22 Week Belly Picture

"Baby's now the size of a papaya!
Baby's settling into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop."

How far along? 22 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: gain 1 from last week (total 16 pounds)
Body Changes? Got a nice little rash on the left and right side of my torso...will post picture in next post.
Sleep: sleeping on my side, getting more difficult getting up.
Best moment this week: Hosting my gf's shower and seeing my family who is visiting from Switzerland and Miami.
Gender: BOY.
Food Cravings: Junk food. Mcdonalds, chocolate. Skim hot chocolates from starbucks.
What I miss: Getting all dressed up and sexy for my hubby and then going for date nights :(
Symptoms: Rash, backaches, headaches
What I am looking forward to: V-Day and feeling him kick more. Also, can't wait for my hubby to be home in a week for goooood!
Milestones: Feeling him kick at least once a day if not more.

Keeping a Marriage Alive After Kids

I think it's only natural to wonder how having children will affect ones marriage. I obviously can't answer that myself since we don't have children yet, but it is something I ponder every now and then. I came across an article today that made me think about my own marriage. I have always been a very strong advocate for not letting the kids come between your marriage. I know it's easier said than done, but I think a successful marriage is the foundation for a strong family. Here is the article I was referring to:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/07/29/p.stronger.marriage.secret/index.html

I come from a divorced family. Now that I'm older and wiser it's not something that phases me one bit. I love the new families I have gained out of it and I'm mature enough to understand it had nothing to do with us kids. When I was six however that was a different story. It was very tough on my sister and I to hear our parents fight, and ultimately divorce. Following the divorce my mother took us to Switzerland, and my father stayed in the States. To say that was an adjustment for us doesn't even come close to explaining how painful it was to go through. Not having both parents together wasn't easy, and seeing them with new love interests in their lives even worse. Sometimes it's easy to forget how difficult certain things were for oneself the older we get, it helps to try to remember so we can be more understanding with our own children.
All I know is I love my marriage and my husband more than anything and I won't let anything come between us. Easier said than done...absolutely! But it's too imporatant not to!


Tips from Mom's and Dad's:

Dad’s say:

“Spontaneous acts of kindness and expressions of love, the simpler the better. Unexpected flowers, a little note, a simple caress at the kitchen sink, just be sure it's focused on saying I LOVE YOU!”
-Tom, Duluth

“Hire a babysitter and go on frequent dates!”
-Gus, El Paso

“2 suggestions...
1 - Get rid of the kids! Hah! Seriously though, even just for an evening, it does wonders.
2 - No, seriously... get rid of the kids!”
-Miguel, Troy

“When I get home from work, I automatically take the kids over for a while; let the wife "walk". She takes her computer out to the desk in the garage for a while, with no kids on her back, scores major points, always puts her in a better mood.”
-Terry, Garden City

“My wife likes when I plan a meal, shop, and then prepare it. It's not gourmet, but it shows her that I appreciate all she does for the family.”
-James, Niskayuna

“To always appreciate each other and take the time to look at the person and always hug.”
-Richard, Randolph

“Be spontaneous don’t let things get in a rut, always try something new”
-Mike, West Rutland

“Pencil in time for sex on your schedule!”
-Richard, Winston Salem

“Always kiss each other goodnight”
- Christopher, Elk Grove

“Don't yell at her!”
-Earl, Arnoldsburg

And the Mom’s say:

“Always make your spouse Number ONE. The kids will grow up and leave.”
-Deborah, Forest Lake

“Date night. One night a week, get a babysitter and spend time alone together relaxing. We will celebrate 27 years soon and without that time as a "couple" we would have been completely out of touch with each other when the kids left home.”
-Corinne, Shawnee

“Vacations away for just the two of us would keep our marriage fresh.”
-Tammy, Monrovia

“Don't forget why you fell in love and make your partner your 1st priority.”
-Laura, Portland

“Take time to chill on the couch with just the two of you.”
-Denise, Santaquin

“Take time for yourself. Love each other passionately. Never let the kids sleep in your bed (you will never get them out) Communicate, have quiet time together.”
-Stacy, Lynchburg

“Learn to have fun with the little things. A romantic dinner together at home can be just as special as going out.”
-Rita, Cherry Hill

“The best advice I got was to find the time for each other even if you have to schedule it, like you would any other appointment or thing on your to do list.”
-Cherie, Mesa

“Never go to bed mad, plan a date night at least once a month and be as forgiving and understanding as you want her to be.”
-Laura, Royse City

“Remember to lock the bedroom door!”
-Ellen, Saint Augustine

Lamaze Class

Steve and I have decided to take a Lamaze class 5 weeks before Max's arrival. I didn't think I wanted to take one until a coworker started talking about the class he is taking with his wife. It was so informative and things I don't know anything about so I figured it would be a wise decision to take one. That way Steve and I will be more informed once the day comes and it will be less daunting. The class I found also has newborn classes which I signed up for as well. Why not! I can't believe we are four months away from the big day...so much still to do!

21 Weeks

Last week was pretty busy, with dinners and birthday parties filling my agenda. It was great catching up with my girlfriends. A few of us went to see The Ugly Truth, which I really enjoyed. Stephy and i went to Greenwich for the weekend and had a wonderful time. It was soooo beautiful on Saturday, we sunbathed and relaxed with my family. My girlfriend from Switzerland came to visit and so we headed to dinner with my father and brother who brought his lovely girlfriend with him. I had a cheat day and stupidly decided to eat beef carpaccio and a roast beef sandwich. People were freaking me out about that and so I ended up calling my doctor about it. I was told not to do it again but that I'm fine. Well, I learned my lesson and will not cheat, especially not with beef carpaccio...what was I thinking urggg! Monday we had our third "big" ultrasound, and it was as frustrating as the 2nd one. Our son decided he wanted to be lazy again and just lounged around making it difficult for the tech to see what she needed. After doing the same stretches, jumps etc. she was finally able to see what she needed and said it looked good. Mary (one of my oldest and dearest friends) came with us since she is a doctor at the same hospital. I'm so glad she got to see Max and now I have a witness as to how lazy our son really is :)We got a ton of ultrasound pictures so I will post them as soon as my hubby figures out our scanner!

21 Week Belly Picture

How far along? 21 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: gain 1 from last week (total 15 pounds)
Body Changes? Went to buy bras this weekend and they measured my chest...went from an A to a C/D...wowser. I hate wearing bras but at this point it's a must.
Sleep: sleeping on my side
Best moment this week: Hanging out in Greenwich relaxing with Stephy and Caroline...it was nice and relaxing.
Gender: BOY.
Food Cravings: None this week.
What I miss: Not having food restrictions. I cheated twice this weekend...had a yummy roast beef sandwich for lunch, and Carpaccio for dinner. Both were sooo yummy.
Symptoms: No headaches this week! Bad back aches.
What I am looking forward to: Seeing Max tonight. I've been a bit anxious this weekend after cheating...I know I shouldn't be but I just am.
Milestones: Felt him kick very lightly a few times.

Our Romantic Bebe-Moon

“…rekindle last night’s fire in the fireplace and climb back into bed…very romantic”
Connecticut Magazine

Rated "Excellent" by Zagats

Steve and I are planning a nice romantic getaway over labor day weekend in Litchfield County, CT. We had stayed there the weekend we got engaged for a wedding and LOVED it. It's on lake Waramaug surrounded by beautiful scenery in a quaint little town. We plan on getting daily massages and a facial, eating, reading and catching up on sleep. It will be our last weekend getaway alone before our son blesses our lives. We will enjoy all the peace and quiet...and sleep we can :)

Week 20

Wohoooooooooooo! I'm halfway done with my pregnancy! Next milestone...V-Day (Viability Day) which is at 24 weeks. They say if a baby were born at that point it would have a 50/50 chance of survival.
It was another crazy week, Steve and I went to the doctor twice for the big ultrasound. The first time there was a mix up as to where it will take place. Nobody told us it was at the hospital so they squeezed us in two days later. We did manage to get the sex confirmed...now I can rest assured that we are definitely having a boy. Friday at the hospital Max didn't' want to cooperate so we have to go back again in a week so they can measure the heart and face. I look forward to seeing him again, hopefully he will move around a little more. Saturday I flew to Florida for the day to see my Grandma. My sister went with me so we had a great day of spending time with her, shopping at Target for more maternity and baby clothes and capped it off with a great dinner. Sunday was brutal, i got up at 4:30 to catch a 6am flight back to NY. I went straight to Greenwich and then to a friends graduation party. Decided I was too tired to head back in so I spent the night with family and headed back to work early this morning. I'm exhausted, but it was well worth it.

20 Week Belly Picture

How far along? 20 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: gain 3 from last week (total 14 pounds)
Body Changes? Body is expanding week to week.
Sleep: sleeping on my side
Best moment this week: Seeing my sister and grandma in Florida for a day. Sis and I bought some adorable outfits for Max.
Gender: Definitely a BOY.
Food Cravings: tomatoes, avocado and onion with vinegar. still can't stand guac though.
What I miss: sleep. I got none this weekend. Went to florida for less then 24 hours and am exhausted.
Symptoms: No headaches this week! Just very tired.
What I am looking forward to: Seeing Max again on Monday...he didn't cooperate at our last two appointments, so hopefully this time he will show is face and heart.
Milestones: It was confirmed we are having a little boy.

BIG Ultrasound...take 2

Turns out our little boy was a bit uncooperative this morning. He didn't want to turn into the position the tech needed him to, even after Mommy jumped, peed, stretched, coughed, drank warm apple juice and laid tilted down on my side for a while. I can already tell he is going to be a piece of work :) The tech was able to get 3/4 of what she needed but not the heart or face...so we all know what that means...yup, we have to go back a third time!!! Only this time I will be hopped up on sugar so Max won't be so lazy and will actually move his behind! I guess he does take after his parents haha The measurments they were able to take looked good, he now weighs 11 ounces and has a due date of dec. 6th.

Is it still a boy??

I am happy to report my lil man is still sporting a big set of balls haha It is 100%confirmed that we are having a little Max. Sadly they messed up our appointment which was supposed to be at the hospital, but nobody ever told us. So we have not been able to do the most crucial test to make sure his heart/brain etc. are healthy, but they were able to make me an appointment at the hospital for Friday at 8am. So the big ultrasound is still on. At least my doctor was able to confirm the sex to us and so the trip to the doctor was well worth it!

The BIG Ultrasound...

Today is the day....We are heading to our big ultrasound in a few hours. I'm excited and so nervous. I just want to know our lil one is healthy and has no heart/brain defects.
I am also very excited for Steve to see our baby's sex for the first time today. Last time he left the room because he didn't want to know. Watch them tell us they were mistaken and we are having a girl. Oh man, that would be a shocker. But I doubt that will happen...then again I have seen stranger things occur! I'll keep you posted when I get back!

Week 19

WOW...I'm almost half way there. Time really does fly when you're pregnant. It has been a VERY busy but good week. Steve had his cousins visiting from Argentina so we went to the shake shack with them one night. They don't speak English so we couldn't converse, but it was still nice to meet them. On Thursday we went out to Greenwich to have dinner with my family and drop off our car . Friday I had the worst migraine and had to go to bed after work. They are so painful, and it's even worse since I can't take anything for them. Saturday I spent the day with girlfriends which was great...but Sunday was the best. I went out to Greenwich early in the morning. The weather was just amazing. My father took me to look at a house that I fell in love with. I could totally see myself living there, and it's getting me so excited to finally move out of the city. Manhattan has been amazing, I have loved every minute of if, but I've had enough. I'm tired of the fast paced living and am looking for something a bit more relaxed. Steve and I both love the Greenwich area, it's where I grew up and it's still close enough to the city.
On another note...my hubby will finally be coming home for good August 10th! No more DC-NYC commuting for him...and we can finally enjoy the weekends and see our friends again. It has been a long three years of this, and we are both so over it. I'm counting down the last month and so excited to have him back.
Steve has decided to quit the weather business and will be looking for a job in finance. It won't be easy given the tough times, but in the long run it is the right decision. We also lowered the price of our apartment, we are ready to get it off our hands before the baby comes. Tonight we are having another open house, so lets hope someone will scoop it up. So much going on right now, but all good things for the most part. On Wednesday we have our big ultrasound...I'm nervous. I just want to know that our baby is healthy and measuring on target. I'll keep you posted!

19 Week Belly Picture

How far along? 19 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: lost 3 from last week (total 11 pounds)
Body Changes? Feel skinnier for some reason...probably all the healthy eating I've been doing. Have definitely popped...my mother-in-law hadn't seen me for two weeks and was shocked at how much my belly had grown.
Sleep: sleeping on my side
Best moment this week: Finding out my husband will finally be home August 10th for good. 3 years of this DC-NYC commute finally over and I get my man back!
Gender: BOY...but we will know for sure on Wednesday.
Food Cravings: none this week
What I miss: The beautiful weekend...what a great day Sunday was.
Symptoms: Still getting bad headaches, Friday was REALLY bad. Peeing even more then usual which is a huge pain in the you know what.
What I am looking forward to: Our big ultrasound appointment on Wednesday...I'm nervous.
Milestones: I went bike riding with my brother yesterday...first workout in ages haha

LOVE-HATE

People keep asking me what I love about being pregnant and what I don't...so here it goes:

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY PREGNANCY...

* I love my belly. Now that it looks like an actual pregnant belly instead of just a few too many beers and burgers.

* My husband. I honestly didn't think I could love this man any more then I already do, but I do. He has been amazing through all this, and seeing him so excited about our little baby just melts my heart.

* Feeling the baby move. Although I have an anterior placenta, i have felt Max kick once. It was the most incredible feeling. I can't wait to feel him again.

* Guilt free eating. Those who know me can attest to the fact that its never stopped me before haha However it is nice to not have to worry about my weight and looks all the time. Do I miss feeling sexy...absolutely. Do I enjoy a few months off from caring...yes.

* Friends and Family. They have all been so wonderful and supportive. Seeing Max's grandparents,aunts and uncles get soooo excited to meet our lil guy is an incredible feeling. Today my lil sister told me she planned on staying in town after Thanksgiving until the baby is born...it got me soooo excited I can't wait.

* Ultrasounds... At the beginning of pregnancy there is nothing more exciting then being able to see your little one on the monitor. Before you can feel him/her you can see them. It truly is a wonderful thing.

* Finding out the sex...it was sooo much fun guessing the sex and playing all the old wives tales. But in the end, finding out what we were having was an unforgettable moment for me. It has made my pregnancy that much better.

* Last but not least...buying things for my little guy. Nothing crazy, but just picking things out for later and dressing him. What girl doesn't love doing that!

THINGS I HATE ABOUT BEING PREGNANT...

* Feeling fat. Given that I wasn't working out right before we conceived I was never able to get into the routine once pregnant. I have always been an all or none kinda gal and so not being able to beat myself up at the gym is something I truly miss.

* Hormones. My first few months I was irritable. I figured I was having a boy b/c it seemed like i was hopped up on testosterone. Now, I'm the complete opposite. I cry during movies (I never do that) and get teary eyed very easily.

* Not Drinking. I'll admit it, I love my cocktail after work. Nothing better then a cold beer during the hot summer months. Or my cupli (glass of champagne) while getting all sexified before going out. My only savior is my "virgin" bloody mary...

* No Sushi. No hot baths, especially with my brutal backaches. I miss them.

* Pregnancy Brain. I had it real bad. I was forgetful, still am, and it made me dumb. Definitely made work a bit more difficult.

* Brutal headaches.

* Feeling tired. At least now I have my energy back during the day, but I can barely make it past dinner.

* Last but not least...the WORRYING. I guess that just comes with being a mom...but I'm always worried about my son and if he is okay in there.

I can't believe...

It's been four years since I lost my mother. I can tell that pregnancy has made me much more hormonal and therefore emotional. This has been a sad morning for me so far and usually I'm pretty good about keeping my emotions in check with this sort of thing. Today that doesn't seem to be the case.
Four years ago to the day I was sitting in the same seat at work when I got that devastating call from my sister telling me that our mom was missing and that suicide notes had been found. It was 8 in the morning and I was extremely tired from partying the night before, but when I heard those words on the other end of the phone I just knew it had finally happened. There was no doubt in my mind that our mother's pain finally became too much for her to bare. I can relive those next few hours as if they happened yesterday. The shock, pain, sadness and immense sense of loss will never be forgotten.
I guess what saddens me most is how much has happened to me in the past four years. I keep thinking "If only she could have made it a few more years things could have gotten so much better." I met the man I was going to marry two weeks before she passed away so suddenly. She never got to meet him, or our two dogs and see our gorgeous apartment we moved into. Two years later he proposed and we got married the year after that in a beautiful ceremony in Switzerland, which she would have loved. And now I'm pregnant with her first grandchild who she will never get to meet. I think she would be very happy with how my life turned out, it's just too sad she isn't here to enjoy it with me.
And now her youngest daughter is about to get married, and even though she isn't here in person, she is in spirit. She would be so proud of both of us and what we have accomplished and grown up to be. She would be very grateful for what Linda (our stepmom) has done for us and how wonderful she has been. I just hope she finally found the happiness she so much deserved.
Mammi, I know you are always watching over me. I talk to you whenver I need guidance and I'm grateful for all the love and support you have given me growing up. I hope I'll be half the mom you were. xoxo

This is the last photo of my mom and sister, taken four days before she passed away...

18 Weeks

Wohoooooooo!!! We got a new car for when the baby arrives! I absolutely love it! Leave it to us to say we are going to look at cars (only look since we don't need one until November) and end up driving away with a new car. It's a 2009 Audi A4 with black leather interior and plenty of space for the dogs and our little boy. Now we just need to find a place to put the car for a few months until we need it since we already have one in the city.
Steve and I had a very relaxing weekend in DC, and when he came home from work on Friday he said he had a surprise for me...my sweet husband went out and purchased Max's first seven outfits...it melted my heart. One says MVP of Mommy's heart...so cute.
Last night I got up to pee...one of my many routine visits to the bathroom. But when I got back to bed I started to feel small kicks on each side of my tummy...it was the weirdest feeling. Given that I have an anterior placenta I don't know if I can attribute the kicks to the baby or something else going on. All I know is I'm really looking forward to feeling my son move. Next week we have our big ultra sound, I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I hope Max is measuring on time and that he is healthy and I'm nervous they will tell me they were mistaken and my boy really has a va jay jay...yikes. That being said I can't wait to see the little man again!

18 Week Belly Picture

How far along? 18 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: gained 3 from last week (total 14 pounds)
Body Changes? Face, legs and butt getting chubbier by the week ugh I can see a big difference in my face and chest.
Sleep: sleeping on my side
Best moment this week: Getting a new car.
Gender: BOY
Food Cravings: fruit
What I miss: looking sexy
Symptoms: Still getting bad headaches...Still peeing a lot and always tired.
What I am looking forward to: still waiting to feel Max move although I felt small kicks at 4am but was too tired to really pay attention
Milestones: Getting a family car...i love it!

Nursery Purchase

Last night I purchased Max's bedding. I fell in love with this room the first time I saw it and am going to decorate our son's room just like it. I bought the bedding because it's seasonal and I didn't want it to disappear like so many other things have on the website. As I was falling asleep last night I was starting to get nervous about all the things we still have to do. There are so many things we need and yet we still haven't sold the apartment so it's difficult to decorate a nursery without knowing where you will be. At least I'm starting to get my act together now that we know we are having a boy. It makes things sooo much easier to plan. What to buy next is the question...