage. Well, this is where it got very New Yorkish as every parent there pushed their child onto the stage and pulled out their camera, desperate to get a shot. Pretty much everyone was on the stage, or trying to be in the stage, at that point so we made our escape and skipped the meet-and-greet photo op. Next time maybe.
Peter, Paul and Mary in the glory days...

My girlfriend I was with is pregnant (yayy) and just found out the gender (girl!!) so I was asked to help with the registry, being such an experienced NYC parent all of a sudden and all. Since we were in Soho, we headed over to fancy pants Giggle. Giggle has the most adorable things ever, but I didn't register there because it seemed a little too pricey and didn't seem to have enough of the basics. However, they seem to have expanded their Giggle line and maybe adjusted to the economy a little, because we found pretty much everything. Their line Giggle basics is organic cotton things made by Under the Nile - adorable! We got the entire layette , towels and an adorable sheet set. They have the BEST toys - wooden, European, nothing flashy or plastic. We found the pump, stroller, bath products (they call it the "spa", not bathroom hehe- fabulous). Seriously, everything there is adorable and I was having total registry envy. I think I will bring MIL there when she visits this weekend to pick out that Valentine's present she said she wants to get Smoosh. ;) I did get him a little "lovie" bunny thing (The sleep books say to introduce something like this for them to sleep with. So far he doesn't seem to be getting too attached). My GF also got him a little sippy cup for being such a good sport.
New bunny friend..

After that we grabbed an organic lunch at this cute place Local on Sullivan Street. Then we descended into the ground for Smooshie's first subway ride. It went well, he was totally passed out thankfully.
Next, for her suburban friends (she is from Tulsa and will have a shower there too) we headed to Buy Buy Baby which seemed totally low-brow after the urban sanctuary of Giggle. Still, for a Sunday it wasn't too bad and we got an amazing breast pump expert to break down all the Medela models for us. I even ended up getting a hands free pumping bra to hook up to my Medela Swing! The husbands met us there (they are in the band together) and we all went out for some Mexican (yes, it was dinner time by then).
Day in the city with baby, check.

Eek, more poisonous toys..

2010-02-01T04:48:00.000-08:00

This was in the Daily News a few weeks ago..

More trouble in toyland. Now that lead has been banned from children’s products, some Chinese manufacturers have been substituting the even more dangerous heavy metal cadmium, especially in costume jewelry, an Associated Press investigation reveals.

Cadmium is a known carcinogen that, like lead, can delay brain development in young children, leading to learning disabilities. Research also shows that long-term exposure can cause cancer and kidney problems.

The AP purchased 103 pieces at national and regional store chains in New York, Ohio, Texas and California. A lab analysis revealed that the most contaminated trinket contained 91 percent cadmium by weight, while other objects tested at dangerous levels including 89 percent, 86 percent and 84 percent by weight. Twelve percent of the pieces contained at least 10 percent cadmium.

Some of the most toxic toys were bracelet charms sold at Wal-Mart, as well as at the Claire’s jewelry franchise and in Disney’s "The Princess and the Frog" movie-themed pendants.

Even more worrisome, some of the items easily shed their metal, raising additional concerns about children’s exposure to toxins.

Kids don’t have to swallow cadmium to be exposed – simply sucking on or biting costume jewelry with high levels of cadmium can hit them with regular doses of the metal.

"There's nothing positive that you can say about this metal. It's a poison," warns Bruce A. Fowler, a toxicologist and cadmium specialist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/01/11/2010-01-11_toxic_lead_replaced_in_childrens_toys_trinkets_by_something_even_worse__cadmium.html#ixzz0eHv9aPEL

new trick - sitting up!

2010-01-28T05:20:00.001-08:00

Out of the blue, we went to play group on Tuesday (where most of the other babies are a few months older) and Smoosh decided to sit up by himself! I held his hand some and he toppled over a few tines, but he sat all day and all through music class as well - so funny. I thought he would go straight to standing since he hates bending his legs, but I guess he saw that sitting could be pretty fun too. Now he is going to much easier to photograph! I took these quickly on the bed yesterday afternoon - not quite enough light.

new trick #2: sucking toes -so funny!!

Awwe love his smile and his Buddha belly..

It is snow flurrying this morning. It is so pretty but I wish I didn't have to go move the car in it.

Practicing..

2010-01-24T06:23:00.000-08:00

Smooshie is practicing eating, and I am practicing my photo skills! We put together the gorgeous Svan high chair the other day so Smoosh could sit with us at meals. Then I decided to go ahead and give him some utensils to practice with... I think he is getting the idea! It is really cute, he totally mimics us eating (although not always with the right end of the spoon in his mouth). It is so exciting that he will be eating real food soon, but I definitely don't want to jump the gun. My mom, Mrs. La Leche League, is totally adamant about waiting the full 6 months. I have to agree, I haven't seen any evidence for starting sooner so why risk the allergies and complications just in case his little tummy isn't ready? Plus, breast milk is totally convenient and totally free.

Photography - wise, I am thinking about watermarks.. I hate how they look but I do want to protect photos of my little guy. With my fashion photos, I would NEVER put a watermark. It screams "cheesy internet photographer" and no professional fashion photog would ever use one, but with kids it seems a little different. Advice anyone? For now, I am trying a little copyright text at the bottom, but it doesn't look very cute. Hmm

1st edits...

2010-01-23T11:52:00.001-08:00

First Photoshoot!

2010-01-23T08:36:00.001-08:00

This wasn't really planned, I was just taking some pictures of Smoosh at the table and I noticed the gorgeous morning light, so I pulled out a sheepskin and hung the shawl over the side of the sofa and got in there!

I realized that I have too many pictures of him in this random outfit, so I stripped him down..

Great light, funny expression!

He was mostly interested in pulling down the blanket and eating it, but we ended up with some cute shots that way!

And yes, he did end up peeing on the sheepskin at the end, but oh well!

There were some better shots but they had a little too much nudity going on so I didn't want to post them. Now pleasse let him stay asleep for a little while so I can get some of these into photoshop!

Furniture Lust

2010-01-21T05:27:00.001-08:00

I thought that once I had the baby, my lusting over nursery furniture would be over, but no. Why would it? We have decided to split our open loft into two bedrooms- for a little, ahem, privacy -so Smoosh will finally have his own room. Right now we have a book case up as a divider, which looks beautiful but is certainly not much of a sound barrier. Anyway, since we might have actual walls someday, it makes me want to step up the baby's room a little - change the wall color maybe, add some more artwork.. And his clothes are certainly not all fitting in the 3 drawers of the changing table for long.

And so I stumbled upon the new line from Argington (of which we have the Delphi crib and changing table) and this gorgeous new dresser!

It is a new collection, but the color is the same so I think it would fit in perfectly. I love that it is a little more organic looking and would transfer well into any room or work as a dresser in Smooshie's room pretty much forever. And of course the fact that it is eco friendly and non toxic is huge.

I have a few months before my Daddy is coming to do the construction (have to love a contractor dad) so I have plenty of time to obsess and plan :)

4 Month Check Up

2010-01-20T05:50:00.000-08:00

Smoosh had his 4 month check up yesterday and that went quite well. I still miss our previous pediatricians with their hip office and organic wooden toy area. Now we have hideous office with creepy bear paintings and are the only people there who don't speak Polish. Come ON health care reform! Anyway...

Smoosh the beast is still in the 95th % for height and weight. He is 18 lbs and 27 inches. I was honestly worried that he might be even bigger than that!

I told the dr that I want to spread out the vaccines, but he still ended up with 2 shots and an oral. He helped the nurse by grabbing the dropper and feeding himself the vaccine which was pretty cute. He was very brave with the shots and at least I didn't cry this time. I gave him some Tylenol because he seemed pretty cranky during music class. He insisted on standing the ENTIRE time, even through the lullabye with the lights out. Then actually slept quite well last night - drugged I guess. Poor thing. Now he seems back to his happy little shrieking self.

Enjoying the hideous excersaucer.

P.S. When is this child going to get some hair?!

No Sleep Till Brooklyn..

2010-01-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

or once in Brooklyn. Wow, so I am possibly as exhausted as I was the first week home. MAJOR regression in the sleep area. Actually I can't even call it regression because we have never had this problem before. Smooshie DOES NOT nap anymore. He doesn't fall asleep at all during the day except for maybe a few minutes after breast feeding. At night, we were down to two feedings(11 ish and 3 ish) that I barely remember since I would just feed him and slide him back into the co sleeper. Now it is so impossible to get him down at all, and then he proceeds to wake up at all hours screeching, talking, gurgling, thrashing around and wanting to play. I pulled the miracle blanket back out and stuffed him into that (he really doesn't fit at all) and got a few hours with him in his crib in the other room but he woke back up screaming. THEN the last week or so from about 4-7 AM he cries and has to be feeding at the boob constantly. He also seems to be especially gassy during this time and holds on to his feet and turns over and fusses.. what the hell is going on??

I ordered a LARGE swaddler so we will see if that helps. I am also going to read some sleep books I never really got around to reading before. Ugh. One one hand, Smooshie is the most fun and interesting and delightful he has ever been (and getting better and better), but on the other hand this is the most difficult time we have had so far. No sleep, no break, no more swing, no more playing with activity matt. Constant rolling over, shrieking, laughing, attention, attention attention!

First book on my list, No Cry Sleep Solution. I like the sound of at, as crying is not something we are interested in. Especially since we have no doors to close. Baby crying + open loft apartment = torture

Time to break out the "real" camera...

2010-01-14T19:03:00.000-08:00

I have been so inspired by the beautiful photos I have seen of babies and kids lately. I am embarrassed to admit that I actually majored in Photography in college, but I am have been pretty pathetic at really keeping up with it. I mean, I shoot ALL the time for work and for fun but pretty much just with my wonderful Canon G9 - an AMAZING point and shoot. I am especially pathetic with my photoshop skills, but come on- I graduated over 10 years ago- we didn't even have digital photography then! I DO however have a Canon Mark II, not the newest model but still a pretty hard core professional digital SLR that I have yet to even take a single photo of the baby with. So today I broke it out. I didn't try very hard, just took a few shots on the bed. I am charging up the batteries and getting ready to do more very soon. Smoosh is also becoming less of a slug and therefore more fun to take pictures of. :)

I thought there was something nice about this photo. I messed with it a little bit in PS.. that was fun. More to come soon!

Over and Out..

2010-01-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

Well, I never thought I would say this but I was totally inspired by another blogger yesterday - The Heir To Blair- and I called and cancelled our Direct TV. Goodbye saved movies on the DVR, goodbye HGTV, goodbye tempting Nick Jr. It feels SO good!

Bad news, I have a cold and couldn't do my shred yesterday. We will see about today. Yucky.

My baby!

2010-01-10T06:53:00.001-08:00

This is what I did today during Smooshie's nap when I was supposed to be working on my website. :)

Elephant in the Room, AKA The Baby Weight Post

2010-01-10T05:46:00.000-08:00

I haven't talked much about weight, because I assumed it would naturally melt away and it wouldn't be an issue. I partially blame this on my one BF who has a had a baby and who was back to her college weight a month after giving birth - thinner than she was before getting PG. This has NOT been the case for me. I have always been naturally pretty tall and thin and not had to worry much about what I ate or do much exercise. I always just trusted my body. So when my body told me I needed to eat ice cream EVERY day the last three months of pregnancy, I trusted that that what clearly what my body needed. For nourishment, you know? After giving birth, this continued. In fact, I have never been so hungry in my life! AND the sweet tooth has stuck around as well. Still, I figured " I just gave birth" ! But by Thanksgiving, a stranger in a store asked me when I wad due. Then over Christmas, a friend of my parents asked if I was expecting again! NOT cool! Still, I continued on a chocolate and cookie binge like no other.

Finally, on New Year's (how typical), mom broke out a new DVD she had gotten "The 30 Day Shred". She actually ended up giving me the video to take home with me and only now do I realize she may have gotten the video for ME in the first place but didn't want to be rude. Tricky. So, I am 17 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight and on day 9 of the shred. I bought a scale for the first time in my life and I have made a "no dessert after lunch" rule. Just a small pudding after dinner! It is hard to reduce calories in the cold weather since I try to eat mostly local and organic - AND I AM CONSTANTLY STARVING! But anyway.... There it is.

We babysat last night for the Co Op which was great. I think I got the better deal, since her baby was fast asleep by the time we got there. He took a bottle in his sleep around 10 and that was about it. Meanwhile, Smoosh played with all his toys and DH and I ordered Mexican and watched movies. Unfortunately, he fell in LOVE with the MOST hideous baby toy that has ever been invented - The Exersaucer. I swore I would NEVER have one of those things in our house, but the look on his little face! He loved it. We will just file that under thing # 8904566 that I have changed my mind about since having the baby. Oh, and I ordered some Baby Einstein videos. Snap.

Smoosh has fallen asleep in his Johnny Jump Up again, so I better go get him out of there before he strangles himself!

17 weeks old I think?

2010-01-09T05:45:00.000-08:00

I must say, I totally lost track of how many weeks old Smoosh is somewhere around 10 weeks.. I prefer months, half months or "almost" months. Smoosh is almost 4 months old! He is getting cuter and sweeter and I love him more every single day. Not that it is getting easier, some days are harder and I miss when he was an infant and actually slept for hours of the day. I think we are in the throes of the "4 Month Wakeful" right now, but isn't it always something?
We have hit a difficult patch where I can't really leave him to play on his activity matt because he just rolls over, tries to crawl (scoot) and gets mad and freaks out. He is having none of the bouncer at all. The jumper is good for 10-20 minutes, longer if I watch him the whole time. The bumbo usually gets me enough time to make something in the kitchen, but he is now reaching for things, pickingup tupperware and throwing it and trying to get out of the seat!
So, we are back to the Moby to get things done around the house, but now he has to face outward to check everything out. He doesn't want to miss a thing!

Some wonderful news, my baby group has started doing a babysitting co op so I got to go to one of DHs shows the other night and have a free babysitter yayy!! Tonight we go over there and watch her baby. Unfortunately I got a little over excited and had the WORST hangover yesterday. I forgot I can't drink like I once did ugh. I had to stay in bed most of the day. I won't make that mistake again. I was too ill to do my "30 day shred" video. More on that later. ;)
Today I have a baby shower to go to. The problem is that she registered at Diapers.com and Amazon.com so I can't show up with a gift. How does that work? Maybe just bring a card and write that the gift is on it's way? Did everyone else buy their gifts, have it shipped to her, and she will bring them? I don't think so. Hmm.. :trots off to ask on the Baby Shower board at the Bump... :

Christmas!!

2009-12-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

Eek I guess I haven't posted at all since we have been on our wonderful Christmas holiday. The first week we were so busy hanging out wth family and getting ready for Christmas and parties, then the second week by BFF and her boyfriend were here. We are here another week, but it's back to work a little bit I guess. Work, and blogging of course. :)

Smooshie loves it here and it is so nice having my parents around to play with him. We have a gymnastics matt and activity gym set up and he is CRAZY about rolling over! it is so funny, he can flip over in 1 second now and does it over and over again. He is also really playing with his toys more. He really cracks us all up with his tricks and faces. He is also HUGE. I can't wait to see if he really is getting super big, or if it just seems that way since we don't have his other baby friends to compare with. We have met 2 babies who were a few weeks older than him and we was double their size! In fact, he is getting so heavy I pulled out my back yesterday so I went for an amazing massage at a really great spa this morning... 90 minutes of total relaxation then hanging out in the hot tub and sauna and a long hot shower with all the crazy jets.. My mom watched Smoosh and ever brought him in to BF in between my massage and hot tubbing!

He is also apparently teething already :( Poor little thing drools everywhere and bites and chews on everything!

It has been so fun taking him to the beach. He wears his little rash guard and hat and we swim him around. He also really enjoys falling asleep in the car and then sleeping in his carseat at the beach for hours- while we drink rum punch - fabulous!

His first Christmas was really fun. My dad got him a Bongo drum and he got lots of books and cool little things. He went to a few holiday parties and was a big hit, smiling at everyone then falling asleep. It has also been AMAZING seeing him with my grandmother, who will be 102 in February. They take their morning naps together every day!

And... it looks like his afternoon nap is now over.. more soon!

Happy Chanakah!

2009-12-12T07:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the first day of Chanukah so we had a Skype party with the ILs last night. Only MIL is Jewish, so Smooshie is only 1/4, but I still think it is cool for him to get to know the customs and prayers.

Growing up, I never really knew what it meant to be Jewish. I lived on an island and went to Montessori which was SO diverse - kids were black, white, Asian, mixed, Rastas, French, Indian.. Religion never really came up. When I moved to New York, I realized that ALL my friends were Jewish. My best friend's family became my second family and I learned to LOVE the ways of a Jewish family- a stark contrast to my Waspy/Hippy parents and their colder/cooler vibe. So now I am so happy to have my little 1/4 Jewish baby and have all this stuff in my family too!

Plus, MIL came up with the cutest traditions. The other day a huge box arrived from them, full of gifts and our candles and kosher food. I made matzo ball soup and yummy potato latkas with sour cream and applesauce for dinner :) I wish I had taken a photo! Then, over Skype, we lit the Menorah and sang the prayer ( which I am still yet to memorize) and opened presents. There was a huge box for Smooshie with a beautiful silver flying pig piggy bank and a bag of dollar coins. Every year, he will get 1 coin plus 1 for each year he is for 8 days to put in the bank. I haven't done the math, but it should be a good amount by his 13th birthday! He also got the softest stuffed cow (since he was born in the year of the cow) and an adorable organic outfit. The ILs live in LA in a really nice area, so they know to go to the cool celebrity organic stores - they know my taste! The dogs got some organic Chanukah cookies, and they also sent a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble so we can all go pick out a book or two as another new tradition. My ILs really are great, aren't they?

Now for the bad news
#1 It is 20 degrees outside, how am I going to get my last minute errands done?
#2 DH had a show last night and appears to have over done it. He is still passed out on the sofa at 11AM. I told him that Prosecco my BF and I were drinking at the house was stronger than it seemed. Now he is going to be useless in helping me with said errands.

Baby Christmas Presents..

2009-12-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

are kind of silly since they really have no idea what is going on, but these things are so cute!

I already got him this little set from EGG, but in grey and blue. I got him the sweater one-piece in the blue and tan to go with it.

This is a "mini orchestra" I love cook little instruments, and they are fun for the whole family for sing a longs!

Adorable hippy activity bear, found it on Giggle

Dwell Studio blocks!

It was hard to watch but....

2009-12-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

he rolled over yesterday! Poor little thing was so determined. He was stuck with his one arm still under him for about 10 minutes, but I decided to let him work it out on his own. And viola! Here he is, so proud of himself. :)

And then we made pizza to celebrate..

What Smooshie is Up to These Days..

2009-12-04T05:21:00.000-08:00

I don't want to forget, it is moving so fast!

His favorite things to do:

STILL.. Jumping. Flying. (aka we jump him in the air or fly him around. Exhausting)

Jumping and "walking" in his Doorway Jumper - so cute!

Batting and kicking at things on his activity matt, he actually grabbed one of the toys yesterday and pulled it down to his mouth!

Standing with us holding his hands, he looks so proud :)

Putting his hands in his mouth, he loves his precious hands like no other.

Smiling and laughing, yay.

The mobile in his crib, it CRACKS him up every time! (Not that he is sleeping in there, he just hangs out in it sometimes during the day)

Talking. He says "A gloo oo" which = " I love you"

Taking showers and baths together.

Music class.

His Daddy singing his special song he wrote for him, it always calms him down at night. :)

Things he is SO over:

The swing, he tries to get out of it and won't keep his head down!

The bassinet- we are on to the actual seat on the stroller which is great because I can keep it folded downstairs.

All of his 0-3 and some of his 3-6 clothes! He is huge! (95th percentile apparently)

Things he is still so-so about:

The Bumbo. He sits up in it and it is fun to have him on the counter while we eat lunch or when I cook dinner, but he still looks a little slumpy after a while.

The rattle. He holds it and shakes it, but I am not sure if he knows he is shaking it or holding it.

That's pretty much all I can think of right now... I need to go find that video camera...

11 Weeks 2 days.. and our first trip to the ER

2009-12-03T05:36:00.000-08:00

So, we made it all the way to Tennessee and back! It was a really great trip, although the drive was a bit rough. Pumping in the car worked really well. That way the milk was still nice and warm and I would just hop into the back seat and feed him with the bottle. We did BFa few times when we stopped to eat as well, just for comfort. We left the City on Tuesday afternoon and only made it to the end of PA when it started raining and got soo dark that we decided to stop at our favorite chain restaurant, Ruby Tuesday's, and spend the night. We found a dog friendly Best Western and the only room with a king size bed also had a GIANT whirpool tub IN the room. It was pretty funny, it was bigger than a hot tob with tile stairs leading up to it.. We took the opportunity to take a family bath and give Smoosh some swimming lessons while watching TV!
We drove all day Wednesday, hit holiday traffic on 81 after the VA/TN border and took the back roads through Newport and Cosby. We were all totally over it by then, but when we finally pulled into the house it was so worth it. Both our parents, my SIL, and their dog (who flew from LA) were all there with a big home cooked meal for us and eagerly waiting to hold Smoosh. They had it worked out in order of who had seen him last: first SIL who had never met him, then my dad who was here for the birth, then mom, then FIL and MIL. I barely held the baby the entire time except to feed him, he was just passed around and paparazzi'd to death which he loved. He is such a good baby. :) It was so nice to be able to relax a little and hang out with DH and not have to constantly entertain or worry about Smooshie. It really made me wish we had some family nearby.
Sunday we had to head back.. hit more traffic. Spent the night in Maryland I think..
Sunday night I noticed a little bump on Smooshie's butt, kind of like a pimple. We got home late Monday and I googled it, called Mom, couldn't find any info. Tuesday AM I called the doctor. He called me back and I described the bump, which was now oozing a little. Well, he told me to go DIRECTLY to the ER and that Smoosh needed to be operated on immediately. We dropped everything and headed into the city to NYU hospital where we spent a good 5 hours in a room waiting.. When the pediatric surgeons finally came, they said it looks like an irritation that got a little infected. They gave us antibiotics and a follow up appointment for next week. Ugh, mixed feelings. SO happy that he didn't have to have surgery, so annoyed/confused that our doctor made this crazy phone diagnosis and had me terrified all day, still worried and hoping it clears up. I don't know who to trust or what to believe. Still, we survived our first ER visit as a family. Hopefully the first and last.

Mommy and Baby moccasins we got in Tennessee. :)

10 weeks!

2009-11-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

I love this photo, I feel like it is an accurate representation of how my life feels right now.. crazy! The apartment is slowly being taken over by baby toys, and he isn't even "doing" anything yet! I got the Skip Hop play mat for the floor in the living room to make a softer area to lie down with him and let him try to crawl or roll around. The dogs love it. :) We also got a doorway jumper since Smoosh is OBSESSED with standing up and "jumping". Only problem is that the only doorway in our apartment that is low enough (we have super high ceilings) is in the bathroom- the door to the laundry/boiler room. This is also where the dogs' pee pee pad is, so it is a little weird. Hmm. Oh well, it is still great. I think I will bring it with us to my parent's for Christmas. 3 weeks of happy jumping in lots of doorways there!

I am SO excited, tomorrow we hit the open highway (well, there will probably be quite a bit of traffic) for Thanksgiving in Tennessee. I am a little wary about the 12 hour drive and how I am going to feed him every 2 hours, but I have a plan. I am going to try to pump IN the car, and sit in the back seat and feed him the bottle. I hope he takes it because if we have to stop every 2 hours for 20 minutes we won't make in there by Thursday. Not to mention, we are bringing the dogs. Throw that into the mix and we have a very crazy road trip planned. Oh well, we will get there eventually. :)

Something else just dawned on me that I am not very happy about. I am eventually going to get my period again, and from what I have heard, it is going to be worse than ever. It has been 10 weeks and I think my days are numbered. Yesterday I noticed a pimple on my chin. THEN I proceeded to CLEAN the house like I haven't cleaned since my nesting-shoe-closet organization day. I actually scrubbed the stove, inside and out! I have never done that before. :| I have also been acting a little bit strange, thrashing around and being clumsy... :( Sigh.

First night out on the town/ I Want it All

2009-11-18T06:08:00.000-08:00

Without the baby! Yes, we got a babysitter last night and DH and I went out in the city to a wild birthday party at The Box and it was lovely. It felt very strange to put on my heels after.. geez, almost a year? I don't think I wore them the whole time I was pregnant of course. It was really fun to dress up and be my old self again.... kind of.

Of course, I missed my little Smoosh and I stressed for DAYS before about pumping, formula, whether I could stand to leave him at all.. But I am so glad I did.

We have a close friend who babysits so I felt totally at ease with that. I actually think Smoosh could tell what was going on on some level, he decided to do a marathon nursing session right before we left (making such funny faces and smiling at me while he ate) so he actually didn't need to eat the whole time we were gone anyway. All that stress - not to mention the emergency can of organic formula - for nothing!

Yes, I bought some formula and have been feeling pretty guilty/conflicted about it. It is something I never thought I would consider EVER. I decided to buy some just so the sitter would have a back up if I couldn't pump enough. Then she asked that we try it on him beforehand just in case. So the other night I made some up and we tried to feed it to him. I had always thought of formula as baby fast food, so I thought he would gobble it down. I know my little piggy loves to eat. :) But he wasn't having it at all, he made these awful faces and spit it out and I felt SO bad! Force feeding him crap! How awful am I! I decided to leave the room all together, and sure enough once me and my boobies were out of sight, he did gooble it down. And went to sleep. FOR SIX HOURS!!! I woke up, looked at the clock, checked to make sure he was OK and praised the Lord. The feeling of sleeping for 6 hours straight for the first time in 2 months was like heaven. I felt like a new person.

Formula... the devil on my shoulder. But I will choose motherly martyrdom for the sake of my Smooshie's health. I have read the studies and I will not super-size my child just for the sake of a night's sleep. It turns out I was able to pump PLENTY in one sitting yesterday afternoon, so the formula wouldn't have been needed even if he had woken up to eat. However, I WILL keep it on hand for future babysitting situations.

Here is the thing: My mother breast fed me exclusively, probably for an uncomfortably long time. I was never left with a sitter, I never had sugar or junk food. We lived in the Caribbean and my mom filled her days frolicking on the beach with me and making silkscreens and paintings. My mother In Law, on the other hand, was a high powered PR woman. She gave DH formula, he had a nanny. And we are both fine. He is not obese, he even has a PhD. I want to be somewhere in the middle. I want to stick to my values and beliefs about what is best and most natural for my baby, but I also want to keep my career going, keep my marriage and my social life interesting, go on meetings and trips and to fancy parties. And so I walk a fine line, and this is just the beginning..

Last night I cried...

2009-11-13T05:51:00.000-08:00

Because Shmoosh was too big for his pajamas... This is so unlike me! I am usually a look-forward person. Not terribly sentimental. But when I saw his little feet poking out of the footsies, the fabric refusing to stretch over his little shoulders, I got so upset! DH thinks I am crazy, he just can't wait to be able to talk to him. Sometimes when I am nursing, these intense emotions take over as well. I look down and he is sucking away, looking up at me with his big blue eyes and I just want to squeeze him and never let him go. It is actually painful to feel this strongly.

Anyway, yesterday we had his 2 month appointment at the new doctor since our new insurance doesn't cover the other one. It is pretty upsetting since the other practice is a few blocks away, and very fabulous and progressive. This new guy comes well recommended, but we have to drive over there, it;s hard to find parking in that neighborhood, it isn't as nice or cool. It is actually in the Polish neighborhood, so it is basically like being in Poland ( I imagine). Lots of Perogi shops, everyone speaking Polish in the office. Whoever said New York isn't diverse hasn't been exploring the right neighborhoods. The DR was nice, but pretty intense. DH wasn't crazy about him, but he did give us lots of personal attention and he was very impressed with Smoosh. He is 13 lb 12oz and 24.5 inches which puts him in the 90th and 95th percentile, respectively. The DR found him very social, he was smiling and laughing during his entire exam. Smoosh apparently though the doctor was very funny. We have to go back next week for shots since he isn't actually 2 months yet. Not looking forward to that.

What I am looking forward to is going to the Beer Garden tomorrow with the mommy group. :)

8 weeks!

2009-11-10T05:44:00.000-08:00

My little guy is 8 weeks today.. and it my birthday! The age that will not be named haha.. OK, I am 32. I am going to stop being weird about it now.

Last weekend DH had to go to a conference in Atlanta so my sister came into town to meet her nephew. We had SUCH a great time. She is 25 and not much of a baby person, but they just adored each other. She had him smiling and laughing constantly! We did tons of shopping, went out to the outlets (YAY!!) and ate lots of yummy food. I got some really great stuff for Smoosh at the Saks outlet. :)

Sunday night we celebrated my birthday early with a group of friends at the Beer Hall/ Beer Garden which was AWESOME. They have delicious Austrian food, amazing beer (duh) and it is kid friendly! It was totally full of hipster parents and fabulously dressed kids running wild all over the place. Smoosh loved the dark and loud environment and slept like a dream for a few hours before getting up to play and get held by everyone. I think we may be spending a lot of time there in the future.

Yesterday I went to an indoor garage sale and picked up a few more hideous things that I swore I would never buy. First, a Bumbo seat. I just never liked the idea of these things, and I think I even read that they can be damaging because parents leave them in there for hours and it causes developmental problems... Well, we will be careful with ours. For now, it is awesome to stick him in there and have him sit up on the counter with us as we make dinner. It is giving his little neck and upper body a good work out too. Second, a battery powered plastic mobile. This thing goes for $120 on Amazon! It is supposed to help their development, but it simply a ploy to lure him into his crib. I have to get batteries for it today, then I will let you know how it works. He seems pretty fascinated by it already.

No change in the sleep schedule, I just seem to be going to sleep earlier and earlier to fit into his schedule. Hmmm

7 weeks today!

2009-11-03T05:23:00.000-08:00

And I think my Smoosh had a major growth spurt. Last night his pajamas came nowhere near fitting onto him! I had to rustle through the bigger things I had put away and put him in a size 6 month outfit! Luckily, I have starting buying 6 month things. Like the AMAZING striped sweater I got him at the Bonpointe sample sale!!

Yes, I did end up getting to go, but it was NO easy task. First, my follow up OB appointment. Everything is great, except I found out that I am still 17 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight!!! EEK! No wonder my jeans don't fit! I have to say, that was quite the shock. I think I look good, but geez, I need to fit back into my clothes. I have very expensive designer clothes that I have been "investing" in for a long time (Yes, I have convinced DH that they are an investment mwahaha.) Sigh. I did start mommy baby pilates yesterday.

So after the OB appointment I was able to convince DH to just to do a quick drive-by of the sample sale. After all , I don't think I had even been into the city since the baby was born and that made DH feel sorry for me and agree to go. Of course, I got the cross streets wrong ( I thought it was between 5th and 6th ave, but it was really 7th and 8th). It would have taken an hour to get around the block so my plans were almost thwarted, but I just jumped out and ran like the wind back to 8th avenue. Then I see ropes and lines outside the building... there is also a Louis Vuitton sample sale going on in the building as well! Now, I could really do without LV anyway. Ostentatious status bags aren't my thing, I don't have much use for heels these days, and I am OBVIOUSLY not buying clothes at this weight. So this just means I have to deal with lines of crazy NYC women Sex-In-The-City-Style trying to rush the elevators. Well, I made it and it was worth it. If I had had a baby girl, I would have been in trouble. If I had gone on the first day I might have been in trouble as well, as the tables were slightly picked over by Thursday. Even still, I found exactly what I was looking for. The very last little wool cap that covers the ears. The LAST one. AND it was $20, market down for $120!! I also quickly picked up and adorable greyish blue sweater overall and brown striped sweater. These will look adorable for Christmas photos I think. How I love a good sample sale.

And more baby style news, the Stella McCartney for Gap line came out today! Die!!! It is SO cute, although the infant clothes are slightly less irresistible than the toddler line with the little military jackets...

Halloween was super fun. Smoosh was a baby shark, I was a Geisha warrior, and DH was a Guatemalan cowboy. We walked around the festivities and had a drink with friends from my mommy group and watched the Brooklyn "Babyburg" festivities. There surely are a lot of hip kids and parents around here.

On Sunday night I decided to take Smoosh in the bath rub with me for a little swimming lesson. He LOVED it, especially floating. He is going to be ready for the beach by Christmas for sure. Now we better hop in the shower (we shower together every morning) and get to our cooking class. Followed by lunch with the mommy group, then Music class. :)

Stella McCartney for Gap!

6 weeks (and 2 days)

2009-10-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

I have successfully filled our days with activities and classes, and now... I am SICK. This is so upsetting, as I haven't been sick in years! I am able to accomplish this by basically never getting cold, never taking the subway, taking a car service if the weather is bad, never going out when the weather really sucks, not being around sick people. Basically, by working at home and having few other obligations. Not this has all changed. Plus DH takes the subway every day and is teaching this semester. College, but still. College kids have germs too I am sure and he is not bringing them home. So far, things aren't too bad. Just a sore throat and headache and Smoosh seems to be fine.

He is actually more than fine, he is a bundle of energy! He has actually begun STANDING just holding on to our hands. At 6 weeks. Now I am no child development expert, but this seems rather early to me. I will have to take a photo. He also LOVES "jumping" (aka bending his knees and pushing off and one of us lifting him into the air.. over and over and over again). We are going to have to go look for some kind of jumper thingy ASAP that his little self will fit into! It looks like we may be having to child proof the house sooner than we thought as all signs point to early crawling and walking. Yes, I may be bragging a little. DH is convinced we have a future something-or-other on our hands. However, I was a super strong baby and an early walker myself, and that proved NOT to be a precursor for future athletic prowess. In fact, I was picked last at P.E. every time. I TOTALLY suck at sports.

Anyway, cooking class was great although getting there was a bit of a disaster. It was only maybe 10 blocks away but it was POURING rain. I decided to take the stroller and not deal with car seat and parking. Well, I discovered that the Uppa Baby does not come with a rain cover for the bassinet. I was trying to use the rain cover for the seat and managed SOAK the stroller, flood the bassinet. We got splashed by a bus and drenched in muddy water. Poor Smoosh, it was everything I could do not to break down in tears. Actually, I think I did cry a little as I tried to push the rapidly water-logging stroller with one hand and hold down with piece of ill fitted plastic as it continued to blow off in the wind, and hold my umbrella with the other hand. It was very pathetic, but I made it there and back- and came home with an amazing Spaghetti Puttanesca! I actually skipped the play group afterwords and made the Spaghetti for lunch, I was starving and Smoosh needed to rest for Music Class.

For Music class, needless to say I took the car. Still a bit of a struggle to find parking (baby screaming at full volume of course) , find quarters for the meter, get him out of the car seat and into the place in the rain. I am learning and getting better though and music class was super fun. In fact, it is working already. Last night he was fussing and I didn't know what to do. Out of desperation, I started the "Hello Song" from class, and he broke into a big smile! AMAZING!

Today I have my follow up OB appointment. Not looking forward to the internal exam AT all. What I AM looking forward to is the Bonparte sample sale that I may or may not be able to convince DH to swing by afterwords.

Here we are on our way to Smooshie's first party last weekend. How cute are his little wool booties?

Uh oh..

2009-10-23T06:50:00.001-07:00

I have a serious weakness for sample sales. Let's see, $275 cashmere onesie at 75% off would be....

5 weeks!

2009-10-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

Me and Smooshie right now, blogging. Excuse the crazy hair, that's what happens when you sleep in braids.

My little Smoosh is 1 month and 1 week old! He is more and more of a little person every day, and we are having so much fun together.
His 1 month appointment went great- he is up to 10lb 12oz so the constant breast feeding is really paying off! That is a pretty big gain from 7lb 6oz. He holds his little head up, follows us around the room with his eyes, looks at his toys and the dogs.. such a big difference from the first few weeks. He is even trying desperately to stand, so cute. AND he did his first real smile the other day which really was different than his little random infant smiles. It was SO adorable.
We have an awesome play group that meets twice a week, plus a ton of classes starting soon. We did 2 music class demos last week and a cloth diaper workshop. We are also starting mom & baby cooking, mom & baby pilates, mom & baby book group.. Music Together starts next week, plus our play group twice a week. I know it is a lot, but I am DREADING the winter and I do NOT want to be stuck indoors!
Speaking of winter, we had a serious cold blast last week and I realized little one is totally unprepared for the weather. I had to make an emergency Baby Gap order of snowsuits and fuzzy coveralls and hats!
And speaking of emergency orders, here is something else I was SO wrong about.. the car seat. Why, I thought, would I be so lazy that I would need to click the car seat onto the stroller? Why not just take baby out and put him into a carrier, or hold him?? Well, because he will cry. Into car seat= cry, out of car seat= cry, into carrier= cry, out of carrier= cry, back into car seat= cry. Exhausting. He does not like getting in and out of these things, all the straps I guess, the warmth to the cold..
Now it is true that there is a flat baby head epidemic and I do think this has a lot to do with it. On our Maryland road trip, we found that Cracker Barrel actually has special attachments that go on the chairs to accommodate a car seat. Also, at WAL Mart you can click your pod child right onto your shopping cart! You basically never have to take them out! Even so, we caved and ordered the car seat base attachment for the Uppa Baby. I swear I will not let Smoosh get a flat head. He is sitting here with me right now, and he will do extra tummy time to make up for it! He also spends most of the day at home in the Moby (actually the Sleepy is working better for me so DH has taken over the Moby).
Today we have got to get some errands done, so I hope to take advantage of the warm-ish weather and stroller around the hood which I haven't really done yet by myself. Very exciting times.

4 Weeks

2009-10-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

You know, I have often noticed that when pregnancy blogs turn into baby blogs they tend get, how can I put this? BORING. And mine is no exception. Days of boredom and anticipation that leave ample time for witty blogging are replaced with days of actually taking care of the baby we have been dreaming of and buying thing for for the last 9 months or more. Now it's just "baby slept for _ hours" , "baby did this", "baby did that".. Surely once I am getting a little more sleep I will come up with something more interesting to say, right? I know I will want to read these some day, and maybe Smoosh will too, so I will march on..

We took our first trip this last weekend, a 6 hour drive to Maryland. He was pretty good in the car, but we did have to stop to BF pretty often. My nursing cover is coming in very handy, as I end up nursing while I am eating most of the time. DH had to make my brunch buffet plate at the hotel, and cut my steak at dinner b/c I was nursing. We left Friday evening and really just got a few hours outside of the city, then it started raining and we decided to get a hotel and call it a night. The next day we drove on to Maryland, straight to the festival where DH met the band. It was a big outdoor stage right on the lake and everyone sat on blankets on the hillside. It was pretty cold so I bundled Smoosh in layers and he watched his daddy perform for the first time! Then we went back to the hotel, we were staying at an awesome lodge inside the park. DH went back to hang out and see the rest of the shows, and Smoosh and I ordered room service and watched a movie. The next day it was SO beautiful (and DH was so hungover) that we decided to stay another day since it was a holiday weekend. We had a yummy brunch, walked around, then had to find a Wal Mart to buy more diapers, breast pads, and PJs! The leaves were all turning and it was so gorgeous. Then we went to the pool back at the hotel and I FINALLY got to go in the hot tub - first time in 9 months! yay! Smoosh put his toes in and he loved it. I can't wait for him to go in the ocean at Christmas! We had a nice dinner, relaxed, and came home the next day. Totally relaxing, wonderful weekend.

Now it is a busy week with billing for work, squeezing in play groups (hey, it's getting cold and I need friends!) and taking care of the LO. We had a play group yesterday, and a music class demo today and tomorrow, need to see the pedi for hi 1 month appointment.. And this reminds me why I have very little time to blog. Back to work!

3 weeks!

2009-10-05T06:26:00.001-07:00

Well, 3 weeks tomorrow. Although I still tend to think that he was born on Monday since it was late Monday night.. Anyway..

Smooshie (that is his most popular nickname by far) has gotten a little more difficult the last few days. Apparently they tend to get more fussy and gassy around 3- 6 weeks. AND they are more likely to develop baby acne which the poor little guy has as well. Great. I guess, biologically, they have to be REALLY cute that first week or two so we don't change our minds and leave them for the wolves or something. He actually slept very well last night, I got up to nurse three times and still got plenty of sleep. Now he is cooing and smiling in his swing while I work.

My In Laws were in town this weekend so we took him out to dinner for the first time which was a huge success. We swaddles him and brought him in his bassinet and stroller and he didn't make a peep. And I finally got to have my margarita! Dinner was so successful, we went out somewhere fabulous every night! Mexican, then Maltese, then Italian - yum!

Smooshie is also a wonderful shopper! Yesterday I drove into the city (he screamed all the way there while I tried not to cry or crash) to the IL's hotel, parked, nursed him up in their room then put him into the Bjorn and he slept through 2 or 3 hours of crazy bargain shopping! I found 3 dresses that button down the front thank the Lord (I love my dresses with tights and boots in the Fall) and he got two little Ralph Lauren outfits. I love my ILs. :)

Some other very exciting news: Smooshie is already going to his first concert next weekend! DH has a show in MAryland so I was going to be left alone for two nights.. not happy about that. Then we looked at the festival website and it is a family friendly festival and they play in the afternoon so we get to come - YAY! It is in a State Park and we will just drive separately and get a hotel room. Smoosh gets to use his little headphones and wear his "I'm With The Band" onesie already!

Now, on to something else important.. the Baby Gap Fall clothes!! OMG! SO cute! I can actually recreate some of DHs outfits and they can be matching - how precious! I just don't know what size to get, he is still just a little scrunchie ball, but how big will he be in a few months? Hmmm...

Smooshie's Fall/Winter wardrobe:

Today we are going to a new Mommy/Baby tea with a Pilates class and nutrition talk - so excited!

2 weeks!

2009-09-29T05:51:00.001-07:00

And things are going really well! I actually get enough sleep which is awesome.. I just have to go to bed at 9 since it takes a good 12 hours in bed for me to get my 7 or 8 hours of sleep. He actually sleeps from about 10pm- 1:30 or 2 AM, then we breast feed, then sleeps again until 3 0r 4, again till 6 or 7, and again until 8 or 9. Not bad! He sleeps later than me! Then I put him in the swing for his morning nap (another 3 hours) while I have coffee and do my emailing and business calls. We will see how long this pattern lasts.

We had our 2 week check up yesterday and everything looks wonderful, he gained 12 ounces in 1 week so he is up to 8. 12 now! He also lost his little umbilical stump the other night so he can have a real bath.. actually the stump is MIA which I don't even want to think about. I guess it fell off when I was changing him in the dark? Eww.

Things can definitely be challenging. The main thing is being trapped in the house. DH is SO busy teaching his new class and with his band. He is doing such a great job and working SO hard, AND he still comes home and makes dinner ( a new thing!) and burps and changes the baby until his "shift" is over around 3AM. :)

There is a new mommy meet up today and I can definitely take him out now, I am just a little nervous about the logistics of the stairs, the bassinet, the stroller, the car seat.. Do I take the car? How do I get everything to the car and carry the baby? Do I just walk with the stroller? What if he starts screaming and I have to stop and find a stoop to sit on and awkwardly breast feed him on the sidewalk??! Not to mention it is getting COLD.. 60s all week. I have to get out before it gets REALLY cold! I am so afraid of this winter. :(

I am also dying to go to Babies R Us with my 30% off coupon, but how? Subway is out of the question. Drive and pray for parking? Not enough time to make it from the meters to the store and back in an hour.. Pay parking.. is the $35 for parking going to be equal or greater than the 30% I save on baby outfits? Hmmm...

1 Week Old

2009-09-22T06:31:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that my little man is a week old today. In some ways it has gone by so quickly, yet at the same time I feel like I have had him forever, I can't imagine what it was like not having him. I am so completely enamored by him and I just can't get enough of watching his sweet little face and all the expressions he makes. When I see him make an expression that looks like DH, I am so overcome with love. It is overwhelming. I think severe lack of sleep has also affected me and some hysteria has set in.

Due to the craziest week ever, I only got around 3-4 hours of sleep a night for the last 7 days so I was pretty much losing it. I got no sleep in the hospital, then DH had to go play a show over the weekend, my mom was here but I just couldn't make myself nap or rest ( I am NOT a napper) and as soon as I finally would fall asleep, the baby would be up and need to be fed. I am a slave to the breast and it is exhausting. Now DH is home and I think we will be able to fall into a good pattern. LAst night he was able to make me go to sleep and keep LO occupied for about 4 hours while I caught up. Then nursing for about an hour, getting him back to sleep, then another 3 hours of sleep, although not the most restful. Now I am up and had my coffee.. and he is asleep again. I can't go back to sleep now, so this will be work time. :)

Birth Story! He is here!!!

2009-09-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

My Birth Story!

Mason Edward was born on September 15th at 2:50 AM, 7lb 10 oz.

Sunday was my EDD and on Monday I was due for my 40 week OB appointment. My Dad came into town in the morning so we walked around Brooklyn and got bagels, came back to the apartment and had breakfast with DH and we all went to doctor.

We had a quick U/S and everything looked great, then they put me on the monitors for awhile. They saw how strong my contractions were and noticed that the HB was going off the chart during them, so they said we should go straight to the hospital to be admitted! I was so happy!

I got into a nice L&D room and got my epidural and started pitocin. I had been planning on trying natural, but my contractions weren't regulating and some of them were so painful, I had decided earlier in the week that maybe the epidural was better for me after all. After less than an hour on pitocin, the HB started to drop a little so they decided to turn it off and give the baby a break. I was worried that things would slow down and get complicated, but my contrax got stronger and more regular on their own. I guess they just needed a little kick start- next time they checked I was at 7!

DH and I played music and talked, I slept a little bit.. next time they checked I was at 10 with just a lip of cervix! They said to let them know when I felt like pushing. I think I fell back asleep, DH was reading, and some other doctors came in and said it was time to push! My OB came back, I don't know who those other people were.

I didn't really feel like pushing, but I was able to feel what I needed to do. We did pushes though about 4 or 5 contractions, and he was out! It was such a calm, amazing, and even peaceful experience. I can't even describe it. There was some pain when he was crowning, but I just pushed through it and tried not to psych myself out.

He had the cord wrapped around his neck 3 times, which is why he had been dropping off the monitors but he was totally fine, 9/9 on his Apgars.. So beautiful.

I only had one tiny tear with 1 stitch so recovery has been good!

The worst part was spending the night in the hospital. I had a horrible small shared room and DH had to go home. I didn't want the baby to go to the nursery, and it was really hard being by myself with him all night, with no sleep. The nurse that night was mean and not very helpful. Luckily, my OB said everything looked great and we could get an early discharge. We got home Wednesday evening and everything is absolutely amazing.

He has been nursing non stop, which is painful but very fulfilling. He is such a sweet little angel, I love him so so much!

40 Weeks

2009-09-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

Annnd I am still here.

Night before last I was having cramping, bleeding, and what I thought was my water breaking so the OB had us come in to L&D. 6 hours of some very uncomfortable time in Triage, a mean nurse, tons of monitoring and no amniotic fluid. Very easy to get in to the hospital, VERY difficult to leave. We would be dressed and out the door.. not so fast, another 20 minutes on the monitor. FOr no reason. Everything is perfect, the baby just isn't coming out today. Just protocol, back on the monitor. We got home around 6:30 AM, I had contractions all day yesterday and last night but still nothing.

Apparently I am in early labor, which usually means labor starts within 24 hours, but mine seems to be lasting considerably longer.

One problem with all this is that it is making me considerable MORE terrified of the pain of giving birth. The contractions are already SO painful, I am constant fear of the next one. If it had come on suddenly, like in the movies, I feel like I would be so surprised, rush off to the hospital, and do what I have to do. Days and days of pain with only a vague end in sight is truly torturous.

39 weeks, 5 days

2009-09-11T05:47:00.000-07:00

:::Tapping fingers on counter::

So much for my maternal premonitions of having an early delivery. Sigh.

Wednesday night was total hell. I had contractions throughout the day, which turned into painful stabbing from about 9 to midnight. I couldn't sleep at all. DH got home from band practice around then and we started timing. They were anywhere from 4 - 12 minutes apart and varied from being stabbed in the crotch pain to just uncomfortable tightening. I was crying, and being SO mean to DH. Poor thing. I eventually got into the bath and had some wine and that slowed things down. DH did all the dishes and packed the rest of my bag, just in case. He is so sweet. :) By 5AM they must have stopped because I fell asleep, only to be woken back up at 7 with more.. But they never got time able and they eventually ended.

So, yesterday we were pretty optimistic and ran around getting all our errands done on 2 hours of sleep. I had a few contractions throughout the day and by dinner the stabbing pain started again and I was so exhausted, I broke down. I couldn't take another night like that. I called the OB and she said it isn't labor if it isn't time able and that I could take half a Benadryl to sleep. I guess that worked, I don't remember anything after that until waking up at 8:30 this morning (late for me!)

I know the baby is on his own schedule, and he isn't even late yet. I have to keep telling myself that. Every day is one day closer, but it doesn't feel like that. Every day and I feel more hopeless instead. I just feel so pressured, even though everyone is doing their best to not make me feel that way.

Here is the thing. MIL was in town all week..for business of course, but also hoping to be here for the birth. She is coming back Monday hoping to meet the baby. My dad has arrived on Long Island for his conveniently timed Lifeguard Reunion. He will be here in Brookyln Monday and Tuesday night hoping to meet the baby.. His facebook status even said he is coming to NY to " help birth his first grandchild"! I am not sure what that is supposed to mean, he is not going to be in the delivery room even if he is here, but whatever.. Anyway, they both say they are happy just to see us, but otherwise they won't see the baby until Thanksgiving so I would just love for it to work out.

Then, of course, DHs band is booked for a big festival the weekend after the EDD. This was booked before I got PG and he has told the band all along that they can't go if the baby isn't born yet. Still, it is a huge deal for them, it pays well, they are on the big stage this year, so many big bands will be there.. His sister already booked a flight to be there..I will be so upset if he misses it. The tour van has to be cancelled by Tuesday if they aren't going. No pressure.

Not to mention, my mom is coming to stay with me while DH is gone. No baby, and mom will have to get a hotel instead (she offered thank God) and pretty much be here waiting around.

I know a lot of people induce on or near their due date. I am actually shocked at how many women on the bump are saying their OBs are offering inductions after 37 weeks, just because the baby is supposedly done growing. This just isn't true by the way! We talked to the OB about it, and we are absolutely not going to induce the baby unless medically necessary, and she lets you go to 42 weeks if all is well. DH says the show means nothing compared to our child's entire life and we want him to get the best start possible and come out when he is ready.

I just can't help but feel stressed. I am such a planner and I have trouble giving up my ideas of how I picture things perfectly in my head. I just have to stay calm and positive and remember that what will be will be. Here's to another day closer to having our sweet baby.

39 weeks, 3 days

2009-09-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

I have to say my OB appointment yesterday was disappointing. I have been having very painful contractions for days so I thought for sure something would be going on down there. I even got a pani/pedi beforehand just in case we needed to go right to the hospital! But no, no progress at all. "Barely a fingertip" dilated, but the cervix is soft (it should be, we have been having sex every day!) I know things can change in a day, but when she said she would let me go to 42 weeks I got a little bit depressed.

Luckily, MIL is in town and her favorite medicine is shopping! We met up with her in Soho (where my OB is) and helped her pick out some things, then we went to Bloomingdales and got a new outfit for DH. Ludacris (the rapper) was totally there buying jeans too. I don't think anyone else recognized him, but I am sure it was Luda. :)

Then we went over to Giggle and MIL bought us the Baby Bjorn travel crib which was SOO nice of her. She was going to get it for us for Christmas, but she thought we may need it sooner for Thanksgiving or any other trips we are taking. It is really cool and has the best reviews.

She really wanted to get me something for myself, but I was just feeling too fat and crappy. I can't believe I turned down a dress at Jill Stuart (my FAVORITE) but I can't try anything on and I just don't know what I am going to look like after all this is over. It may have something to do with the fact that I managed to gain 3 pounds this week. Maybe all those cupcakes weren't such a good idea. Ugh, anyway, gifts for DH and the baby make me happier than something for myself. The only gift I really want right now if for the housekeeper to come more often. How I would love weekly cleaning. Aren't I acting like a selfless mother already?! Haha

After all that shopping we went for an amazing dinner at Kelly and Ping. Yum, fried banana with green tea ice cream for dessert!

MIL has been reading up on MIL issues and grandparent issues (she is an academic and a writer) and actually read that a common problem is MILs coming to "help" after birth, but they end up just wanting to hold the baby, which is what the new mom really wants to do. Then the mom ends up doing the cooking and cleaning and not getting to hold her baby and is miserable. She swears she will not do this and she will come and actually help if we would like her to. SO nice, if a little intense.

39 weeks today!

2009-09-06T04:44:00.000-07:00

Madame Zaritska's reading

Madame Zaritska, our resident clairvoyant, wants to help you prepare for the arrival of your child. Here she does her best to predict certain aspects of your labor and birth experience.

What she senses for you

The day you deliver, outside will be warm. Your baby will arrive in the morning.
After a labor lasting approximately 3 hours, your child, a boy, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and will be 18-1/2 inches long. This child will have blue eyes and dark hair.

I finally gave in and did this online birth prediction, and I must say I like it! Haha, how awesome would a 3 hour labor be?!

DH and I had the nicest day yesterday playing tourist. We picked up our CSA then went to the Jeep repair place in the city (way over on 11th avenue and 51st street) to repair the damage done by me/the bus on Thursday night. Since we had tons of time to kill, we went for lunch, then walked down to the Intrepid battle ship museum, then out on one of the piers where they had water fountains and kids running around.. Then we walked over through Hells Kitchen and got organic smoothies, then over to Times Square. I don't think I have been to Times Square in years! They have the roads blocked off now so it was pretty fun walking around and gawking at everything! Then we walked over to 5th avenue and hung out in Barnes & Noble for awhile. All together I must have walked a few miles for SURE, I was dying! If this doesn't start labor (combined with all the sexy time we have been having), I don't know what will!

This was a bit of a set back money wise, the bill came to $2000 because we also needed new brakes, pads, roters, whatever. We are just looking on the bright side - good thing I hit that bus and we had to come in and get the car checked. Otherwise, the brakes could have given out with the baby in the car.. disaster averted. Still a difficult pill to swallow.

When we got home I took a long bath and we made home made pizza which was delicious. I think I was asleep by 9:30!

And now today we are 39 weeks.. WOW. I have my prenatal massage in an hour and I will be sure let her know that if she is aware of any labor-inducing pressure points she may feel free to press on them by all means. :)

Full moon? Contractions? Single Digits?!

2009-09-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

Wow, I am due in 9 days. That is SO crazy. I went out last night to a show, DH was playing at the this awesome show at Bowery Ballroom, and I just couldn't stand the thought of missing seeing him up on that big stage in front of all those people, plus staying home alone again? Ugh! Boring! Who knows when I am going to be able to go out again? I wish I had an invisible cloak for times like this. I managed to find a white baby doll dress that actually fit over my bump. I was hoping it was minimizing, but I know I actually just looked like a giant marshmallow. I tried to lurk in corners but I was still a bit of a spectacle, plus the door guys and the bouncers were totally freaking out worried about me and trying make me sit down. They were worried someone was going to knock me over.. Embarrassing! Luckily, DH sang the 3rd song. I was actually starting to get some pretty bad cramping/contractions so I decided to leave after that (to the relief of the venue staff). We decided I would take the car home and DH would take a cab later since he was drinking.

Well, maybe my contractions were a little distracting because I somehow managed to crash into the back of a city bus. It wasn't really a "crash", I just sort of turned too soon and turned into the back of the bus as he was going straight... It's hard to explain, but these buses are really two buses linked together, so they are very long.. Anyway, I pulled over and the bus pulled over. I crushed my two front turn signal lights out and the front is a little dented. No damage to the beastly bus.

When DH got home I told him what happened (no need to freak him out while he was having fun at the show) and he was just SO relieved that I am OK, but has decided that my pregnant driving days are now officially over. Great, now I am stranded at home until this baby arrives!

After that my contractions got pretty painful and actually time able for the first time. They were around 1 minute long about every 10 minutes from about 2AM - 4AM. Ouch! I had a little bit of wine and eventually fell asleep. That was a bitter reality check of how much this is going to hurt when it actually happens.

SO, tonight is the full moon. Famous for breaking the water of pregnant women every month. I still think it is early for me, but I am going to wash and straighten my hair JUST IN CASE.

Also, it turns out MIL is going to be in town all week next week for work. What a coincidence! I knew she would somehow end up being here to see the baby first.. As long as she doesn't try to come into the delivery room or hang around the hospital while I am in labor I am more than happy for her to be here. :)

Nursery Pics!

2009-09-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not totally done but this is close enough! We still need to put up the canopy and get the rocker. We have our eye on a Mission rocker at the antique store, we will see...

The crib and changing table are Argington Sahara, the bedding is Dwell Charlotte.

I found the book shelf on Ebay (PERFECT fit for the tiny space, and we have a lot of other cottage white antiques in the room).

The red swords hanging from the hook were brought back from Japan by my ILs - they are soft cotton and they squeak!

Some of the stuffed animals are a little strange, but a gift is a gift, right? :)

The baby scale was the first thing we bought for the baby, we got it at a flea market up in the Catskills at least a year before we started TTC. It was just too cute and it has been waiting in the closet until now.

In other news, I had my 38 week OB appointment today and my cervix is "low" and fingertip dilated. Hmm. Kind of anticlimactic after all the crampiness I have been having, but still good news.

38 weeks today!

2009-08-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

And, just to get things moving, I am making eggplant parmesan tonight! I know, I know, I am not going to get all worked up and impatient about the baby coming already and start doing and eating weird things. I know it could be weeks still, but I have to say, I am pretty freaking uncomfortable so any time is really OK with me. Except that the crib has been moved to try to install the canopy, which we don't have the right screws for.. And the bookshelf/cabinet isn't here yet... and we have no rocker or glider. Maybe next weekend would actually be better. OK, little one?

Things to do this week:

Prenatal Massage (my back is finally killing me)
OB appointment (please let there be progress)
Get bookshelf delivered and put everything away in it that is still sitting around in bags.
Get canopy installed (that one is up to DH)
Get a new mani/pedi
Clear some things up at the bank
Wrap more things up with work

I was having horrible contraction/cramps/whatever all night last night so I hope to get more rest tonight... Off to make dinner!

A few more things...

2009-08-28T15:53:00.001-07:00

I may have gone on a little bit of an internet shopping spree last week, but I kept finding these great deals!

First, nursing pajamas from Japanese Weekend on sale at Nordstrom's. I didn't have any yet, so not really a splurge. They are soft and cute and will be nice for lounging around the first week (and beyond).

We know how I feel about the DWELL Charlotte collection, so when I saw the diaper tote on sale I couldn't resist! I know I said I was going to share the boring grey Skip Hop Diaper Bag with DH, but I changed my mind! I am probably going to be on my own with the baby more than I would like to believe, and I want a cute bag.

OK, this is a diaper caddie full of BabyLegs. I have heard great things about them and looked into getting some, then I saw this package on sale on the BabyLegs website, 10 pairs of Baby Legs for $80! They are usually $12 each so that's a great deal. Plus the basket diaper thingie is a bonus. I am sure I can use that somewhere.

Birth Announcements - SO cute!

2009-08-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

Tiny Prints has added even MORE adorable birth announcements, now they have some designed by Dwell Studio! How precious is the little Cowboy print? I was seriously tempted by that bedding set, but decided to go with something gender neutral so we could use it again.. Not so with the baby announcement. :) Maybe this is my chance to get something totally masculine since everything else I have bought has been green... I am torn between birds, elephants, monograms, and cowboy boots!

Big Shopping Trip & Ultrasound

2009-08-26T04:57:00.000-07:00

SO Monday we had an OB appointment and the final U/S to check things out. Mason is totally head down and ready to go! I actually couldn't see anything at the u/s because the screen was pointed away from me, and he is so big now and smushed in there that there isn't as much to see as the 20 week. DH did see him and his cute face. His hand is up by his face and he was doing his practice sucking, how sweet. The tech asked where he got his big pouty lips! Certainly not from me! Now I REALLY can't wait to see what he looks like! She printed us a photo of his face, but it really just looks like a blob to me so I won't bother scanning. She estimated that he is about 6 1/2 pounds right now and will probably be 7 1/2 - 8 1/2 pounds at birth. Sounds perfect to me, although I know these estimates can be way off the mark sometimes.

After the doctor we went to Buy Buy Baby to do our registry completion - so fun! Luckily, we didn't need any big ticket things but it still added up! We got 2 packs of Aden + Anais swaddling blankets, cloth diapers for burp cloths, a Dwell stroller blanket, window shades and mirror for the car, cup holder for the stroller, diapers, wipes, plain white onesies, little socks, two more hooded towels and washcloths, two miracle blankets... and the Twilight turtle! I couldn't resist! (Oh, and an impulse buy- a CD of Metallica nursery lullabye covers which is actually very CREEPY. I will not be listening to that at home alone, it sounds like a horror movie soundtrack).

When we got home there were some packages waiting - the Boppy with organic cover from one of my girlfriends, and some adorable Roobeez shoes from one of my clients!

I also found the PERFECT shabby chic bookcase on EBay and bought it last night. Now I just have to find delivery to get it here from PA, or we could drive out and pick it up this weekend. Is 2 1/2 hours too far to drive at 38 weeks? Hmm.. Also stalking Craig's List for a glider or rocker, no luck yet.

Twilight turtle, he is organic AND he projects constellations onto the ceiling. :)

The Dwell stroller blanket is SO soft..

So fresh and so clean, bling

2009-08-24T06:26:00.001-07:00

These are my new OBSESSION. I was working on a photo shoot the other day and someone offered me a vanilla wafer, and said her sister had cravings for vanilla wafers when she was pregnant. Well, I certainly hadn't thought about them until she said that but then I was suddenly overcome with thoughts of vanilla wafers. When I stopped at the deli on my way home, I saw these. Um, AMAZING!! These are the most wonderful things I have ever tasted! And voila, vanilla wafer pregnancy craving is born. I am so suggestible.

Yesterday was wonderful. It was a lovely morning, DH made french toast for breakfast and our new housekeeper came over. We took the dogs and got out of her way and brought the car in to get cleaned. We ended up getting the super duper interior detail where they shampoo the all the upholstery and everything- it really looks and smells brand new again! While the car was being washed, we walked over to the park and hung out in the dog run all day, ran into some friends, had a yummy wheat germ banana smoothie.... Came home to a sparkling clean home. I HEART our new housekeeper so much, she is so sweet. Now we will have to work out how often the budget will allow her to come. How I would love every week, but it will probably have to be every other week, or once a month. We will see how much of a mess I manage to make and how little I manage to clean once the baby is here.

Today we have an OB appointment then hopefully to Buy Buy Baby to do the registry completion. I better check Baby Bargains and add a few things before we go, just in case.

FULL TERM!!

2009-08-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

I am officially full term today! That is pretty exciting. :)

What a freak out last night, sorry about that! DH got home a little while later (much sooner than I expected actually) and was really sorry. I was so happy to see him and he was so tired, we just decided to have a nice dinner together at our favorite sushi place in the neighborhood and watch a movie. So I still got to go out and wear my new dress. I think I was having a little bit of cabin fever!

I was also having some pretty painful contractions last night. They were actually time-able for the first time, but I didn't time them because I just didn't feel like this was "it". They woke me up on and off throughout the night as well, but I just drank tons of water and stayed in bed. Seeing that this is my only experience with this, I am honestly not 100% percent sure they aren't just stomach cramps! But, I haven't been constipated, everything is good down there so I think they MUST have been contractions especially since they also ached in my lower back.

So now I feel that I must get everything together. The new housekeeper is coming today, so I think DH and I will take the dogs with us and go get some things done. We were hoping for a nice long time at the dog park, but it is raining. :( Drug store, antique store, hardware store, and baby store are all on the list as well. Actually, last night I was checking my email on my phone, and I saw an email from Buy Buy Baby with an online link to my registry completion coupon- great! Then this morning, it was gone. My phone SUCKS. Do not get a Blackberry Pearl, emails and texts disappear ALL the time. I checked my laptop, my junk, my trash, it is gone. Ugh. I will have to call and get them to email it again I guess?

Maybe we can go there tomorrow after my OB appointment... and Ultrasound! More excitement! I was supposed to have my u/s last week and I even brought my mom and sister since they were in town, but they had messed up somehow and the u/s tech wasn't there. That was super disappointing and I got very upset, but now we get to have it tomorrow and "see" Mason for the first time since 20 weeks!

Another new development.. No one was going to be here for the birth which we are TOTALLY fine with. Our parents all live 6 hour flights away and we don't want them hanging around NYC waiting for me to go into labor, or hanging around our tiny apartment. Well, now MIL conveniently has been asked to speak at a conference in NY the weekend of my due date.... AND now my Dad suddenly has a lifeguard reunion he needs to go to out on Long Island that same weekend, so he might as well just get a hotel in Brooklyn for a few days after! So funny. I knew they wouldn't be able to stay away. :)

Here are a few more pics from the shower...

Pregnancy Hormone Induced Vent

2009-08-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

I am so disappointed. Tonight is the engagement party of a friend of mine. He was my closest male friend for a few years, but DH ended up really not liking him. Anyway, I pretty much cut him off and haven't even seen him since my wedding which I have felt really bad about. This year his mom passed away and he met a new girl he is really in love with and we got back in touch and he invited us to his engagement party. DH agreed to give him a second chance (he felt the friend was weird/jealous before) and agreed to go.
However, he had his show in DC last night, so before I RSVPd I made sure to let him know that he would have to come back from DC in enough time to get to the party. This morning when he called, he was on his way to brunch with his friends and band, and I reminded him that the party was at 6. I didn't make a big deal about it because I didn't want to pressure him, knowing he is not crazy about this friend anyway, or harass him when he is with his band.
A couple of hours later, he called and they were touring the White House. Um, OK. Just hanging out, being tourists? I didn't say anything and just asked him to call when they are close to the city. At six I hadn't heard from him so I called to see where they were, and they were at least an hour away still. He could tell by my voice that I was upset and got totally defensive.
He said he didn't know we had to be there right at 6 and I should have let him know that I wanted him back by a certain time, but I was just trying not to make a big deal out of it.
Now I am just so disappointed. I did my hair and I was really excited to wear my new dress and actually get to go somewhere, to a fun early dinner party. I am just so bored here at home. I can't go out and get drinks, I just feel so lonely and was really looking forward to this party. I also feel like a horrible person for RSVP ing and not showing up to the party, I know how that feels and it feels terrible.
I know he isn't going to back for hours with this traffic, so we are going to totally miss the party. I am dreading even talking to him about this because whenever this friend is mentioned it ends up turning into a fight. I just wish I hadn't said we could go, I knew something like this would happen. Now I think I am having contractions, ouch!
Writing it out does make me feel better, I am such a hormonal mess. :(

Coming Home Outfits, etc.

2009-08-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

I did my first batch of Baby laundry yesterday. It was difficult, I must admit, they were just so perfect already it was hard to throw them into the wash! I bought the Method baby wash which I like pretty well, although I may switch to something totally unscented instead.

I picked out the tiniest outfit from the shower to bring to the hospital. It is a little Ralph Lauren kimono top and pants with feet. The top also has little sleeves that can cover the little hands! The legs look awfully short though, so I think I will bring a back up outfit in case he is too long!

This is another precious newborn outfit, but it is a bit bigger. The little crocheted cars are appropriate for his first little car ride, right? :)

I am almost finished with my Thank You cards. I bought a PDF design for them off of Etsy and printed them out on craft paper (left over from my wedding Save the Date and Thank You notes I made). There are NO cute stamps out right now, by the way!

I can't believe I am full term this weekend. Well, I sort of can. I am HUGE and I feel like I haven't had a cocktail in 100 years.. DH is on his way to DC for the hotly debated out of town show with his band. At my appointment Monday I had an internal and nothing was going on, so I am not worried at all. I am, however, on strict orders to lounge on the sofa and drink water constantly until he gets back tomorrow. NOT a problem.

I have a ton to do still to get ready, but no energy or motivation to do it. So far, my only nesting this week was finally calling a housekeeper to come on Sunday.

Registry Round Up!

2009-08-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

Soo, now that the shower is over with I need to finalize a list for what we still need to get... I will be full term this weekend and seeing posts of people having their babies early is making me nervous! Still, I want to wait for my completion coupon..

Here is a basic round up:

Things we have bought:

Chicco Keyfit carseat
Breast Pump (Medela Swing)
Changing Table

Things we have received:

Stroller (Uppa Baby Vista)
Crib
Bedding
Swing (used from neighbor)
Bathtub (from neighbor)
Clothes
Bibs
2 swaddling blankets
Bouncer (Svan)
High Chair (Svan)
Stuffed animals
Bottles, thermometer, clippers
Tummy Playmat
Lilababy carrier
Maya Wrap
Bundle Me for Winter
Diaper Bag
Bath towel and scrubby mitts
Books

Things we still need:

Monitor
Boppy & Cover
More crib sheets
Socks!
More blankets (receiving & swaddling)
Drink holder for stroller!
Car mirror and sun shade
Diapers and wipes
Diaper Pail
Bath wash, diaper cream, shampoo, etc.
Book Shelf
Rocking chair or glider

How long should I wait for this coupon? It is only a measly 10% but that adds up with this much stuff... Hmmm

Stuffed Animal Round Up!:

Baby Shower :)

2009-08-16T05:24:00.003-07:00

The shower was soo beautiful. I took this one photo at the beginning, then abandoned my camera for the rest of the party, but I am sure I will post a few more when I get them from my mom and sister.

The shower was held at this beautiful historic townhouse a few blocks away from me in Brooklyn that my mom rented for the week. She made patchwork cloth flags and hung them around the house and the backyard. We had big centerpieces of zinnias from the local farmers market, and It's A Boy helium balloons drifting around. We made Thyme Lemonade and had Trader Joes White wine and coolers of Brooklyn Lager summer ale.

The food was light, but delicious. My favorite was a watermelon salad with ricotta salata and fresh mint. So good! There was also a cherry tomato and goat cheese salad (yummy golden and red local tomatoes) , grilled zucchini and squash with goat cheese and basil and fresh baguettes. My mom made an amazing simple white cake and also bought a big beautiful fruit tart...

It was really fun, the guys mostly hung out outside drinking and the ladies inside.. DH and I opened the presents together and got some amazing things, we are so thankful. We got lots of great clothes, the Svan bouncer and high chair, Bebe Cook, lots of bibs (lots!), stuffed animals, a baby folk guitar (!).. really adorable things.

At the end, DHs band jammed outside for awhile as the party winded down. Everyone said it was the most shower they have even been to, but since none of our friends have kids I doubt they have been to very many! Still a wonderful thing to hear. I am so thankful to my sister and mom for all the work they did.

Shower today!!

2009-08-15T05:49:00.001-07:00

I am so excited! I am running out to the farmers market with my sister to pick up a few last minute things. She is making the coolest menu of organic and local produce stuff, it sounds amazing. :)

I am really really exhausted though. My back and crotch area (?) are KILLING me. I guess I have been standing/walking too much? Yesterday in the car in the way home from a day of Ikea, grocery shopping, and Union Square Farmers Market I started having really really painful contractions. I think I must have been dehydrated and overdone it a little. Ugh, so boring! I want to run around and do things. Anyway, I got really scared and had horrible nightmares last night about going into labor.

I dreamed my heartbeat got too fast and I was told I had to have the baby right away. I had no idea where I was and wanted to go to my hospital with my doctor so I ran out on to the street trying to make it to my hospital, but I ended up at another hospital instead where they put me in a room with all these cots with scary women with painted faces, all in various stages of labor. I called DH and I was crying so hard, the cell phone service was so bad he couldn't hear me.. I think I woke myself up crying.

I am 36 weeks tomorrow, and I really can't imagine this pregnancy going on for another 4 weeks. I am huge and so uncomfortable and it is so difficult to move. I want to go float in a pool for the next few weeks.

OK, now I am off to enjoy my family and friends. :)

Catskills Getaway

2009-08-14T05:05:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our little getaway to the Castkills and it was SO nice! I am really glad we were able to get away one last time before the baby comes. We rented an adorable one room cabin on 10 acres, so romantic. No internet, no cell service, no TV.. We went to the Farmers Markets and got all local produce and things and grilled and had a big bonfire and s'mores. The dogs had sooo much fun running free! We drove all through the park and went on long walks.. It really was amazing.

And now, back to reality! Mom, sister, MIL and SIL are now in town and that is already pretty stressful. Mom and MIL get along, they are pretty similar in SOME ways - liberal, intellectual, eclectic style - but their personalities are SO different. So last night was basically wall-of-sound (MIL) vs. awkward silence (MOM).. plus baby competition thrown in. Luckily, our sisters are the same age (24) and are awesome and balance everything out a little. Today, we spit up and mom and sis and I are going shopping for the shower while DH and his fam shop in the city. Exciting!

Maternity Pic preview!

2009-08-09T05:22:00.000-07:00

The photographer who shot our photos went on vacation the day after the shoot, so I have been patiently waiting.. This morning she sent a few previews, and the disc will be here by the end of next week. I was thinking maybe it would be a nice gift for mom and MIL when they come for the shower? Maybe a cute one of my and DH in the park... one where I am not topless of course. I don't know, giving someone of a photo of myself has always seemed a little weird to me... Anyway, they look great and I cannot wait to see the rest!

Friday night we had our birth class (finally!) and it was really great. We ended up going to the one night class taught at my OB practice in Soho. The instructor was so great, she was an L&D nurse at NYU for 10 years, has 2 kids, and knows the hospital and our doctors really well which was so helpful. At the other class, I felt like every other answer was"well, you will have to check with your hospital/OB about that". The class was only 5 couples, all sitting in sofas (not 12 couples on the floor!) and yummy snacks. We went over everything medical, stages of labor, when to call, when to go, we practiced massages, labor positions, talked ALL about epidurals and pitocin and pain coping ideas. I really felt like she gave an unbiased view of everything. She also had examples of everything they will have for us in the hospital like the mesh panties, pads that hold crushed ice in them (eek!) and told us to STOCK up on everything they put out for you! She said to seriously stuff your suitcase with pads, diapers, everything! She also gave us a GREAT hospital bag list, yay! DH and I were both really happy with the class.

Yesterday I had my mommy to be meet-up and two of the girls were there with their new babies. It was really interesting to hear their birth stories, as they both planned to go natural. One had a LONG painful labor and ended up getting the epidural. She was in super painful labor for 40 hours and was dying and throwing up just getting from 2 - 4 centimeters. She eventually got the drugs and her whole body relaxed, and dilated and the baby was out before she knew it. The other girl was 6 centimeters by the time she got to the hospital! She only labored for 6 hours, and said the pushing was the worst part. Now, looking at these two girls you would never guess who had what birth. DH is worried about my low tolerance for pain, but I don't think it matters. The girl with the long painful birth has tons of tattoos and piercings, and thought she had a really high tolerance for pain. The other girl is super tiny and kind of frail and was definitely more unsure of whether she would be able to go natural. So, I am just going to leave it open. I really hope I can do it. If not, that's OK too.

Last night we had dinner with DHs cousin and his wife who are in town, and she gave me some things for the baby from the Body Shop's new line, Buriti Baby. The little organic washcloth has the cutest birds, and the products smell amazing!!

Registry Stalking... and a rant about "the man"

2009-08-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

I really wasn't expecting much of anything to be bought off our registry, honestly. We are only having about 20 people and, I don't know... I think I am just nervous about it because my close friends can't come (live too far away) and I don't like being the center of attention at ALL. The shower is next weekend, and I just looked online and a few great things have been bought! I am so surprised! Besides what my mom bought, the Bebecook, the diaper bag, and the Svan bouncer have been purchased in the last few days! I really wanted that bouncer but I honestly don't know if we would have coughed up the $120 for it if no one had gotten it! Now I am really looking forward to the shower. :)

We had an amazing anniversary dinner on Wednesday night, the tasting menu at the Dressler was AMAZING. 5 courses, and DH and I each got something different for each course, so we both got to taste all 10 things! It was really really nice.

Last night we went to a show at the Beacon Theater, which was really fun but also a bit of a disaster. DH being a musician, he is extra sensitive and we weren't thrilled with all of the performances. I would have liked to see more of my favorite, Gillian Welch. :) But these are the kinds of things we need to do now, while we can! THEN (here comes the disaster part) on the way home, we got pulled over (in Manhattan?!) for a missing brake light! The one on the left is apparently out, leaving only the right side AND the huge brake light bar across the top of the back window. The problem is that DHs license is expired, we are working on it but the paperwork and amount of time it is going to take is CRAZY since he has to switch from an expired Texas to a NY. Anyway, we passed the officer all the paperwork, got flashlights shone in our eyes, told to stay in the car, and he went back to his car and left us sitting there for 25 minutes!! I had to pee SO badly! He finally came back and gave us FOUR SUMMONS! One for the light, one for the license, and one for an expired insurance card! I had handed him the old one by mistake, and had the new one sitting there, but he had already written it up but he wouldn't change it. He said to send it in with the summons and I can get it reversed. Can you believe it?! So I had to haul my 8 month pregnant self around and drive us home. So unbelievable. Such a messed up system. Meanwhile, how many awful dangerous drivers do I see every day on the road, out there endangering lives, and they are picking on us. The most law abiding, safe driving, tax paying, volunteer working, baby having people. It really put a damper on the night to say the least. Now we have to spend the day trying to get this light fixed, and DH can't drive until we work this out.

2 year anniversary!

2009-08-05T06:17:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was our two year wedding anniversary, but we are celebrating it pretty much for the next week. Last night DH had a big show with his band, so we decided to postpone the soppy celebration to tonight. Tonight we are going out to dinner at The Dressler, our favorite local fancy place where we always go for special occasions. DH loves getting all romantic and soppy and we always end up crying, ever since our 1 year of dating anniversary. It is so sweet.

I think I might find our wedding video to watch tonight, I don't think we have even actually even watched it! I really didn't want a videographer at the wedding because it just bothers me aesthetically to have them in the way with the big camera and lights, tacky IMO. So instead we just left our Handycam out and different people filmed different parts, who knows what is even on there. After we got home, we were so sick of talking about the wedding we just never even ended up really watching it! I would actually love to hear the service again, it was so beautiful but I was so nervous I barely remember what was said.

I loved our wedding, and I must say that people definitely still talk about it as one of the best parties EVER. It got really wild. I will just sum it up with this photo of my Dad flying into the pool.. :) And yes, I am in the pool in my designer gown.

Headache and Exhaustion...

2009-08-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

Oh no... I am feeling like 1st tri all over again (minus the throwing up every 10 minutes, so I I guess I shouldn't complain). I am SO. TIRED.

Yesterday I could barely get off the sofa, then it started pouring and storming so we postponed the photo session to this morning. However, the only time that would work was 9:30 AM so DH was miserable for a little while, he is NOT a morning person. When I first woke him up he said he wouldn't do it, it was stupid, he didn't know what the point was or why it was important to me (He has been coming off like a big jerk lately, right? He really isn't). My hormones and I did everything we could not to cry or get our feelings hurt, and after some diet coke he was back to his normal, wonderful self. The photos were fun and hopefully we will get something cute. I took some alone, on the bed, with DH and his guitar, with the dogs. :)

Speaking of hormones, I have been a mess lately! I am so accident prone now, and every time I hurt myself I burst into uncontrollable tears. The worst is when I burn myself, which I manage to do every time I cook. Last night I spilled my bowl of soup on my hand and onto our handmade tapestry we got in Guatemala and I totally lost it. Really crazy. DH has banned me from doing anything remotely dangerous in the kitchen, but who knew carrying soup was dangerous? Ugh.

Tomorrow is our anniversary and this week is SO busy. Now the migraine from hell has returned on top of the extreme exhaustion!