B: I had a dream last night that the Lions were playing in the Superbowl and you went into labor. I didn't know what to do!
AK: Well, good thing we start our childbirth classes next week, then you'll know where the hospital is and what to do.
B: No, I meant I didn't know whether to go with you to the hospital or stay and watch the Lions. I mean they are both once in a lifetime experiences!
I win tonight, B.
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, we are going to try our best to raise you sports neutral and let you pick your favorite teams yourself. This works for me because I am banking on the fact that living in Chicago will naturally make you a Chicago sports fan. Daddy will work extra hard to make sure this doesn't happen. Also, Aunt S and Uncle B will probably be bad influences as well. If they ever give you something green to wear before you can read, run away. It is probably a Michigan State shirt and should be burnt.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
30 5/7 Weeks - I'm Back!
Does anyone else feel like I've been pregnant for like two years? How do those African Elephants do it? Two years without a glass of red wine and a spicy tuna sushi roll? Wowee.
So, I'm back from my fabulous two week holiday vacation and life is already crazy. Work started yesterday, class starts tonight, and I barely fit into my maternity clothes anymore. This morning I took down all of our Christmas decorations. It always makes me sad in the heart to do this, but our tree was so dead that the ornaments were seriously throwing themselves off of it. They would rather plummet to their certain death than spend one more minute on that dry fire hazard of a tree.
So.....Christmas. It really was wonderful. We visited two states and families (only one puking dog in the car mishap), ate three Christmas dinners, and received more presents than we really deserved. Squash was a real trooper through the week only sending me to bed once when either a hand or a foot was wedged in my ribcage making breathing pretty difficult. I think he/she was lulled into a food coma a majority of the time because I was eating everything in sight. I learned that my big belly is an awesome shelf for bowls of ice cream and bottles of pop (caffeine free only, B!). I couldn't stop thinking about how next Christmas will be so incredibly different. Squash will be with us and around nine months old. We barely had room to bring back just our presents - not sure how we'll manage next year with a backseat full of baby and dog. I'm sure squash won't get very many presents - there's just NO way that she will be incredibly spoiled ;-)
Somehow we made it home in one piece and vegged out for three full days on the couch. We tried to do things that won't be possible once we have a newborn, like watch three movies in a row on Starz stopping only to eat some extremely unhealthy food, sleeping in until 11 AM, and showering only to put our pajamas right back on. It was amazing. This was all capped off with our final NYE party where we don't have to worry about finding a babysitter.
Don't worry, Mom, it's only Pellegrino in my wine glass. I drank the crap out of that sparkling water and somehow made it all the way to midnight without sneaking off to take a nap. Check out this sweet picture of squash getting his/her first New Years kiss from the Chicago aunts...
Hope everyone's holidays were as fabulous as ours were! Here's to a happy and healthy 2012 - a year we're sure never to forget!!
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, a dear member of Grandma and Grandpa F's family passed away this week. Their 15 year old dog, Snickers, is now in doggy heaven probably taking a nap on the back of a chair in the sun. Here's what I want you to learn from Snickers, baby: Never give up. Even if eight people tell you no, keep reaching for that piece of food on the table you really want (or whatever it is that's important in your life- for Snickers that was food). I hope you love animals as much as your Daddy and I do, baby, they can teach you so much about life that oftentimes humans can't.
So, I'm back from my fabulous two week holiday vacation and life is already crazy. Work started yesterday, class starts tonight, and I barely fit into my maternity clothes anymore. This morning I took down all of our Christmas decorations. It always makes me sad in the heart to do this, but our tree was so dead that the ornaments were seriously throwing themselves off of it. They would rather plummet to their certain death than spend one more minute on that dry fire hazard of a tree.
This picture is at my parents' house. That tree in the background was about 12 feet tall and gorgeous!
So.....Christmas. It really was wonderful. We visited two states and families (only one puking dog in the car mishap), ate three Christmas dinners, and received more presents than we really deserved. Squash was a real trooper through the week only sending me to bed once when either a hand or a foot was wedged in my ribcage making breathing pretty difficult. I think he/she was lulled into a food coma a majority of the time because I was eating everything in sight. I learned that my big belly is an awesome shelf for bowls of ice cream and bottles of pop (caffeine free only, B!). I couldn't stop thinking about how next Christmas will be so incredibly different. Squash will be with us and around nine months old. We barely had room to bring back just our presents - not sure how we'll manage next year with a backseat full of baby and dog. I'm sure squash won't get very many presents - there's just NO way that she will be incredibly spoiled ;-)
Somehow we made it home in one piece and vegged out for three full days on the couch. We tried to do things that won't be possible once we have a newborn, like watch three movies in a row on Starz stopping only to eat some extremely unhealthy food, sleeping in until 11 AM, and showering only to put our pajamas right back on. It was amazing. This was all capped off with our final NYE party where we don't have to worry about finding a babysitter.
Don't worry, Mom, it's only Pellegrino in my wine glass. I drank the crap out of that sparkling water and somehow made it all the way to midnight without sneaking off to take a nap. Check out this sweet picture of squash getting his/her first New Years kiss from the Chicago aunts...
Hope everyone's holidays were as fabulous as ours were! Here's to a happy and healthy 2012 - a year we're sure never to forget!!
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, a dear member of Grandma and Grandpa F's family passed away this week. Their 15 year old dog, Snickers, is now in doggy heaven probably taking a nap on the back of a chair in the sun. Here's what I want you to learn from Snickers, baby: Never give up. Even if eight people tell you no, keep reaching for that piece of food on the table you really want (or whatever it is that's important in your life- for Snickers that was food). I hope you love animals as much as your Daddy and I do, baby, they can teach you so much about life that oftentimes humans can't.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Nurse, I got a bone to pick with you!
Last week I had to go into the doctor's office and spend two hours of my life doing a glucose test. It involved getting my blood drawn three separate times and downing a bottle of the grossest orange liquid ever. (Unfairly, the liquid was the exact color of McDonald's Orange Drink but tasted nothing like that wonderful nectar.) Anyways, during this extended stay, one of the nurses was telling me that pregnant women have amazing immune systems and rarely get the flu or bad colds. I was like that's awesome because it never fails that I get a really bad cold right before or right after the holidays. How great to finally get something out of this pregnancy other than a second chin and the ability to eat an entire sleeve of Ritz crackers with peanut butter.
So, why did I wake up yesterday with the absolute WORST COLD I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE?!?! Where is that nurse when I can't breathe without blowing my nose every three minutes and coughing up stuff that looks exactly like slime from Double Dare? I can't wait to go into that office next week and tell her what I think of her super pregnant immune system idea! That cold was just waiting for me to let down my guard so it could attack!
On the bright side, I've eaten almost an entire super sized bag of Skittles. I'm pretty sure my mom used to say "starve a fever, feed a cold." This cold is going to get fed right out of my body. See ya!
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, Daddy and Daisy are the BEST team of caretakers when you're sick. Daddy makes sure you take your medicine and are eating right, and Daisy snuggles right up next to you all day and smothers you with kisses. It's hard not to feel better after just a few hours of that! I hope you're not in there sneezing - although the thought of that is a little adorable.
So, why did I wake up yesterday with the absolute WORST COLD I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE?!?! Where is that nurse when I can't breathe without blowing my nose every three minutes and coughing up stuff that looks exactly like slime from Double Dare? I can't wait to go into that office next week and tell her what I think of her super pregnant immune system idea! That cold was just waiting for me to let down my guard so it could attack!
On the bright side, I've eaten almost an entire super sized bag of Skittles. I'm pretty sure my mom used to say "starve a fever, feed a cold." This cold is going to get fed right out of my body. See ya!
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, Daddy and Daisy are the BEST team of caretakers when you're sick. Daddy makes sure you take your medicine and are eating right, and Daisy snuggles right up next to you all day and smothers you with kisses. It's hard not to feel better after just a few hours of that! I hope you're not in there sneezing - although the thought of that is a little adorable.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thanks for the double chin, Santa!
This weekend, I had my first baby shower! It was amazing and made me cry. I will spare you the video of my trying to give a thank you speech near the end of the shower where I did not put more than two coherent sentences together. A big SORRY goes out to my Speech Team coach, Mr. Harris, who would've been most disappointed in my attempt to separate my emotions from the content of the speech. It was no 1st Place Tippecanoe County in the 6th Grade Drama Division effort, that's for sure! Oh, Little Matchstick Girl, you were the high point of my competitive speaking career. I digress. So, the shower was beautiful and I've never felt more love toward my little growing family as I did that day. It still is crazy to me how much love you can feel towards someone (eggplant in this case) that you've never even met - who's not even born!
But...(you knew there was a catch right)...I just got around to looking at the photos my wonderful sister-in-law took at the shower, and egad, all those women who were telling me how beautiful I looked must be blind! Like, they must seriously be in need of an eye exam and a stronger glasses or contact prescription STAT because poking out where it wasn't invited in all of these pictures is none other than.....my dreaded double chin. That double chin and I have a long history just like the number on the scale that will not be discussed. Just so this isn't a long post where I whine the entire time again, here is a picture of me practicing to be a mom at the shower holding the most precious little elf of a girl:
You can see double chin rearing it's ugly head in this photo, and also notice how B is not the only one attracted to my larger bosom. Little girl was very interested in holding onto the twins as well! Here's a cute one of the parents to be:
B is sooo cute!!! Ok, cute overload is done. Let's get back to the elephant in the room.
So, basically, I can trace back my obsession with the shape of my face and the number of chins that face has to my father. For those who have met my father, you probably remember his easy smile and laugh, his kindness, and his amazing hugs (seriously, you haven't lived until you've hugged that man!). You also may remember that his head looks a lot like Charlie Brown's in that it's quite round. In fact, the story goes that when my mother told my grandmother that she was marrying my father, my grandmother made a comment about how all of their children would have round heads! Well, grandma, you were only 1/3 correct, as I am the only child that received this blessing. I actually always loved that I shared this characteristic with my father - who wouldn't want to be like him - he's adorable! It's just that for some reason extra weight loves to hang off that pretty much non existent chin of the round faced person.
So, here is my Christmas wish. Extra weight, I have been lucky to see you mostly settle in my belly bump area until now. You are slowly creeping into other places now where you are most unwanted. Please, be directed to my chest area where you were collecting so beautifully before, and leave my little chin alone!
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, you are the size of a two pound rump roast right now! Your nostrils are open and you're practicing taking breaths in and out. You're growing up so fast, and I haven't even met you yet! So far,you seem to prefer the sounds of the nightly news over The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, so your father and I are both overjoyed. Somehow I feel more responsible for the world that we're bringing you into than I did when it was just your daddy and I. We're watching the debates and keeping track of issues that are important to us and having real conversations about what it all means. You are making us smarter, baby, and we love you for that!
But...(you knew there was a catch right)...I just got around to looking at the photos my wonderful sister-in-law took at the shower, and egad, all those women who were telling me how beautiful I looked must be blind! Like, they must seriously be in need of an eye exam and a stronger glasses or contact prescription STAT because poking out where it wasn't invited in all of these pictures is none other than.....my dreaded double chin. That double chin and I have a long history just like the number on the scale that will not be discussed. Just so this isn't a long post where I whine the entire time again, here is a picture of me practicing to be a mom at the shower holding the most precious little elf of a girl:
You can see double chin rearing it's ugly head in this photo, and also notice how B is not the only one attracted to my larger bosom. Little girl was very interested in holding onto the twins as well! Here's a cute one of the parents to be:
B is sooo cute!!! Ok, cute overload is done. Let's get back to the elephant in the room.
So, basically, I can trace back my obsession with the shape of my face and the number of chins that face has to my father. For those who have met my father, you probably remember his easy smile and laugh, his kindness, and his amazing hugs (seriously, you haven't lived until you've hugged that man!). You also may remember that his head looks a lot like Charlie Brown's in that it's quite round. In fact, the story goes that when my mother told my grandmother that she was marrying my father, my grandmother made a comment about how all of their children would have round heads! Well, grandma, you were only 1/3 correct, as I am the only child that received this blessing. I actually always loved that I shared this characteristic with my father - who wouldn't want to be like him - he's adorable! It's just that for some reason extra weight loves to hang off that pretty much non existent chin of the round faced person.
So, here is my Christmas wish. Extra weight, I have been lucky to see you mostly settle in my belly bump area until now. You are slowly creeping into other places now where you are most unwanted. Please, be directed to my chest area where you were collecting so beautifully before, and leave my little chin alone!
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, you are the size of a two pound rump roast right now! Your nostrils are open and you're practicing taking breaths in and out. You're growing up so fast, and I haven't even met you yet! So far,you seem to prefer the sounds of the nightly news over The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, so your father and I are both overjoyed. Somehow I feel more responsible for the world that we're bringing you into than I did when it was just your daddy and I. We're watching the debates and keeping track of issues that are important to us and having real conversations about what it all means. You are making us smarter, baby, and we love you for that!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Deck the Two Bedroom Apartment
This really has nothing to do with being pregnant or eggplant at all. I just wanted to show everyone how pretty our apartment looks all decorated for the Season of Lights (check me out being all politically correct and stuff). We bought our tree a block from our place and carried it home. City living at its best and most convenient!
Good thing we're not going to be totally rocking her world by bringing a wrinkly screaming newborn home in a couple of months. Ooops. Sorry, Daisy, hope you enjoy that spot under the table.
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, it's so crazy to think that next Christmas you will be here and you will be 10 months old. I am really glad you came along because I have a pretty good case for buying new stockings since we presently only have two. I don't think that Daddy will share his.
Christmas threw up all over our living room, y'all! In order to put that tree in the corner, we had to move Daisy's dog bed in front of the fireplace. She hasn't stepped paw in it since then. She really doesn't like change....like at all. In fact, here is her solution to change....hiding underneath the dining room table.
Good thing we're not going to be totally rocking her world by bringing a wrinkly screaming newborn home in a couple of months. Ooops. Sorry, Daisy, hope you enjoy that spot under the table.
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, it's so crazy to think that next Christmas you will be here and you will be 10 months old. I am really glad you came along because I have a pretty good case for buying new stockings since we presently only have two. I don't think that Daddy will share his.
Christmastime is the best time for pregnantime!
Being pregnant during the holidays is awesome. You want to know why??
I get to eat all these cookies from the comfort of my stretchy maternity pants. Pregnancy for the win! B and I decorated these cookies a few nights ago, and there are quite a few gone. Here is a cheesy picture that B set up of me putting my "bun in the oven". Please disregard my closed eyes. I was probably laughing and calling B "Daaaaad" like I always do when he suggests something borderline lame.
When we lived in Texas, my girlfriends loved B so much they were always inviting him out for girls nights with us mostly because he was such a dad. He drove us around, told awful jokes, played Bob Seeger too loud, and made sure no creepy guys were bothering us. Eggplant is going to be sooo embarrassed. I can't wait.
B's "dadness" is definitely one of my favorite things about him. I just love that guy. How can you resist this face?
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, there are lots of things that I hope you learn from me. I hope you learn to use your imagination and creativity, I hope you learn to love learning and knowledge, and I hope you learn how important patience and kindness are. But, baby, I REALLY hope you don't learn how to pout from me. If you pout even 1/4 as well as I do, Daddy and I are in trouble. I caught myself pouting the other day about something, and Daddy caved right in. I looked at him and said "uh-oh". Maybe you'll just inherit my huge caterpillar eyebrows instead.
I get to eat all these cookies from the comfort of my stretchy maternity pants. Pregnancy for the win! B and I decorated these cookies a few nights ago, and there are quite a few gone. Here is a cheesy picture that B set up of me putting my "bun in the oven". Please disregard my closed eyes. I was probably laughing and calling B "Daaaaad" like I always do when he suggests something borderline lame.
When we lived in Texas, my girlfriends loved B so much they were always inviting him out for girls nights with us mostly because he was such a dad. He drove us around, told awful jokes, played Bob Seeger too loud, and made sure no creepy guys were bothering us. Eggplant is going to be sooo embarrassed. I can't wait.
B's "dadness" is definitely one of my favorite things about him. I just love that guy. How can you resist this face?
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, there are lots of things that I hope you learn from me. I hope you learn to use your imagination and creativity, I hope you learn to love learning and knowledge, and I hope you learn how important patience and kindness are. But, baby, I REALLY hope you don't learn how to pout from me. If you pout even 1/4 as well as I do, Daddy and I are in trouble. I caught myself pouting the other day about something, and Daddy caved right in. I looked at him and said "uh-oh". Maybe you'll just inherit my huge caterpillar eyebrows instead.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Dreaded Number
Yesterday at the doctor's office, I stepped on the scale and instead of looking away like I normally do, I looked right down at those numbers. Guess what was staring right back up at me?! The dreaded number I swore I would never see on a scale on which I was standing ever again. (Of course I'm not going to divulge that number - a lady needs to keep some secrets!)
This number and I go WAY back. We first met midway through my freshman year of college when my poison of choice was the 24hr McDonald's we had in the food court of my boyfriend of the moment's dorm. Oh, how I could take down a double quarter pounder with cheese back then...usually as a late night snack after I'd already had a full dinner and some soft serve ice cream. The second time I met this number was shortly after moving to Chicago after undergrad. Somehow being completely broke and not knowing a single person in the city led to weekends of me eating Chinese food and brownies in bed (full disclosure: I may or may not have cooked those brownies before consumption).
Each time I met that number I somehow managed to put down the cheeseburgers and brownie batter and step away from the kitchen and into the gym. However, here we are at our third meeting, number, and I have no choice but to give into you and accept that you will only grow larger over the next three months. You have won for now, but it's much easier to swallow knowing those extra pounds are little eggplant and not grease and chocolate.
Also, number, watch out once eggplant and I hit the lakefront path with our stroller. Your days will be limited!
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, yesterday I got my hair cut and it looked beautiful - so full of body and shine - I was in love with what my stylist, Cassie, had done! This morning, I woke up and tried to replicate Cassie's work, and honey, it looks like I piled straw on my head in the shape of a mullet. After my arm almost fell off from trying to blow dry it with a round brush, I resorted to the straightening iron. I look sort of like a J. Crew version of Joan Jett. Not good, baby, not good. Let's hope you're a boy, or if you're a girl that you love ponytails with bumps and crooked braids.
This number and I go WAY back. We first met midway through my freshman year of college when my poison of choice was the 24hr McDonald's we had in the food court of my boyfriend of the moment's dorm. Oh, how I could take down a double quarter pounder with cheese back then...usually as a late night snack after I'd already had a full dinner and some soft serve ice cream. The second time I met this number was shortly after moving to Chicago after undergrad. Somehow being completely broke and not knowing a single person in the city led to weekends of me eating Chinese food and brownies in bed (full disclosure: I may or may not have cooked those brownies before consumption).
Each time I met that number I somehow managed to put down the cheeseburgers and brownie batter and step away from the kitchen and into the gym. However, here we are at our third meeting, number, and I have no choice but to give into you and accept that you will only grow larger over the next three months. You have won for now, but it's much easier to swallow knowing those extra pounds are little eggplant and not grease and chocolate.
Also, number, watch out once eggplant and I hit the lakefront path with our stroller. Your days will be limited!
xoxo
AK
p.s. Baby, yesterday I got my hair cut and it looked beautiful - so full of body and shine - I was in love with what my stylist, Cassie, had done! This morning, I woke up and tried to replicate Cassie's work, and honey, it looks like I piled straw on my head in the shape of a mullet. After my arm almost fell off from trying to blow dry it with a round brush, I resorted to the straightening iron. I look sort of like a J. Crew version of Joan Jett. Not good, baby, not good. Let's hope you're a boy, or if you're a girl that you love ponytails with bumps and crooked braids.
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