31 Weeks

Very exciting week!  We got our 3D/4D ultrasound of our little bird.  He has chubby cheeks, my lips and his daddy's forehead and eyebrows.  Weighing in at 5 lbs. already, yes already, he's a big boy even before he's out.  Did you doubt it?  I'm 5'9" and daddy is 6'5".

I've been reading everything I can get my hands on about natural childbirth.  Ina May Gaskin is one of my favorites.  If I lived closer, I would give birth at her birthing center called The Farm.  The Farm is a birthing co-op that has been around since the 70's where mid-wives, doulas and natural birth advocates have made waves in the birthing community.  A must read, even if you're not pregnant.  

In honor of all of my lovely, hippy, Earth Mama, spiritually-connected, open, and courageous preggos out there, here is 31 Weeks.

~Favorite new purchase... fringed vest from Buffalo Exchange~

Week 30

This week was my baby shower.

My sisters and mom put together the most adorable day.  We got our hair done at the DryBar in Orange County, and off we went to the shower.

Walking down the stairs, I was blown away.  Here are some pics and week 30.

~Week 30~

~Notice the OSU typo... nice~

~The Wishing Tree~

~Mustaches galore~

~Minature burgers and hotdogs, french fries in shot glasses, tomato soup with a mini grilled cheese wedge, chocolate mousse topped with a donut fritter, milk in a shot glass with a paper thin cookie atop~

~Baby Henny signature cocktail with blue rock candy~

Week 29

In this whirlwind of a week, I got A LOT done.

Babymoon 2012 to San Francisco was a total hit!  We walked, discovered, laughed and ate our little hearts out.  We stayed at the Hilton San Francisco in Union Square and had the best time taking the subway, shopping and finding new little places all around the city.  I think our two favorite places were Flour + Water and Dynamo Donuts.  Rumor has it that not even Steve Jobs could get a table at Flour +Water and I am witness to the fact that the line starts around the block at 5pm.  They don't open until 5:30.  Dynamo Donuts was the most insane concoction of donut bliss I've ever dreamed up.  They had donuts like Maple and Bacon, Guiness and Pear, and Passion Fruit Milk Chocolate donuts.  Everything is hand-made and with natural ingredients, and it is well worth the trek to 24th St. from Union Square.  We worked our way through 5 different amazing different flavors.  You heard me... 5!  We loved their fresh-squeezed OJ, decaf Americanas and a Corgi named Chicken to greet us as we came in.

~Joel'a favorite was the Caramel Del Sel~

~Caramel Del Sel, Passion Fruit Milk Chocolate, Maple and Bacon, Guiness and Pear, and Chocolate Rosewater~

But it was bittersweet.  Halfway through, I realized that this would be our last little trip with just the two of us.  In 11 more weeks, we'll be a thriving family of 3 and completely in over our heads.  Yikes!

Maternity photo shoot is booked and all ready to go.  Pictures to follow.  But for now.  Here is 29 Weeks.

~Had my first Braxton-Hicks contraction tonight~

~Thump, thump, thump~

Week 28

Swollen with joy!

Swollen with emotion!

And just plain swollen!

Starting to feel big as a whale.  Otherwise, all is great with the baby and myself.  Strong heartbeat, my shower is next week YAY!, Baby Henny is growing, growing, growing.

Here is 28 weeks.

~Measuring 31 cm~

Week 26

Here is to Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper Kettle Chips!  Here's to Almond Butter!  Here's to Jelly Beans and any hard candy I can get my hands on!  Because in 12 weeks, it'll all be over.  I'll have deflated, my child on the outside of my body, and I'll go back to my salads, point counting, running, and wine.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I LOVE being pregnant.  So, yes!  I'll go ahead and enjoy the next 12 weeks of cravings and try not to be too hard on myself.

Here is week 26.  Cheers!

~Was that my abdominal wall pulling apart?~

~Now not able to see my feet~

Week 25

This week I keep finding myself in an interesting state of mind, thinking of something I never thought I'd think... I never want my baby to have to do without anything.  I always I thought I'd be a hard-core, drill-sergeant, rule-following parents who makes their child work their fingers to the bone for everything they had, just like my husband and I had to.  But this is not the case (at least this week).  I'm finding that I want him to have the best of everything, go to the very best schools, have the best opportunities, toys, friends, play on the best sports teams, eat the best food and be the brightest in school.  I mean, the elite, the most prestigious, the most glorious of things the world has to offer.

And so I've now realized, no one really thinks of these types of things until they're faced with the reality of becoming a parent, but once one does, and he/she has the means to give your children more than you ever had... you simply give it to them.

Now, I'm starting to understand those 16-year-old kids who get a brand new Range Rover for their birthday from daddy.  Daddy probably just didn't have a brand new Range Rover growing up and wanted to give more than he ever had to his kids.  And so I find myself in the same state of mind.  Now, I'd never give my kid a brand new car for his birthday, but my point is, I'm starting to understand how selfless and act being a parent is... not because it has to be, but because you want it to be.  It is a truly selfless act that simply transforms you... I mean, I assume.

So, as I sit here and type this, while my husband bangs out Katy Perry's "California Girls" on the piano (read: very interesting version of the song), I picture us becoming better versions of ourselves, as we strive to give the very best to our unborn son, and lots of "yes"es to follow us in our future.  Yes!  We have prepared for many years for our child's arrival, so that he will always have more opportunity than we did growing up.  Yes! He will have to work hard for what he gets.  Yes!  He will stand out from the crowd.  Yes!  He will be an inspiration to the world.  Yes!  He will be powerful and outrageous, just like his mommy and daddy.  Yes!  I will have a very hard time saying "no" to this little prince.

I sure hope I can find a fine balance between the yes's and no's.

Wish us luck!

Arts and Krafts

On the first day of school, you go around the room and rhyme your name with another word, so that everyone remembers you.  In 9th grade, I was Krafty Katie.  I was Krafty Katie again in 11th, and once again in college.  Until now, I had no claim to that fame... but now I do.

Here is what I did this weekend.

I took these gold, square, modern-ish mercury vases that I had from my wedding in 2008.  I've been looking for a purpose for them for... uh, 3 years now, and warped an idea I saw when strolling through Crate and Barrel.  The original were white branches in a tall glass vase.  I took the same idea and played with it using my vases.

~Discarded branches from the backyard~

~Non-toxic, silver paint $3 at Michael's, painted branches with a paint brush and trimmed them down to fit~

~$3 Foam from Michael's and cut it to fit~

~$2 Moss from Michael's,  filled to the top to cover any foam~

~Placed them 4 inches apart on top of our country-style 1960's piano to modernize it a bit~

There you have it.  I spent about $10 total, used some backyard items, and used what I had lying around.  These are going to be so pretty with Christmas lights or ornaments for the holidays.