I had a pretty cranky day at work - the kind where I call Justin on the way home to apologize in advance if I happen to be unreasonable later and kinda sorta maybe a little take it out on him later. the most unfortunate part of my position is even though I technically do PR, somehow the obligation to answer every one's concerns (read: complaints) falls in my lap. it was just one of those days where I couldn't get ahead with them either. we had two events over the weekend and for whatever reason, each problem we resolved I got another call or email from someone else that was even more feisty and angry than the person prior. it was awesome.
to top it all off, I had an appointment to get my eyebrows waxed on the way home. which is a lie because I don't go anywhere nice enough for an appointment, fortunately for me Great Clips or whatever is available for me whenever I need them. haha! and you know it was a bad day when I'm laying back in the neckraping chair and she's ripping wax off my eyebrow and I almost fell asleep because it was somehow relaxing... ANYWAY, right next to the hair place is a Hallmark so I went in with hopes for some retail therapy- success!
I'm not sure what it is about buying cards for people that gets me in such a good mood. it happens almost every time without fail. I love browsing the aisles looking for nothing in particular and finding that perfect card that make me think of the someone I love. the reaction I know they'll have opening the card amplifies that feeling even more! For example: I got my girlfriend Emily the most wildly inappropriate Valentine's Day card and I can literally hear her laugh and see her throw her head back when she reads it, and my heart was happy. I found the most gaggy sentimental card for my brother because I know he'll think it's ridiculous, but deep down will appreciate the thought. I'm not sure how it ended up that in 15 short minutes I was at the register and had just spent thirty unplanned dollars on a small plethora of cards, but it was completely worth it. -plus I'm in a great mood now so it's not like J's going to complain!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Chubby Bunny
As promised… the “freak out” story: at our last OB appointment I asked our doctor how big Baby Girl Bail was because the technician didn’t really give us more than “it’s a girl!” and “everything looks good”. The rest of our time was spent explaining what each organ was she kept looking at and trying to reassure me that indeed everyone has one of those (anatomy wasn’t my strongest class to say the least!). So our OB looks it up and tells us 1 lb 2 oz. alright, that means nothing to me, but I can write it in my pregnancy journal if I decide to update it ever.
The remainder of the appointment we discussed what to expect now and she kept asking if I’m doing well emotionally unstable, but fine! physically this has been easier than I expected, I’m blessed and mentally… that’s when I finally divulged my struggle with the weight gain. I’ve been much more shallow than I anticipated because I don’t like seeing the increasing number on the scale or the stretch marks I recently discovered that weren’t on my stomach AUGH! I totally know that the end result will be well worth it and the only reason I’m putting on the pounds is because I have a baby inside, I get that—I don’t get why I’m getting bigger EVERYWHERE when my belly is where she’s actually growing, but whatever. (not whatever actually, I think it’s the most irritating thing in the world that my hips, thighs and badonky donk have to grow too…) anyway, the doctor’s response was a very encouraging “you should expect to gain 1-2 lbs a week for the remainder of your pregnancy.” I’m sorry?! I still have 18 weeks left! When I asked if she thinks I’m ridiculous for being concerned about it she laughed like it was a joke but definitely didn’t say no. awesome.
Later that night I was talking to my childhood friend Melissa who’s also pregnant and due just a few days after me and she just found out they’re having a girl too (which if you knew our story it’s really only fitting, but another promised post another day). Her doctors were concerned that her baby wasn’t quite 1 lb yet and I got concerned that at 22 weeks her baby wasn’t even 1 lb, but at 19 weeks my baby was a couple ounces over a pound! So I jump online and unfortunately learned that the average fetus is 8.5 oz at 19 weeks. First reaction was to panic, but I did the math quick and since there’s 12 oz in a pound and she was a pound and two ounces she was only 14 ounces, which is bigger but I convinced myself it wasn’t terrible… then Justin politely reminded me that my math skills leave much to be desired and there’s actually 16 oz in a pound so she was 18 oz at 19 weeks. How is that “fine”?! Sounds to me like something to be at least a teeny frickin’ little bit concerned about when a baby is DOUBLE the average size!
At this point I called my mom completely panicked and freaking out because not only is there no way that can be healthy, but I was picturing giving birth to a front-cover National Enquirer size baby! J and I were both just under 9 lbs when we were born so Baby being twice that at 18 lbs they’re going to need the Jaws of Life to get her out of me! A C-Section would have to basically cut me in half so she could say hello. And then I was frustrated that she wasn’t going to be the small baby we pictured her being compared to her cousins that were both big babies that didn’t stay little long. She was going to be on pace, it was the plan. I was actually mad, how terrible! I’m already a bad mother because I’m irritated about something so superficial and the right Sunday school answer is as long as she’s healthy, right?! I was a wreck, crying on the phone to my mom who couldn’t even understand everything I was saying because it was so incoherent…
A ridiculously long story short: I talked to the nurse the next day and she told me to take deep breaths and everything indeed looks fine, at 19 weeks Baby was 10 oz. I assured her that the doctor said 1 lb 2 oz and the nurse guessed she was speculating how big Baby was at the appointment that day. That’s not what I asked! Needless to say, I’m considering looking for a new OB just because she thinks I’m shallow and stupid instead of normal with stupid questions (which is completely different) and that’s not something I want tainting this experience. That, and every time we go we have to wait, no exaggeration, at least 30 minutes for her see us. They take us into the room almost immediately, but then we have to sit there and wait for her. It’s not like it’s a nice room either, the only décor is a poster with a giant vagina diagram. awkward to say the least…
The remainder of the appointment we discussed what to expect now and she kept asking if I’m doing well emotionally unstable, but fine! physically this has been easier than I expected, I’m blessed and mentally… that’s when I finally divulged my struggle with the weight gain. I’ve been much more shallow than I anticipated because I don’t like seeing the increasing number on the scale or the stretch marks I recently discovered that weren’t on my stomach AUGH! I totally know that the end result will be well worth it and the only reason I’m putting on the pounds is because I have a baby inside, I get that—I don’t get why I’m getting bigger EVERYWHERE when my belly is where she’s actually growing, but whatever. (not whatever actually, I think it’s the most irritating thing in the world that my hips, thighs and badonky donk have to grow too…) anyway, the doctor’s response was a very encouraging “you should expect to gain 1-2 lbs a week for the remainder of your pregnancy.” I’m sorry?! I still have 18 weeks left! When I asked if she thinks I’m ridiculous for being concerned about it she laughed like it was a joke but definitely didn’t say no. awesome.
Later that night I was talking to my childhood friend Melissa who’s also pregnant and due just a few days after me and she just found out they’re having a girl too (which if you knew our story it’s really only fitting, but another promised post another day). Her doctors were concerned that her baby wasn’t quite 1 lb yet and I got concerned that at 22 weeks her baby wasn’t even 1 lb, but at 19 weeks my baby was a couple ounces over a pound! So I jump online and unfortunately learned that the average fetus is 8.5 oz at 19 weeks. First reaction was to panic, but I did the math quick and since there’s 12 oz in a pound and she was a pound and two ounces she was only 14 ounces, which is bigger but I convinced myself it wasn’t terrible… then Justin politely reminded me that my math skills leave much to be desired and there’s actually 16 oz in a pound so she was 18 oz at 19 weeks. How is that “fine”?! Sounds to me like something to be at least a teeny frickin’ little bit concerned about when a baby is DOUBLE the average size!
At this point I called my mom completely panicked and freaking out because not only is there no way that can be healthy, but I was picturing giving birth to a front-cover National Enquirer size baby! J and I were both just under 9 lbs when we were born so Baby being twice that at 18 lbs they’re going to need the Jaws of Life to get her out of me! A C-Section would have to basically cut me in half so she could say hello. And then I was frustrated that she wasn’t going to be the small baby we pictured her being compared to her cousins that were both big babies that didn’t stay little long. She was going to be on pace, it was the plan. I was actually mad, how terrible! I’m already a bad mother because I’m irritated about something so superficial and the right Sunday school answer is as long as she’s healthy, right?! I was a wreck, crying on the phone to my mom who couldn’t even understand everything I was saying because it was so incoherent…
A ridiculously long story short: I talked to the nurse the next day and she told me to take deep breaths and everything indeed looks fine, at 19 weeks Baby was 10 oz. I assured her that the doctor said 1 lb 2 oz and the nurse guessed she was speculating how big Baby was at the appointment that day. That’s not what I asked! Needless to say, I’m considering looking for a new OB just because she thinks I’m shallow and stupid instead of normal with stupid questions (which is completely different) and that’s not something I want tainting this experience. That, and every time we go we have to wait, no exaggeration, at least 30 minutes for her see us. They take us into the room almost immediately, but then we have to sit there and wait for her. It’s not like it’s a nice room either, the only décor is a poster with a giant vagina diagram. awkward to say the least…
Monday, January 14, 2008
Some Motherly Advice
I had a majorly minor freakout last week after my OB appointment (I'll definitely share the story later, it'd be a waste not to let other people laugh at my expense...) and it was the first time I'd called my mom literally crying so hard I could barely talk over absolutely nothing. Justin wasn't even phased by this, the entire time I was on the phone with my mom he was walking around cleaning. I blame it on the hormones, but I've always been emotional so being pregnant may just be a ridiculously perfect excuse... anyway, the next day I had an email from my mom waiting in my inbox at work with the following picture and description:
She was pointing out that I'll be sad if I miss out on the wonderfulness of this time by letting myself get carried away with things I don't need to worry about. So, I've been instructed to relax, enjoy and be a mother who's composed and in charge. My entire life people have told me how much I am my mother's daughter--hopefully that will be the same with Baby Girl and I!
- she was younger than I am now
- she only saw her parents one time during her pregnancy with me (we lived in Texas they were in Southern California and she happened to fly home for my uncle's wedding, I'll be going home for a quick weekend in February)
- like me, she was working full-time. except my dad had been away at a technical training school for over a month when the picture was taken, making the holidays especially challenging because in addition to me being only four months, my brother was barely two
- they couldn't afford the latest in children's toys, nursery furniture or clothes (evident by my brother's hand-me-downs I'm sportin' like a champ!)
- in spite of it all, both she and I look happy, healthy and content
She was pointing out that I'll be sad if I miss out on the wonderfulness of this time by letting myself get carried away with things I don't need to worry about. So, I've been instructed to relax, enjoy and be a mother who's composed and in charge. My entire life people have told me how much I am my mother's daughter--hopefully that will be the same with Baby Girl and I!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Sugar and Spice
We’ve been keeping a little secret for almost an entire month… not intentionally, it just sort of happened. We had our horray-you're-half-way-there ultrasound in the middle of December and found out the sex of Baby Bail! I was on the fence for awhile about finding out or not, but when it came down to it and she asked if we wanted to find out if it was a girl or a boy, Justin so adamantly wanted to know that I conceded. I was so nervous about finding out for some reason, I think because I was so sure it was a girl that I felt like I would have been a bad mother because I don’t know my own baby if we found out it was a boy. It seemed like forever that she was searching for the perfect view of baby to check for the twig and berries—finally she freezes the frame and says, “do you see these two little dots” to which Justin literally throws up a fist pump and proclaims “YEAH BALLS!” we quickly learned they were actually ovaries or some other female body part I didn’t remember from my anatomy class and Baby Bail is now officially Baby Girl Bail! Justin’s excited (and adapting and thinks he needs to purchase a gun now) and I’m thrilled because I think it will be so great to have a girl first, and I kind of picture myself as a girl’s mom. Lord help me.
My mom was on the same page as Justin and she really wanted us to find out if it was a girl or a boy. If we weren’t going to find out she so kindly offered to be the gate-keeper of the secret in case I cracked and just had to know. Since she wanted to find out so badly, and I gave her her Christmas present at the beginning of December (I made a scrapbook Christmas advent calendar so she opened it December 1st) I wrapped a little pink and white polka dot dress for under the tree so when she opened it she’d figure out it’s a girl! It was practically impossible to keep it a secret though since we found out almost two weeks before Christmas. In fact, I accidentally spilled it to my sister Andrea when we were on the phone and I referenced Baby Bail as “she”.
The best part was Christmas Eve I got this frantic phone call from one of my closest friends that she just ran into my mom at church and apparently I forgot to tell her it was a semi-secret and my mom didn’t know yet. Erin approached Mom and Christmas pleasantries were exchanged before she asked Mom how excited she must be to know the sex of the baby. After a few seconds of Mom’s confused look Erin figured out that she didn’t know yet! Apparently Mom was just staring at her blankly and finally realized that I’ve known for awhile and she was the only one in the loop that didn’t know. She looked over at my brother (who was trying not to laugh too hard) and asked if he knew. Will graciously offers that not only does he know but Andrea knows too—meanwhile Erin is still standing there feeling terrible that she let Mom know that we know. (I hope I’m telling this story well enough, I think I’ve already confused myself, haha!) So I called Mom and told her to go ahead and make her one present she opens Christmas Eve be the one from me and seconds after opening it I was basically talking to myself on the phone because she was crying. again.
My mom was on the same page as Justin and she really wanted us to find out if it was a girl or a boy. If we weren’t going to find out she so kindly offered to be the gate-keeper of the secret in case I cracked and just had to know. Since she wanted to find out so badly, and I gave her her Christmas present at the beginning of December (I made a scrapbook Christmas advent calendar so she opened it December 1st) I wrapped a little pink and white polka dot dress for under the tree so when she opened it she’d figure out it’s a girl! It was practically impossible to keep it a secret though since we found out almost two weeks before Christmas. In fact, I accidentally spilled it to my sister Andrea when we were on the phone and I referenced Baby Bail as “she”.
The best part was Christmas Eve I got this frantic phone call from one of my closest friends that she just ran into my mom at church and apparently I forgot to tell her it was a semi-secret and my mom didn’t know yet. Erin approached Mom and Christmas pleasantries were exchanged before she asked Mom how excited she must be to know the sex of the baby. After a few seconds of Mom’s confused look Erin figured out that she didn’t know yet! Apparently Mom was just staring at her blankly and finally realized that I’ve known for awhile and she was the only one in the loop that didn’t know. She looked over at my brother (who was trying not to laugh too hard) and asked if he knew. Will graciously offers that not only does he know but Andrea knows too—meanwhile Erin is still standing there feeling terrible that she let Mom know that we know. (I hope I’m telling this story well enough, I think I’ve already confused myself, haha!) So I called Mom and told her to go ahead and make her one present she opens Christmas Eve be the one from me and seconds after opening it I was basically talking to myself on the phone because she was crying. again.
Introducing: Baby Girl Bail!
she's looking straight ahead to the camera
we couldn't get a profile shot because she was so squirmy. she just wasn't having it!her cute little hand by her head
her tiny little baby girl foot
(the other foot and shin are at the far left facing different)
the best profile shot we could manage, but it's mostly to check her spine
Justin has already nicknamed her Skelator. precious huh?!
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