Notes from the not-so-good-blogger

These days.... what can I say about these busy days? I know, they are only going to get busier!

There has been massive unfolding in our life as of late. Erich found out on his birthday his acceptance as pre-k teacher at Milam Elementary. We are so greatful! It was perfect timing. Erich finished the work on our bathrooms, and he hasn't  stopped since. 

My position has changed this year as I am working as a special educator for my bilingual pre-k kiddos. Last year I worked a dual role- bilingual general and sped teacher. Thank God for the change! I have 5 kids, compared with 40 from last year. This new position actually means less paper work and  less pressure, which is what I wanted for a year when we will bring our little girl into the world. All of the students I have this year were with me last year. They have quickly learned their new routine and I can't complain at all about my great school situation. Even though toilet training and diaper changing are both a big part of my day, we have this amazing invention called "steps up to the changing table". This alleviates all picking up and heavy lifting. My children have quickly mastered the art of getting themselves up and down the steps and I havn't had to deal with any big melt downs.  

Erich is really enjoying his classroom full (22! kids from 7:30-1:45pm). He has a new t.a., so they are learning together. I would like to think of myself as his best mentor (I think he would agree) and he is very open to any and all suggestions (which I have been heavily giving). He is a quick learner and his kids adore him (I can tell by the way he describes their affection and excitement). I am so very proud of him!!!! It is crazy that we are doing such similar jobs, but we enjoy the shared understanding of the 4/5 year old psyche. 

Updates on the belly and baby:

I feel Eva kick all the time! Soft kicks, roll overs, swim kicks, downward kicks, side kicks.

With the exception of one very restless night this past weekend, I have been sleeping very well for the most part. I am so greatful for my body pillow, biopedic memory foam mattress topper, and a gracious husband who doesn't say anything when I toss and turn throughout the night and get out of bed for potty pressure relief. 

Work has been very manageable and I have yet to take a nap after a full day's work. The weekends are bliss and so much the sweeter after a weekful of work. As far as eating goes....

 I have found new ways to pack in the healthy fats so that I don't have to eat as many meals throughout the day. My new favorite breakfast would be either an "egg in the basket" or a fresh fruit smoothie with a Tb of flaxseed oil. For lunch I have at least a Tb of almond butter with carrots and tomato soup. For dinner it varies. I am feeling rather large, especially at night or when I am trying to roll myself out of bed! But... I just can't make it without those extra calories. I am at least trying to be healthy about my consumption. I hope the rest of the weight I put on is "pure baby"! 

These upcoming weekends are so very exciting with lots of showers!!! These are like back to back birthday parties!!! I love opening presents and am so glad I get to do it for my little one. I guess Eva is hearing 1/2 Spanish 1/2 English throughout the day. She may come out bilingual... but no pressure on my little one : )

I know so many people say "enjoy every moment of being pregnant..." etc etc. I hope that I am, but I am looking at non-pregnant "normal sized people" and looking forward to having a body that doesn't have a basketball sized uterus attached to it. Is that so wrong? It's hard to believe I am only going to get bigger!!! before I get smaller. It is (of course) so very worth it, but it is a definite new experience that brings with it some roller-coaster hormones at times.

This is very ramblish... but I just want to capture a bit of the essence as of late. Things are busy, but great. We have so much to be greatful for and to look forward to. Now... if we could start on Eva's room.....

Here are pics of our new baños, pics of the beautiful quilts I received from my Grandpa (made by the Grandmas), and the not-yet-done baby room

"Hi" from baby Eva

Here's our little one, doing the breast stroke in mama's belly. Erich and I are already convinced she's a swimmer.... : )

This is week 22 and I'm feeling great! I am finally in the full swing of my summer vacation and loving the lazy days of visiting friends, cooking, reading, floating the pool, cleaning closets, washing windows, cleaning door handles....I guess the last 3 aren't considered lazy recreation, but having the liberty to do those things when I want with however many interruptions I allow is very liberating! I also indulge myself in sitting in the baby room and pulling a random baby shoe, hat, diaper, or whatever other small item I feel like "misplacing" around my house only to then return the baby item at the end of the day to it's rightful spot. I can't help but smile everytime I put something of Eva's out in the open as that gentle reminder of what life will be like when she arrives on the scene in a few months. Erich and I went to my OBgyn yesterday for another healthy report. We praise God for health and good reports.

The latest on being pregnant:

Food Scenario: I am back to my normal self! Eating all the varieties, spice (on non-heartburn days), ethnicities, and funky food creations to my hearts content. I love plain yogurt, cream cheese, and sour cream... must be the calcium. Yogurt and fresh fruit are my favorite snacks, along with adding a peppermint to my blended chocolate vitamin shake. Yo-mama yogurt is delicious and I can't pass by any "comfort food"  ie egg quiche, meatloaf, oatmeal cookies, and the like. 

Recreational Activities: visiting friends, going on walks, playing with friend's children, pool excercises (they usually only last about 10 minutes before I give in to just floating the pool...), and I really need to get back into my prenatal yoga!!!

Birthing Options: I am learning more about creating a birthing plan (with room for flexibility and reason). I of course want to try for the most natural delivery of the baby in the hospital. I have a great friend Leigh who will be teaching me more about hypnobirthing and  breathing/relaxation techniques that I will soon need to start practicing. Hypnobirthing is really just about keeping mama relaxed and focused on breathing/pushing at the right time. I won't be in some hypnotic state, but hopefully a more relaxed state for ease during the process. But, with all this said.... you never know!!! Or at least, I don't really know since it is my first!

Aches and pains: sharp ligament pain for the stretching uterus (these are pretty infrequent) and side aches from sleeping on my side all night (these usually force me to switch sleeping sides). I think I need to invest in one of those nice foam pads that go over your mattress.... anyone out there know what I am talking about?

Upcoming Projects: (before the school year begins)

1. re-do our guest and regular bathroom- new floor, paint, light fixtures, caulk tub, new sink in the guest bathroom, & a new shower door

2. Continuation of the closet-clean-out

3. Re-arranging the laundry room (with a possible paint job) and reconfiguring the storage situation

4. Adding more closed storage for the carport

5. Paint the baby room, assemble the crib

We shall see how much we will accomplish!!! I am loving all the cleaning-out. It is definitely giving me the nesting-fix I need. 

'da bump

Alas, I post a picture of the ever-growing baby bump. This is me sporting some fabulous hand-me-down jeans, my neutral bella band and a non-maternity top. I am generally sticking to pure maternity clothing these days. I do use the bella band on occasion with some clothes I have been given that are a size bigger than my original size. These outfits are good for when your are feeling like your tummy is all too big and you need a little boost of feelin' good in your prego body. Life as a prenant mama is great thus far. I can't complain. I just finished (thank God!!!!!!!!) my last day of summer school with the most difficult bunch of children I have ever taught. I was very pleased with their impressive gains and used this as consolation (along with the great extra money I made) for all of my hard work. For the rest of the summer I plan to continue with our new wonderful tradition of floating in our above ground pool, while pleasure reading, and eating iced down cherries. This is the good life, pregnant style. I would recommend all husbands investing in a large floaty device with cool water and easy access for their in-the-summer pregnant wives. 

Back to my changing body:

1. I am most comfortable sleeping with a ginormous body pillow at night (it's like adding another person in the bed)

2. I gain about 5 pounds in water weight and bloat by the end of each day and then lose it by the morning.

3. I usually change outfits in the middle of the day to accommodate the water retention and bloat.

4. I usually receive more extreme reactions to my bump 

"I couldn't even tell you were pregnant" and then

"wow, you are going to be really big!"

Of course, I prefer the in-between of "how cute, when are you due?" Many people's responses are dependent on the time of the day in which they are exposed to the bump. Either way, I guess I don't really mind the attention : )

5. I am currently at 5 months!!!!!!!!! 21 weeks and feeling great! This is the most important factor and the one for which I am most greatful.  I will take a large bump any day if it means our little baby is healthy and it is an added blessing to feel well myself.

**For those of you who frequently blog and check up on me regularly (I love you dearly) I am hoping to be more consistent in my blogging in the upcoming months. I was a little reticent to post pics b/c I have people that had not seen me pregnant yet, and I can't help but love the shock factor.

Updates

Here's a brief recap of the past few weeks:

Latest Craving-Hebrew national hotdogs (with all the works) and Jalepeño chips.... (I know, I'm sure that's terrible pregnant food!)

Latest bad habit-checking my facebook (Erich started a page for me)

Latest good habit-prenatal yoga

Clothing scenario-I can fit into pants that were a little big on me before I got pregnant, but I don't feel comfortable in my regular shirts. The tightness will be cuter the farther along I am, I'm convinced. For now, I am trying to stick with what fits without any clothing sticking to my skin. I am wearing maternity, or larger shirts and lots of skirts and bigger pants. I can already tell that within the next few weeks, I will be destined to start wearing those maternity pants. I just can't stand any tightness around my belly. Alas, a quickly changing body is a strange thing.

Today I'm off to some resale shops to find some clothes that will be those in-between clothes (for times like now and after the baby is born). I hope after the baby is born I am not stuck wearing in-between clothes for very long!! I am also on the search for interesting material to create a "money tree" for a friend of mine who is getting married next weekend. I will post pictures of my budding tummy very soon.

Pics of the guess what!?

Pic #1- Baby full body with umbilical chord showing
Pic #2- Baby in teddy bear form with heart beat

Pic #3- Baby waving with it's little fingers. "Hi Baby"
Ok, so the quality is pretty hard to distinguish, but you get the idea!!!!!!! Yeah! Mi bebé