Proud to be UC

So, it's not UCSD, but it’s just more proof of UC-fabulousness!

(And, word to Steve, Emm, Nat and Chris – do you remember that epic argument we had about how they shouldn’t have put the new campus in Merced b/c no one would want to go there and I was practically crying about the central valley deserving a UC (and don’t forget I had a twice-broken leg at the time and you were enjoying my disabled parking permit; I’m over it tho)? Well, I bet you’re eating your words now. Michelle takes fashion advice from me, too.)

Rock on!

We were on the glider fence for a while, but then my mom found this awesome chair!

Very comfortable, folds should we ever need to store it, and we love the sort of southwestern aesthetic. And this is what happened when we took it out of the box:

We'll need to find a footstool to go with it, but I can't wait to spend some serious time rocking. But for now, back to writing. Is it possible to write 3o pages without the word is? Not that I can tell, but I'll keep trying.

Thank you, Mom!

34 weeks

We have some self-portraiture going on because the esteemed belly photographer is in California, probably walking on the beach or enjoying some In 'n Out or excellent Mexican food at the moment. I'm not bitter about the fact that it has been freezing (really, well below) here the last few days. Actually, I'm not bitter - he's sick and is doing all this traveling to get a job and let me live a life of luxury... I just hope he brings me a fish taco!

Anyway, if you don't know how to use the timer on your camera, it turns out getting a picture of yourself is not so easy... here are my less than stellar attempts:





Artsy!

So, forty minus thirty-four equals six. And six is a small number. I think I've hit a wall, too. Overall, I had been feeling fantastic, but the last few days back pain has taken on new meaning and I'm much more tired than I had been.

At my appointment last week, baby girl was still breech... so ultrasound next week to check her position. If she still hasn't flipped, we'll start talking about external version. She seemed to make a noble effort to flip today, though. She was sure poking the heck out me.

PS - to all the people in the last few days who have made comments about how it looks like i'm about to pop: Not Helpful! Don't you think the pregnant lady probably has a pretty good count and doesn't need your clever (read: lame) remarks?

Safety First

I took infant CPR this morning. I thought it would just scare me, but it gave me confidence instead! We practiced a lot - both CPR and how to deal with choking. And I got extra practice because all the other people there were couples so they had to share their mannequins. I wanted to explain that the father of my child is not a deadbeat who doesn't care about how to resuscitate his child. I'm sure it would be really scary to have to perform CPR, but it's good to know how. The instructor also said that it's more likely to have to deal with choking.

Instead of learning how to save babies' lives, Steve is off gallivanting about the west coast this week - spending this weekend in Seattle with my fam. I'm so jealous. But here's a lovely shot he sent me from his train trip from Portland to Seattle.

Awesomeness

Werecently came across a piece in the Times about saving money by spending money (I have been trying to convince Steve that this was possible for years - especially at Nordstrom's sales): http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/business/economy/11leonhardt.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=to%20spend%20or%20save&st=cse

Turns out, just like the reporter, we have a seltzer problem. We drink it like it's going out of style, so we bought the referenced seltzer maker and IT IS SO COOL. No more clearing an entire shelf in the pantry to store tons of bottles, no more lugging them home from the store, no more waste. Plus, making seltzer is FUN (remember fun when pregnant takes on a whole new meaning).

T minus seven

I thought this was lovely. And I wonder what my own list will look like in 18 years and 7 weeks.

Punchy

I wrote 12 pages of my thesis today. They are not good pages and will take a lot of editing and moving things around and adding citations, but there are words and ideas on pages! I now have 24 pages total. Tomorrow I’m aiming to finish all the remaining sections but the problem statement with the reward of going out with the girls for a birthday party. Yay! Then, Saturday is for trying to reorg all that gibberish! Wish me luck with this game plan…

Steve is jetting out to Cali tonight for an interview tomorrow and I'm dragging myself off to bed now for some quality time with the acrobat in my belly. Is it pathetic that I feel like I'm really burning the midnight oil, heading to bed after 10pm?

PS - I went into a CVS today looking for Red Vines. Two clerks not only didn't know what I was talking about but looked at me like I was positively insane and kept trying to give me Twizzlers (which really are an abomination). I was sure they had to have them so searched for the lovely blue and white cellophane to no avail. I ended up with some junky "red licorice" that tastes almost as bad as Twizzlers. Is this some weird east coast thing? I thought I had started to figure it out...

32 weeks

Big!












But that's not a maternity shirt!

Single digits

Here we are... just past 31 weeks. That means 9 weeks to go. Just nine weeks, ONLY NINE WEEKS! Nope, nobody is freaking out.

Actually, I'm not really freaking out, I'm just a bit shocked by how quickly time has been flying. We've been so busy lately with visitors, celebrations, papers, presentations, THESIS, fellowship interviews, and watching the birthing class video that I feel like my head is spinning.

I've been feeling well lately - better than I was a few weeks ago in the mid/late twenties. I even slept about six hours in a row one night this week. I'm not sure if I have more energy or if I have just adjusted to my new limitations so I'm not pushing myself as much, but it's nice not to feel like I'm dragging. It's weird to have to constantly make adjustments to what I can handle.

The baby has been really active (this is, after all, the most active time of pregnancy) and I can watch my belly move as she wiggles, which is wild and wonderful. She is also getting stronger so her movements are pretty forceful and she definitely enjoys wedging herself in different positions. It's not exactly uncomfortable, but a little odd. She is also getting frighteningly close to my ribs. I'm feeling big and I'm nervous about the fact that I will get SO MUCH BIGGER in the coming months.

Had a doctor's appointment this afternoon and baby's heart beat and my weight gain were both good. They gave me a ton of paperwork to get in order for labor/delivery as well as the birth certificate form!!! (we have to fill out all our info and just leave hers blank, so nope, still not revealing the possible names) It sure amped up my sense of time getting ahead of itself! I double checked with the doctor that they weren't giving me all this for any reason other than it being standard at this stage. She reassured me that she doesn't have any secret suspicions that I'll be in labor tomorrow.

Baby Shower

Check out that diaper cake, made by Stephanie!

Thank you to Sarah, Anna, Margaret and Caroline for throwing a wonderful baby shower on Saturday! It was at Finale, a fab dessert place in Harvard Square. Jess and Andréa came in from out of town, and there were lots of other friends and family there. It was so much fun to celebrate with such a dear group of women! And we were showered with a mountain of adorable, practical and fun gifts for the baby girl. I wish I could post a picture of every last aww-worthy thing. I have such awesome, generous, and creative friends!

I couldn't get any photos (especially since they had me blindfolded part of the time!), but I'm hoping to get Andréa's photos to post sometime soon. And here are Sarah's!

Snow Day!

What could be better than school canceled on a Monday? If it happens when a dear friend is visiting! Andréa came for the weekend and doesn't leave until this afternoon (assuming the airport stays open) so we can watch the snow swirl together over hot chocolate.

However - more snow? Really?! It's March! This better melt fast tomorrow and be the end of it! From the Globe: "As of yesterday [Sunday] afternoon, 55.8 inches of snow had fallen in the area this season, almost 4 inches more than last year. The average is usually 34 inches." Glad I was here for both. And that 55.8 was before the 8-10 predicted for today.

Here's looking at you, Steve.

You may be turning 30 while I kick up my heels as a carefree 20-something, but I still think you're cool. Just a few of the reasons you are my fave:
- You are shockingly intelligent and talented, but you don't take your gifts for granted. You work hard at all you do.
- You make me laugh every day.
- You love pinwheels as much as I do.
- You make vacations a priority (and plan them!) - from weekend camping jaunts to trips involving airplanes and hotels to visits to family to road trips. I could sit in the car with you all day through 8 states and no radio and be perfectly happy. Remember Wall Drug? And Waynesboro?
- Family matters to you - both yours and mine.
- You introduced me to the Lakers and rap.
- You'd rather be in the woods somewhere or at the top of a powdery slope, too.
- You are going to be a wonderful father.













Happy Birthday!
I did attempt an ice cream cake... it's waiting when you get home from work.