THE BIG EVENTS

Over the past few weeks, we've lived through/experienced several BIG events.

First, on July 5th, my trusty little car - a gift from my parents after college graduation - crossed the 100,000 mile threshold. It was a big moment in my life - watching her odometer go from 5 digits to 6. Thankfully, I was in the passenger seat during the big event and was able to capture it on film (I'll spare you the video).

In early August, I discovered that I do in fact have a Y in my left eye. For those of you who don't remember, my aunt in Texas has a client who claims to have a no-fail way of determining the sex of an unborn child. In short if the blood vessels of the mother's left eye form a Y, then the baby will be girl. Back in September 2008, I had a distinct Y in my left eye. As you can see from the picture below, I do AT THIS VERY MOMENT have a Y in my eye. What do others think?!?! Is "Joel" in fact a girl?

August was also full of natural disasters. On the 23rd, DC was rocked by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. I was at home with K at the time - trying to get her to sleep. We felt two distinct movements during the quake. First, it really did feel like the house was shaking. It also felt like the floors were rolling - like we were standing on top of water. The noise from the earthquake was loud. K was laying on her bed with her hands over her ears S-C-R-E-A-M-I-N-G.

After the shaking stopped, K and I went outside to talk to our neighbors and did a walk through of our house to see if there was any damage. Pictures fell off of the wall in our bathroom and our shoe cubby in our sunroom moved away from the wall. In our front bedroom, the wall/ceiling cracked. You can see from the picture below that it does look like there were waves/rolls. The crack moves/rolls from wall to ceiling back to wall again. It is pretty magnificent to see the strength of plate tectonics in our bedroom.

Also during the earthquake, we heard a terrible crashing noise on our roof. Turns out our neighbor's chimney crumbled and crashed onto our roof. As you can see the quake did a number on the 100 year old chimney.

Prior to the hurricane, Irene, that rocked DC five days after the earthquake, D went up on the roof, took some pictures and removed/stacked all the loose bricks. We didn't want the hurricane strength winds to cause damage to our roof or our neighbors. Thankfully there was no damage.

SIX WEEK REWIND

Ferris Bueller once said:

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around 

once in a while, you could miss it.

 

The past six weeks of my life have flown by -- quite possibly the busiest weeks of my life. And it is not just business. They have been full of changes - physical, mental, emotional, hormonal, and behavioral. I have been trying to take time to enjoy all the special, never-going-to-be-the-same-again moments that have come my way.

 

In short, since we traveled to Pennsylvania for the Fourth of July, I/we have:

 

1. hosted our friends from France for two weeks;

2. painted K's bedroom (well, technically my dad gets credit for this) and made room for a new crib and dresser;

3. spent a week at the beach with friends;

4. completed my duties as a graduate research assistant;

5. submitted a complete draft of my written dissertation;

6. received approval to defend my dissertation;

7. began my full-time, grown-up job as an Assistant Professor;

8. gained approximately 15 pounds;

9. become the mother to a preschooler; 

10. planned my come-back races for 2012 (National RnR and Pittsburgh 1/2 marathons); and

11. spent more time trying to stay on top of things than ever before in my life.

As of today, we are officially ready for baby #2. I am currently 35 weeks and 5 days along. I'm feeling fine - minus the persistent heartburn and swelling in my hands, feet, and ankles. Our new carseat was delivered today. This is the ONE thing we needed to have before the baby arrives. It is here. Part of me wants this baby to be born today; another part of me knows I have several BIG events scheduled for the next four weeks that I really want to happen --- including my dissertation defense. 

As long as I do not go into labor before my due date, I plan to defend my dissertation at 39 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I believe this will elevate me to ROCK STAR status among all PhD students and mothers-to-be! I also am planning to be inducted into my high school athletic hall of fame at 37 weeks/1 day pregnant. Again, I think attending this event, rocking a great black dress, and announcing my plans to be in 1/2 marathon running shape by March will also elevate me to some sort of ROCK STAR status! 

Regardless of when this new baby comes, my current baby will be starting preschool in two weeks. I can hardly believe it. She's enrolled in a wonderful Montessori School about 1 mile from our house. Her teacher is a gem and the school is beautiful - while playing at the school playground today, we noticed you can see the National Cathedral in the background. What a wonderful spot to attend school!

 

Just shy of three years old, K has become her own little lady. She talks constantly - often narrating the events of the day, making up stories, and asking WHY. She has her own sense of style and is very opinionated with it comes to clothing, shoes, and hair. She loves to read, paint and play with play-dough. She also loves music, dancing, jumping, gymnastics, riding her bike, and being outside. She also loves to help out in the kitchen and is becoming quite the little baker. 

 

The hour between 6:30 and 7:30 each evening is our most challenging time - she's tired, wants constant attention, and can often be found yelling, "NO!" without ceasing. She continues to be a great napper, but cannot sleep through the night for anything. We're currently trying to bride her to stay in bed all night long - until the sun comes up - with frozen yogurt. It has yet to work.

Our vacation to the beach a few weeks ago, was definitely a highlight of the summer for all of us. We had a wonderful and restful week away with friends. K completely enjoyed herself.

My goal for the next five weeks of this pregnancy is to enjoy each moment. In spite of heartburn and the awkwardness of my big belly, I want to enjoy being pregnant (as much as I can), I want to enjoy having just one child, I want to cherish all my firsts at my new job, I want to prepare for my dissertation defense, and I really want get as much sleep as humanly possible.

Here's to you baby #2, Joel... please make plans to remain where you are for at least four more weeks. Love, Mommy

4th OF JULY

We spent this past weekend in Pittsburgh visiting my parents and enjoying the simple things in life. Such things included sleeping past 6am, enjoying an evening out without a toddler, playing in the water, making cookies, making new friends, and spending time with family.

Our weekend began with a few days at my parents house where K baked with United States Grandma.

And then she ran through the sprinkler with Grandpa.

We went for a walk/bike ride on Sunday morning. Our time ended with more water play (thank you, Hyatt Regency Hotel for your wonderful waterfall).

We spent more time in the water on Monday. This time taking in the waterslides at the pool by Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We ended our day on Monday at a petting zoo where K fell in love with some little piggies and goats.

It was a wonderful and restful weekend for all of us.

We left with our hearts full and smiles on our faces.

FATHER'S DAY

THEN AND NOW

I'm nearly 25 weeks pregnant. I haven't taken a single picture of my pregnant belly.

Until today.

Here is a look back at what I was like at 20 weeks in 2008 and at (nearly) 25 weeks in 2011. I don't think I'm much bigger today than I was three years ago. I have gained exactly 8 pounds (about the same as in 2008) since my first doctor's appointment. Thanks to some cooler temperatures and lower humidity, I am not as puffy as I was two weeks ago (picture below).

I think my current picture (right) makes it look like I am carrying higher this time around. However, I believe this is due to the timing of the pictures. I was only 20 weeks along in the picture to the left. Ultimately, I carried K really high (so high she never dropped; thus resulting in a c-section in 2008); much like the picture on the right.

Prior to looking at these pictures side-by-side, I thought I was really huge for 25 weeks along. But in reality I look about the same.

And, just for the record, I have no swelling in my ankles.

We'll compare this picture to one of my ankles when I'm 35 weeks along. My guess is there will be a considerable/puffy difference.

138/90

This morning I had a normal check-up with my OB. I got to the office 10 minutes early and ended up waiting 30 minutes before being seen. Typical.

I was weighed (gained 5 pounds in the past month); peed in a cup; and went to get my blood pressure checked.

They put the cuff on my arm, and BAM...

138/90.

That is super high.

According to the NIH, prehypertension of systolic blood pressure is 120-139; higher is greater than 140. Diastolic hypertension (stage 1) is anything greater than 90.

Nuts.

I spent considerable time talking with my doctor about my diet, stress level, and activities. Then I was left to hang out on my left side for awhile.

After a short while, my blood pressure was back to normal.

And they let me go home.

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My last blood pressure reading was 97/68. I'm on the lookout for a host of symptoms indicating my BP is too high. If I have any of the said symptoms, I will head to the ER immediately. Other than the BP-issue, I'm healthy and so is Joel.

HOT, HOT, HOT

It is not even June and temperatures in DC reached 95* today.

It was bloody hot.

Highlights of our day included visits to the library and grocery store, which were icebox cold. It was so refreshing. When we weren't soaking in the AC, we were playing in water. Nothing beats a sprinkler, kiddie pool, or a bucket of water on a hazy, hot, and humid day in MAY.

*Note: if the weather does not cool off in the coming weeks - at least for a little while - this pregnant mama is going to be one swollen mess. I'm placing bets that my wedding ring will not fit by July; my watch won't fit by the end of August and my ankles will disappear sometime in the middle of it all.