Assembling the nursery...

The Dresser

 

 

The Crib

 

Ta-dah!

22 weeks

22 weeks

Some changes...

Jody was kind enough to paint our office so it could make the transformation into our new bedroom. I don't have any before pictures, but here's the "after painted" photo:

So, now that the bedroom furniture is moved over, I suppose I owe you all another photo... but I'm going to wait until we get our new dresser.

Since we're now sleeping in the new room, we've been able to move the boxes containing unassembled baby furniture into our old bedroom now known as "The Nursery." Unfortunately, we've had dreadful weather lately, so a flash photo will have to suffice.

 

Jazzy enjoying the rocking chair

Carl was obsessed with Pandas as a child, so when we saw this rocking "horse" at World Market last Christmas, we knew it was something we had to get for our future child.

The greyhounds are terrified of it. 

That's it for now. We picked up the dresser and it joins the crib in the "things to be assembled" corner of August's room.

21 weeks

21 weeks

I'm feeling big... as a point of comparison:

16 weeks... 5 short weeks ago... (and for the record, only 1 1/2 lb lighter)

20 weeks... halfway there!!!

20 weeks!

For the record, I feel huge but just look overweight unless I'm wearing something formfitting. Why di they make maternity tops so big and roomy? I want tight, darnit! This is probably the last time in my life where I can wear something tight around the midsection and look good. I'm a fan of below-the-bust belts and gathered tops.

Furniture

So... I've been nesting. Major. I have generous friends and family. First, the family.

Courtesy of August's Obaachan and Grandpa Eddie (Mihoko and Eddie, Carl's parents):

the crib

the changing table/dresser 

(minus the mirror)

+

(changing table topper)

From Grandpa Kent (my dad):

 

the rocking chair and ottoman

 

Now for friends:

Auntie Jody (the mother of the delicious little babe in a previous post, Owen):

paint

(sorry, no photos...)

Jody is offering to paint our old office (that will become our bedroom) a lovely shade of green so we can finally move our bedroom over and I can start assembling baby furniture. It's wonderfully generous of her to offer her services, since I can't suck in paint fumes and Carl is genetically programmed to procrastinate when it comes to household tasks (I'll have to tell you about the smoke detector someday...)

I also got some fabric that I'll share with you once I upload my photos this weekend. 

Stay tuned for a belly shot tomorrow night... It's gonna be big!!!

19 weeks

19 weeks

Oh, boy!

Thanksgiving Day

We joined my In-Laws for Thanksgiving Lunch and had a wonderful time...

Mihoko basting her amazing, tender, moist turkey

Eddie and Jazzy bonding..

Classic Pumpkin Pie

Maple Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Streusel (a BIG hit!!)

Apple Cranberry Crisp

The boys (Roger and Sumo) enjoying the couch

(photo courtesy of my father-in-law)

Raymond and Roger bonding... (while Raymond checks work email)

A test-shot that makes me laugh really, really hard. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Photos from Jody's Visit...

Jody and Owen stopped by on Tuesday night for a lovely visit. Owen really enjoyed playing with Jazzy. I think the feelings were mutual.

Uncle Carl decided to get in on the fun with Owen. They loved each other. It was so wonderful to see my once baby-phobic husband get down and goofy with Owen. Owen thought he was pretty entertaining and I think Jody and I will cherish these photos for years to come. Owen's due date was late April, as well, so Jody and I will have little boys almost exactly a year apart! So much fun...

 

It's a....

Here are two pictures from our anatomy ultrasound today. Our u/s tech was kind of impatient, so the pictures aren't awesome, but still nice!

Introducing...

August Cruz

Profile shot

Sorta creepy 3D image

It's a boy!

Belly Pic

18 weeks

This little pup is squirming around! I can feel it!

On bellies and babies...

This is me last Sunday, looking ridiculously pregnant.

17 weeks

Well - while the clothed photo makes me look really pregnant, the belly shot, if you compare to last week, isn't that much bigger. From the front, I've definitely got more of a pointy belly but if you didn't know, I'd just look fat. :)

Last night I was sleeping on my right side for a while and then moved to my back. When I checked the bump (I swear it feels so much bigger when I'm on my back), it was protruding on the right side. Carl reached over and touched my belly and noticed the bulge on the right side. I could tell because he kinda rubbed his hand over it, pushed on it a little and then sort of patted it gently, like he was saying, "Hey there!" Pretty darn cool. I can't wait until I have a proper baby belly and he can feel the kicks.

Speaking of movement... the little darling has (I think) been making itself known. People describe it as "butterflies" or "bubbles" but I have no idea what that means. I've never had insects or air bubbles in my uterus, so it's a little hard to compare. What I'm feeling is more like muscle twinges. You know, that totally strange feeling when one of your muscles contracts without your permission? Just like that. Today, while I was sitting in the car, I felt something about an inch below and to the left of my belly button that felt JUST like what I imagine a kick (or punch) to feel like. It reminded me of a reversed version of feeling a baby kick from the outside. I've had the pleasure of feeling a baby move inside several friends' bellies. They don't just kick or punch, they slide. It felt just like that, except instead of feeling it on my hand (like when you're touching a pregnant belly), I felt it in my lower abdomen! I guess I'll never really know if it was the baby, but it sure feels like it.

The Crib

After a slightly stressful, mostly fun day at Lullaby Lane with Mihoko (Carl's mom), I now have a crib. We went to the warehouse sale, the clearance room, the showroom - the same crib kept calling to me. Unfortunately, after nearly 4 hours (I'm not kidding) of thinking and staring and talking about it I picked my crib only to discover that it would take 8-12 weeks to deliver because the store was out of stock. They had it in another color but NO, I wanted THIS color, dangit. Here's another reason why I totally ♥ the iPhone. I searched for it, found it on CSN baby for the same price (Free Shipping! unlike Babies RUS) and thought, "Hmmmm.... same price, deliver in 5-10 days - yes, I think I'll buy it online."

The best part: when I got home to order it, I did a quick search for "CSN baby coupon" and found a 10% off code. So the crib was tax free AND 10% off. I saved $80!! Yahoo!

For the record, I was totally set to buy a used crib on craigslist until the MIL pitched a fit. She feels strongly about buying a new crib, so I went along with it. So we paid nearly double for the (almost exact) same crib, but everyone is happy.

Now, for the unveil..........

 

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Tah Dah!!!!

I know it's not everyone's style but here are the reasons why I love it:

It's espresso, like most of our furniture.

It's versatile, good for boy or girl.

I can buy white furniture to match which is usually cheaper and MUCH easier to match. Since I hated (I really mean that) the matching dresser/changer, it would have been really hard to match the espresso color from a different brand. This way, I can get the dresser I want and not worry about clashing shades of espresso.

It has clean, simple lines. I can pair it with modern or shabby chic and it will still look great!!

Unfortunately, this lovely will sit in a box for a few months until we have our office painted and move our bedroom over. Until then, I can stare at the box and get excited about decorating a baby room.

Tagged by Laura

♥ What are your middle names?

Anthony and Seaton (recently added)

♥How long have you been together?

Together nearly 7 years and married 3 1/2

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?

Ummm... a month?

♥ Who asked who out?
He did. First to a group Valentine's dinner and then (at that dinner) he told me he had reservations for a few weeks later to a favorite restaurant of mine. The rest, as we say, is history.

♥ Who made the first move?

Me. I pulled the old, "My hands are cold" line to get him to sit closer and hold my hand and then later (during the Jazz concert) leaned in for the kiss. That's how I roll.

♥ How old are each of you?

I’m in my 20’s, he’s in his 30’s.

♥ Did you go to the same school?
Briefly. He went to Cal State East Bay for undergrad, I went to UC Davis. I say briefly because we took classes at College of Marin a few times.

♥ Are you from the same home town?

Nope. I'm a California mutt and he's an Airforce brat.

♥ Who is the smartest?

I'm the book-smart one, I think he'd agree. I get giddy thinking about cellular reactions and physiologic processes. Now, ask me to find my way out of a paper bag -- I usually rely on him. We have a different way of doing things, mine is usually expensive, time-consuming and messy. His is direct, cheap, and quick.

I majored in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior. Carl majored in Liberal Studies with an option in Kinesiology.

♥ Who is the most sensitive?

Me. Way.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?

Baja Fresh?

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

Together? Hmmmm... Downieville?

♥ Who has the worst temper?

I have a shorter temper, but Carl is scarier when he's mad. Probably because he's always so quiet and calm.

♥ How many children do you want?

I think 3 or 4 sounds great. I'd like to birth two and adopt a couple. We'll see how it goes.

♥ Who does the cooking?

The employees at Baja Fresh? Does that count?  I bake, but kinda suck in the cooking department. Takes WAY too much planning for a gal that takes a bus to work and only drives on the weekends. So, we usually eat out or make sometime like Papa Murphy's for dinner. We go through cycles and soon enough, we'll be sick of eating out and want home cooked food again.

♥ Who is more social?

Me me me!!

♥ Who is the neat-freak?

Carl. Psycho is more like it.

♥ Who is the most stubborn?

Me, all the way. This is how I get what I want most of the time. When it comes to habits, Carl is the more stubborn. If a behavior lasts long enough to become habit, he'll keep it to his dying day. For example: scary deep-breathing right before bed. He can lay down to take a nap and doesn't do it, but if we're within 2 feet of the bed and have nothing....exciting....planned, watch out. He sounds like he's gasping for air. Habit.

♥ Who wakes up earlier?

Depends on the life stage. For almost two years, I got up between 4:30-5:30 every morning. Now Carl gets up 20 minutes before I do and I wonder how I *ever* managed to crawl out of a warm bed with a warm cuddly husband to drive 2 hours in the dark to sit in class. Every. Stinking. Morning.

♥ Where was your first date?

Group date: Ted's in San Anselmo. Alone date: Yoshi's in Oakland. The funny story: We made the date for Yoshi's almost 2 weeks in advance. In the meantime, Carl got notice that he passed his personal training certification test and suggested we grab dinner and a movie at the Emeryville Public Market (this was before Baystreet, people). I totally thought it was a date (wouldn't you?). I think I ended up paying for my own food. I was DYING for him to hold my hand during the movie (a romantic comdey, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) and he was glued to the screen. It was like watching a movie with my dad (except less interesting. Dad and I are perfect movie-buddies. We love pointing out the same things). I went that night home thinking, "Jeez. I guess I'm not his type. Next week's date should be awkward." - He still claims dinner and a movie don't "count" as a date. So, officially, our first date was Yoshi's.

♥ Who has the bigger family?

We are both one of two children. I'm the older in mine and he's the younger in his. He has a HUGE extended family though. Tons of aunts and uncles and cousins. I, on the other hand, struggle to name 10 relatives, living or dead.

♥ Do you get flowers often?

Once in awhile. He used to do it more often, but honestly? I'm not much of a flower type. They're pretty and I enjoy the gift, but they die. It's depressing. I'd rather have him make dinner (Japanese Curry!!) or take me for a walk. 

♥ How do you spend the holidays?

Usually at his parents. They're local and low-key. Just my type of Christmas. A pretty, very classic tree. A big dinner. Opening presents together wearing fuzzy socks and listening to Christmas music. It's great.

♥ Who is more jealous?

Hmmmm... I don't think either of us are too jealous. I have more of an issue with his exes, but that probably because he has several and I only have one.

♥ How long did it take to get serious?

A month? We started a "relationship" pretty fast. Neither of us knew "where it was going" for a long time. In fact, the lack of direction in the relationship led to a breakup which caused up to totally reprioritize. The moment we were back together, marriage was the goal. A year later, he proposed. 

♥ Who eats more?

Dear Lord. HIM! The man can EASILY put down a pint of ice cream in a sitting. His bottomless pit of a stomach has always amazed me. 

♥ What do you do for a living?

Currently, I'm a medical assistant. I'm applying to medical school.

Him: currently, a personal trainer. He's in school to be a surgical tech.

♥ Who does the laundry?

Him. He doesn't trust me with it. It works out for both of us. 

♥ Who’s better with the computer?

Me.

♥ Who drives when you are together?

Usually him. I would but I'm afriad if I screw up, he'll get upset. I'd rather have him screw up. :)

♥ What is “your” song?
We danced to "Push" by Sarah McLachlan at our wedding. Love that song. Some Erasure songs have a special place in my heart though because when we were first dating he'd lipsynch them to me in the care. I knew he must love me if he was willing to look so foolish in front of me.

Some random thoughts and pictures

First, a belly shot (these things seem to be popular). Please forgive the ugly red mark across the belly. My PJ's aren't a comfortable as they used to be.

16 weeks

Okay, now to other random thoughts. I have some current obsessions.

The smell of these cookies is absolutely amazing. They're a little too sweet for me, but the smell. Oh, Lord.

This is a photo I took in NYC two months ago. I live on Spring Street, and I loved the mosaic. Isn't it lovely?

Aren't they awesome? Sumo (L) and Roger (R)

(Don't mind the dirty couch)

Jazzy and her freakish tongue on Halloween

I really like this crib

And there you have it. I sense a big growth spurt about to happen. Expect next week's photo to show a much bigger belly. I can feel it.

Oh, and I got an interview to UCSF. *squee!!*

Creepy

Am I the only one that finds the floating, inanimate fetus on the sidebar a bit disturbing? Anyone have a better suggestion?

Time to Vote!

Check out the poll on the right side of the screen. Place your bets! We'll know on the 25th!

Ava's Rule

A darling woman named Sheye Rosemeyer lost her little girl almost three years ago. Please distribute this image far and wide. Visit http://www.avasrule.com