Another year passes....

Without my mother. It's been five years since she passed away and it feels like an eternity. So much has happened since we last spoke, since she last rubbed my back and kissed me goodbye. Being a mother myself now there are so many times I wish she were around to watch my son grow up. I know she is always with me, it would just be nice to see her and to be able to hold her like my son holds me. I love you Mammi, more than you will ever know and I hope you finally found peace.

From Long to Short...

Ever since I had Max my hair has been falling out in clumps. I can literally pull sections out during showers and it is so messy and annoying. So what else is a girl supposed to do but cut it off...and so I did.

My long hair before I cut it:





My new short hairdo:

No words needed....

Maxi learning to sit:




My lil man sleeping...I hope he feels better soon

Day 4 of Ferberizing...

And wow what a difference....tonight we bathed him and he was totally fine and so we brought him downstairs to hangout with us since it was only 6pm. He yawned twice and so we brought him to his room where he didn't cry for the first few minutes. He did start to cry after some time had passed so Steve went into the room after 10 minutes....

Let him cry for ten minutes....check
(He stopped crying once in there)

He cried for a few more minutes and passed out...this was by far the easiest night and we seem to be progressing rather nicely. This really has been a great method, although I still have to see if it will be like this tomorrow night...only time will tell.



Little Man on my monitor passed out on his side...now that he knows how to sleep on his side he prefers it this way...

Day 3 of Ferberizing

Here we go again, day three of sleep training. He ate 6 ounces at 5:45 pm, got a bath after that and started getting fussy so down he went.

Day 3

Let him cry for 10 minutes...check
(he was quiet when i went in and put my hand on his belly)

As soon as I left he started screaming like cazy

Let him cry for 12 minutes...check
(I went in after 10 minutes, I just couldn't take him crying anymore, he went quiet)

Left the room and he is still quiet...hmmm this can't be...ah, there he goes again!

He only cried for a few more minutes, played in his bed a bit and fell asleep. Wow, who would have thought this stuff really works! I'm curious to see if tomorrow gets even better!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

My lil man sound asleep...thanks to my hubby I get to see him even at the office.

Prayer

My Grandmother Nani (fathers side) is in surgery today. They are trying to close or minimize an artery in her stomach that has expanded. If it bursts it could be fatal, and at her age, the 4.5 hour surgery is considered dangerous. I can't stop thinking about her and I am praying all goes well. Please keep her in your prayers.

***UPDATE: The operation was a success, they said it was found just in time, her stomach had filled with blood. She will be in intensive care for two days...I'll call as soon as she can speak.

Las Vegas...what a trip

The three sisters:



This past weekend was my little sisters bachelorette party in Las Vegas. My older sis and I planned it for months and I was really looking forward to it. Sadly mother nature had other plans for me. As most of you know, the Northeast got hit with an awful snowstorm and so my flight on Friday got cancelled. Let me preface this by saying I was originally leaving on Thursday but had to change my flight when my boss told me I couldn't take Friday off. Having rebooked a flight for Saturday morning I was feeling better, however that didn't last long. It got cancelled as well...that is where the mess began. We called all the airlines and checked out all the surrounding airports...from DC to Boston etc, and all flights were booked. I was sooo upset, luckily my husband found a flight to Cali and a connecting flight to Vegas on Jetblue. It cost a bloody fortune, some of which my boss offered to pay for making me come into work.
I got to the airport on Saturday, so nervous since I had no room for error. I kept praying to my mom and Sergio asking them to help me. My flight was delayed and so I bought an extra ticket from Cali in case I missed my connection. Luckily I didn't. When I stepped off the plane in California I just knew my mom and Sergio were looking out for me. This is what was waiting for me as I walked off the plane:



After having flown all day and not eating anything I finally arrived and rushed to the hotel. My sister and I got the room ready, I showered and got dressed in record time and at 8pm Olivia's friends came to the room (we told Olivia to wait 10 min before coming).

The bachelorette:



Olivia, not knowing I was coming knocked on the door and when I opened she didn't recognize me. She just looked at me until she realized who I was...that is when the water works began. We ended up having a wonderful evening and the little bachelorette looked great. It was so nice seeing my sisters and her friends, even if the trip was so short. Luckily my trip back home was so much fun. The Canada-USA Olympic Hockey Final was on and it was the BEST game ever. The entire plane was watching and we were all cheering and screaming. It was great. We even had one of the Jersey shore people on our plane...Jwoww looks even better in person. As nice as the trip was, the best part was coming home to my son. I missed him more than I thought I would xoxo

The party planners and two older sisters:

My Blog made into a Book

A long time ago I decided I wanted to capture my pregnancy in this blog so one day my children could read about it. As many of you know I lost my mother when I was 25 years old and therefore when I became pregnant I couldn't turn to her and ask her about her experiences. I have so many questions for her regarding her pregnancies and what she went through and I vowed to myself I would make a memento for our children so they would know how our story began. I found a great website that converts blogs to journals and so I ordered mine. I just got it in the mail and it turned out beautifully! I am now going to continue writing about our life and will always turn them into journals...it's a photo album and journal all in one. Here are some pictures of the book I made for our children. I really hope someday they will appreciate reading it, I know I do.

My dedication to our children:



One of the Table of Contents pages:



Two of the 104 pages:

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. --Cynthia Ozick

I love that quote. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year (Christmas is a very close second) because my entire family is together. Most of my siblings live scattered across the country, so it's very rare we are all in the same room together. This year both Steve's family and mine will be together, so that makes it even more special and I'm sooooo excited to see everyone and eat some good food.
My older sis already arrived with my two nieces, one of whom I met for the first time on Saturday. Words can't describe how adorable they are, and watching the older one grow into such a beautiful little girl is priceless. I can't get over how cute she is and it makes me even more excited to meet my own son.
Pregnancy has become very difficult lately, more so on an emotional level. My hormones are all out of whack and it's hard to be myself. I'm anxious and very sensitive and it's driving me bananas. I know I only have 13 more days left, but those of you who have been pregnant know...at this point it feels like it's been forever and you're just so ready to get it over with. I think I just need a few days off from work to relax and get myself back in order.
Saturday night after Steve and I got home we went down to our basement and played ping pong on our new table together. Afterwards we retreated into his man cave and he turned on our song from our wedding night. We got up and danced, and it was one of those moments that just made me love him that much more. It dawned on me that this would be one of the last times it would just be him and I...that our lives are going to to be forever changed in a few days and so I relished every moment. It also made me realize how truly grateful I am for everything that I have. So on this holiday, when we have so much to be grateful for I'd like to say what I truly appreciate:

- I'm grateful I have the most adoring, incredible husband. He truly is amazing and makes me a better person.
- I'm grateful we are having a healthy son whom I'm sooooo excited to meet and shower with love.
- I'm grateful for having the family that I do. I don't know what I'd do without them, they mean everything to me.
- I'm grateful to have the friends I do, and the older I get the more I appreciate them.
- I'm grateful for our two dogs who can snuggle like no other.
- I'm grateful to have my health, a job and a wonderful new home.

So on this thanksgiving, I wish everyone a wonderful holiday and only the best. xoxo

"Baby, are you ready for Max?"

Last night while Steve and I were taking our evening bath together (yes, it is one of our favorite rituals, especially now that we have a huge bathtub), he asked me if I was ready for our son. Of course I said yes, to which he responded he was too. Then we looked at one another and started laughing...no words needed to be spoken, we both knew we need more time, even if it's just a week. I guess one is never fully prepared for something of this magnitude, especially when you don't have much experience with it. Even the smallest thing like unpacking a breast pump and trying to figure out what needs to be washed and how seems daunting. I have never changed a diaper in my life, nor have I had any experience with a newborn. But I'm sure I'm not the only new mom to feel this way. All I can say is I'm sooo relieved and excited to go through this experience with my husband by my side. I know he and I will make great parents, that is the only thing I have no doubts about. I can't wait to experience parenthood together and to welcome our son into this world...someone who represents all the love he and I share for one another.

In a half hour I'm heading to my doctor to see if I've progressed at all and to see if he has turned yet. Yesterday I could have sworn he had since I was feeling kicks on my left side only and my back contractions were gone. However as luck would have it I have felt some movement on my right ribcage today...so who knows. I will also be getting the results of my strep B test back. I keep getting comments from people that my belly looks hugeeee and that a c-section is in my future due to his size...hmmm lets hope not. I'll keep you posted.

First Trip to L & D

Steve and I made our first trip to L&D last night. I had gone to the bathroom at work and noticed that my undies were completely drenched. It didn't smell like pee and so I decided to call the doctor and just get some reassurance. When asked what the baby's movement was, I told her he had been moving less the past two days (which I had told Steve the previous day) and that I couldn't count ten movements in an hour like I used to. I just figured he was running out of room and it wasn't a big deal. The nurse became alarmed and told me to go straight to the hospital to be monitored, which of course caught me off guard and left me a bit shaken.

So Steve and I went, they hooked me up to monitors so they could check Max's heartbeat and movement. Our son was great! They made sure I wasn't leaking amniotic fluid, which I wasn't, and then performed an ultrasound (Steve got to see him) and vaginal exam (which hurt)to make sure he had enough amniotic fluid surrounding him, which he did. Here comes the kicker...Turns out 90% of women who have leakage like I did pee themselves without noticing!!!!!! Yes, I peed myself. She said since we drink so much water, and our bellies are so big now, we can accidentally pee our pants and not notice. Of course my lovely husband won't let me live this one down haha On a side note though, when they were measuring his heartbeat, they also commented on how i was having small consistent contractions...I guess my body is preparing for labor, whenever that may be:)

H1N1 to Hair coloring...

I had my doctors appointment this morning...it was the first time I saw her since I got diagnosed with GD. Maximiliano is measuring 31 weeks which is right on target. He seems to be of average size which is great and my blood pressure and pee were fine as well. She said my numbers definitely showed I have GD but that I'm doing great, and just have to keep up the good work and really watch what I eat. I went in with several questions today...and this is what she said:

Questions:
Whats her opinion on the H1N1 flue shot, and should i get it?
Answer:
Absolutely YES. She highly recommend Steve and I both get it. She said she usually isn't a flu shot freak, but thinks this year it's very important and sees no risks whatsoever. So we will be getting one, so the antibodies can be passed on to Max.

Question:
What will happen when Steve and I move to Greenwich next month and I go into labor...will I have enough time to get to the hospital?
Answer:
Absolutely. First baby especially will be much longer and I will have hours before my first contraction and the birth of Max. What a relief!

Question:
Can I color my hair...I'm in dire need of it!
Answer:
Absolutely

Question:
What is her rule on inductions, how far past my due date would she let me go before she would do it.
Answer:
Not far, probably not even a week since I'm a high risk pregnancy. That is great news since I know he will come around my due date now.

Question:
How is Max positioned in my belly right now?
Answer:
Head down, his butt to my upper left side, and feet to my upper right side...he is curled up.

Those are just a few that I had...I'm relieved everything is looking great. I weighed in at 145 pounds which puts me at having gained a total of 26 pounds so far. My next appointment will be in two weeks.

Babies R Us Coupons PDF inside

I dont know how to make it so you can click on it, but here are the new Babies R Us Coupons, valid 8/28-9/17.

http://trus.imageg.net/graphics/corp/082809-bru-cpns-email.pdf?EDID=4GLU57-IEMVV-H9MPHM-K926QY-HNJ3M-v1

Crazy Hormones

My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she’s borderline irrational.
~So what’s your question?

Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy. I know it shall pass and it's only temporary, but it's super frustrating. Last night I had my first hormonal breakdown during dinner with the family over nothing. Those who know me well enough know I don't get frazzled too easily and can hold my own during a discussion. Well that doesn't seem to be the case lately. Not only have I shown up to work an hour late thinking I was on time, consistently ordered the wrong drink at Starbucks, and forgotten simple tasks at the office, but now I'm an emotional donkey. To add insult to injury I weighed myself last night and instead of gaining the one pound a week they say I should, I've been gaining two...great! No wonder my back has been killing me. Let's see what the doctor says today when I go in for my checkup...should be interesting.

Up until now I wanted my old body back, now I just want my sanity! I hope my husband survives this emotional roller coaster I'm on...poor guy. Luckily he is super sweet and understanding and felt really bad for upsetting me last night, even though in reality I was upset over nothing. Fun times!

Will it Sell?

Well, it all comes down to tonight. Will our buyer who put in a bid for our apartment still like it and all our furniture before he signs the contract and puts down a deposit. Tonight we will find out. He is coming over at 6pm to look at it again, and to say I'm nervous is an understatement. I know our apartment is great, I have loved living there for the past four years and have so many fond memories of the place. But now that we are four months away from Max's arrival, the timing of this offer couldn't come at a better time. Keep your fingers crossed that we can close the deal! It's almost too good to be true!

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!

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 :)

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.