Baby Art

Just got our final piece of art for the babies room. How cute is this.



This will go right above the crib next to another piece we got at the Renegade Art Fair. Blake should be hanging them tonight so I will post some photos.

I am in love with all of the work on fall down tree, its super nursery friendly. If we had more wall space I would totally order more. The llama is by far my favorite.







All the work is for sale on etsy.

Cuz

Just got news that my cousin Lacey is pregnant! So happy for her and Jordan. How cute is this family?



Also a few of our not so responsible nights out in NY.I think our days of shotgunning beers are over. At least for a little while......
(ps my hair isn't greasy, that would be beer)

Lukewarm

Blake took this photo the other day in the car. Sierra has had just about enough of my belly taking over all her lap space.



Its only 9am and I'm trying to shake off this morning. Its far too early to be this grumpy but I am. I slept like shit and was having crazy cramping last night. The baby was moving around a lot last night but it felt really low like it was in my bladder and it actually hurt. Then on top of that I was super nauseous. I feel a little better this morning but still like I'm going to puke. I tried to take a bath last night and relax but there was an awful smell coming from my toilet. No there wasn't a poop or anything in it, its the water or something. It was so strong or at least it felt that way that I couldn't enjoy my bath. That and the drain is broken so it was draining. So I got out and cleaned the toilet, not exactly relaxing. Just wasn't a fun night. Then Blake and I got into an annoying talk which is still bothering me. I'm sure its just my overly sensitive hormones. I think there should be a place called pregnant island where you can go and sit on a hammock on a beach and get served cupcakes and milkshakes all day. That and massages every few hours. Yep I think I have the right idea.

Going to attempt to leave the house today. I got in my car yesterday and pulled out only to find they had blocked off the entire street to pave and there was no way out. So glad I wasn't giving birth or something. I just wanted to go to the market to get a few things so I could bake. Its the one thing I know will relax me. I'm not really supposed to be driving around alone but I figure a quick little trip to the market will be good for me.

Music has always been really important to me and this song has been playing over and over in my head the last few months. Jonah is by far my favorite musician in the world, anyone who knows me knows this and has been dragged to show after show. There is something about him and his music that has helped me in every single part of my life. Its incredibly honest and at times goofy which is the perfect mix for me. I thought this was the most appropriate version to post as there are 2 kids that get up at the end (I guess one is his goddaughter) Anyways, this song is about doing your own thing cause its what you want. It's not in a punk rock fuck you way its just about the way you wanna live your life. I think moving to suburbia and trying to fit into this suburban life has just made me think. Its not me. I'm not happy here and I don't think it has to be this way because its supposed to or because its the way a lot of people we know have done it. We all have our own version of happiness and what we want, how we want to raise our kids, etc and I'm definitely in that struggle now where I'm trying to figure it out.

Catch Up

I've neglected the blog for a few days so its time for a big ol catch up. Last week my mom came into town for 2 days. We were supposed to have our birthing rehearsal but it got moved till yesterday (more on that later) So Mom came with me to my midwife appt then we got lunch. We also went shopping for nursing bras. My first time in a maternity store! We ended up in a place called Destination Maternity. I think its part of those Pea in the Pod stores? I have to say it wasn't that awful. I'm really anti maternity clothing but there were a few cute things in there. I ended up finding a few great bras, a nursing shirt, and some cozy pj pants. Not gonna win hot wife of the year with these bras but they sure are cozy.




This weekend we got to meet baby Lily! The cutest little critter I've ever seen. It was so fun to see Andy and Lisa as parents. They were both so natural. I can't wait for our little ones to be able to play. It will be great when I can tell Lily stories about her dad, I have some good ones!! Starting with him peeing on my head when we were like 3......





Yesterday was our birthing rehearsal. It was just a big talk with my doula, Blake, and the moms about what to expect during the birth and how I want things to go. It really made things real, it was actually very exciting to talk about everything. I think it definitely helps with the whole fear thing. I know what I want and everyone around me is on the same page so it just makes me feel so calm. I can't believe at any time this little one could be here. I've had a few really good days where I haven't been too crampy or tired, probably cause I've been running around staying pretty active. At night I start to get crampy and that is when I tend to feel ick but its not super awful. I've been sleeping pretty good, I mean considering how massive I am. The new fun thing is drooling like crazy. It happened in the second trimester for a bit but now its back. My poor pillow. I think this late in the pregnancy is when you really see differences every single day. I still feel like I'm dropping, although I have dropped a lot I feel like I still have a ways to go. I do feel a ton of relief so I know its happening, just slowly.

baby carriers

I've been thinking about baby carriers today. I know I know my day is so exciting. We just placed an order for a baby bjorn but it won't be here for awhile cause Target screwed up and shipped it to an old LA address and now its on backorder. Stupid long story but eventually we will get it.



But I'm really thinking about getting a Moby but I can't tell if it will be too complicated for me and when I see people carrying their babies I always worry they will fall out. I like the idea of this when I'm doing little errands and not having to deal with a stroller. I know there are a billion brands out there like Moby. What do people use and like?



Ran around for a few hours doing errands and I actually feel pretty good. I haven't had any Braxton Hicks or cramps all day so that is a relief. Her kicks do hurt now since they are so strong but I don't mind as long as I know she is moving around in there. I've finally melted into the couch with a protein shake cause tennis is on. I love me some US Open. I can't wait to be able to play again. Blake and I got sorta obsessed with tennis a few years ago so we attempt to play. We are both really terrible at it but its still super fun.
I'm kinda sitting waiting by the phone for a call from a photo editor. She left me a message earlier about shooting two jobs in San Diego. I know I shouldn't do the jobs since I'm massive and could really have this baby at anytime but I can't turn them down especially since this mag pays pretty good. So I'm kinda in a shitty place and waiting for a call back to get the details. Blake has offered to help me with the shoots as long as they pay enough to make it worth it for him to take off work. In that case I know I would be fine, I would just need to shoot and direct which I can totally do with help, I hope. Ug so annoying I don't get work for months when I move here and then all of a sudden when I'm ready to have this baby things come in. So we'll see how intense the shoots are and hopefully they will work out and I won't give birth on set.

Phillip Toledano

I was so excited when I saw this post on What's the Jackonary today. He is a photographer/blogger who always has really good posts on photo things in NY. I couldn't let his blog go when I moved so when I saw the post today on photographer Phillip Tolendano I was so excited cause it was a baby project. If you are familiar with Phillip's work this is even more exciting cause he is an interesting guy with some good work.

The gallery is kinda strange, you have to click on the next photo in order to see it. The plate photo is by far my favorite (read the little text too, super funny). I love anything from a fathers perspective and especially someone that isn't a traditional photographer.

Check it out here

belly mapping

Thanks to a suggestion from a fellow mommy blogger (also a doula and hypnobabies instructor) I am now trying to map my belly in order to see where this critter is. The website is fascinating but at the same time the whole belly mapping is really overwhelming. So I've been carrying around this piece of paper and making marks on it and little notes. I really really hope she is in the right position but the fact that I'm feeling body parts across my belly button (that are not shoulders) makes me a little nervous. So time for visualizing her in the right position and doing all my other hypnobabies techniques to move her. I'm not going to freak myself out because she might still be moving and finding her spot. And for all I know she is in the correct position and I just can't figure out the difference between the body parts.

On friday we have our birth rehearsal. I'm not totally sure what that will entail but I am excited to prep myself a bit more and get as comfortable as I can with everything. I want to go into this birth with confidence and not a bit of fear so that I can have the best birth for me and the baby. Blake and both moms will be there too so it will be good for them to get more comfortable with all the terms we use and ideas that we have for this birth.

So last night we started the Perineal Massage. I know this is a really personal topic but since I had never heard of it before I figured I would talk about it. I feel like there are so many little things during pregnancy that people never mention cause they are too personal but the way I see it the more you know the less you fear. My friend who used Hypnobabies was the one who told me about this so at least when it came up in my classes I was prepared and had a little knowledge. The idea is basically to lube up the perineum (skin between the anus and vagina) so that you don't tear during birth. This is a really basic article about it but if you google it you can see videos too but its not rocket science so its pretty easy to do.
http://www.birthingnaturally.net/cn/technique/perineal.html
Unfortunately I can't quite bend my body to do it, I mean I can if I try but its uncomfortable so Blake gets the honors. I think a huge part of being pregnant and sharing it with your husband is letting go of any modesty that you have. Not that I was ever a super modest person but I think in order to get super comfortable you have to. At least this is my experience. I always joke that he will never be able to look at me the same but lets be honest, he's a guy and he will forget all the gross things that have happened during this time and hopefully only take them as beautiful natural things that happen during pregnancy. Right???
Anyways so back to the massage. I don't know if it actually works, I've read testimonials that say it helped but the way I see it, it can't really hurt. I guess during birth you can have the birth assistant doing the massage as well, using a compress with olive oil. According to my doula she thinks that is a very effective way to avoid tearing. I'm sure I will never look at olive oil the same way but we'll see if it works........