memorial

The weather has been perfect today.  I’m wrapping up the weekend by making potato salad and wishing we had planned a tad earlier to get our grill.  Because a burger? Fish? Anything? Tastes yummy-licious on a grill and I equate long weekends, or any weekend of the summer to grilling.  I can’t wait until we get ours.

On the pregnant woman front: my back hurts, my bra is tight, and I’m currently waiting for Bub to return from the store with a new shredder which he has been talking about getting for a while.  It’s the little things.  Me? I assume buy new shoes, which I did, by the way.  Bub and I don’t really agree on my footwear selections.  He thinks anything that causes a blister or is fun is not practical and therefore not a good purchase.  I say pain or not, sometimes you have to endure hell to get to paradise, so what’s a blister or two or three (as was the case with my last pair of shoes) when the results are cute and now comfortable? A little breaking in? Is always necessary.

Between now and Thursday I need to squeeze in a pedicure and then I think I’m ready to hit Cali.  It’ll be my first trip there.  Bub is meeting me so my comfort level about traveling while pregnant? Is much less than when I went to London.  I’m going to be with the boss for the first couple of days in LA inside a convention center.  Then Bub meets me and we hit Santa Barbara.  I’m really excited because our hotel? It looks pretty fantastic from the site and I just want to swim and chill and shop and eat and walk around.  It’s our babymoon so I’m hoping for some romancing without the wine…! 

We made some good progress on home projects this weekend with plenty left to do…but that’s always the case, isn’t it?

So I must be off.  Potato salad is calling me. 

Oh, and happy summer.  It’s here.  Thank God.

Love,

itsy bitsy mama

belly, belly everywhere

So I haven’t really kept up with reading alot of the blogs I usually do.  I’m slammed at work and I’d rather be researching pediatricians than licensing book content.  And here I am procrastinating further and writing here.  I’ll catch up and get back on track with you all soon.  For now, I wish you lovely weekends filled with sunshine.  This is my favorite long weekend of the year, hands down…summer has arrived; I can smell it.

Without further ado, (and yes, I was late for work so that I could squeeze in a few photo opps):

The Belly:

 

 

cloud 9

Today was a big doctor’s day.  I had my glucose test, which I passed with flying colors, prior to that I had an ultrasound.  Yay, my placenta moved (no, really, yay!) but the baby is breech so we get another ultrasound very close to The Birth. !!!!!!!!!!!! I booked appointments for every two weeks through July which leaves the weekly August appointments to schedule… Again, !!!!!! My little bug’s eyes were open, as was his (I am convinced it’s a he!) mouth.  I love him, her, it, bug, baby, SO much.  It’s amazing that there is this thing inside of me that I am nourishing with my decaf iced drinks, sweets, carbs, oh and healthy stuff too (I’m trying!)

Thank you to those who participated in the name game.  All good suggestions.  Bub has read them too. 

We still have no frigging clue what to name him/her. 

Last night we already got into discussions as to who the godparents will be.  It got heated.  We each have a sister.  I think I know which one is going to be the godmom.  Maybe the one who goes to church each week? We have a hard time doing that. 

I am currently soaking up what juice I have left in my laptop in the car.  I am awaiting an appointment with my dentist.  And? I had pasta with pesto (I told you I was eating carbs!) about an hour ago.

I don’t think my dentist is going to appreciate that.  The green is gone from my teeth, but the garlic breath? Not so much…I am not equipped to brush before the cleaning.  Hey, that’s why I’m going there, right?

Love,

itsy bitsy mama

say my name, say my name

It has become a thing to do.

A chore.

But not a chore as in cleaning the toilet.

What do we name our baby?

The books aren’t helping. 

What letter do you start with? What gender do you start with? How will that sound with [last name]?

It’s hard.

Yet it’s the question we are asked the most right after, “Are you having a boy or girl?”

We each have a boys and girls names list on the refrigerator.  Trouble is? I’m eh on most of mine and double eh on most of Bub’s.

What to do?

We scoured our two name books last night.  For me, it’s about association. 

“What about Clarence?”

“Clarence Thomas.”

Then we move on to the next one.

Responses range from “I knew a girl named _____ and she was a hoochie” to “Too popular.”

I am not the type of person who knew at age 9 what I wanted my baby to be named, although I’ve given my teddy bear and doll names a second thought.  But…eh.  Teddy was Jimmy and Dolly was Sabrina.

This is hard. 

So, those of you who do read me–lurkers or not–please share your favorite boy and girl names. 

We need all the ideas we can get!

Love,

itsy bitsy mama

new week

I was busy this weekend but not quite productive as the laundry didn’t get folded, the carpet didn’t get vacuumed, nor did the dishes get washed and dried.  Oh well.

Today our crib arrives! Wahoo.  I hope to get home tonight to find Bub working on putting it together even though we’re not quite ready to set it up in the nursery that now looks like a book drive. 

We have books all over the floor in piles.  Some will be given away, others will be kept.  Some were gifts, some are from college, some were found at bargain book shops for little cash. 

Bub asked how he does this.  How does one figure out how to pick which books to keep and which to give away? I’m not so sure there’s a method I say.  He wants a rule.

So the chores along with the book organizing are here to tackle this week.  That, and the finishing touches on the painting of our bedroom, and the selection of which glider to get while they’re on sale.

It’s been a while since I’ve taken any photos of the belly.  The one which more and more strangers stare at and comment on.  That’s just fine with me.  In there is a rumbler, a kicker of strong proportions.  I encourage baby to kick. 

After all, hitting isn’t condoned in public.

Happy Monday.

Love,

itsy bitsy mama

care

I went to my first daycare interview today.

I dressed up.  I arrived on time.  I wondered if I parked in an okay spot.  (Turned out to be okay.)

A friendly woman and long-time helper (assistant) greeted me.  I was welcomed by her warmth and by a smell of veggies rotting in the kitchen.  Mmmm.

No children found.  Anywhere.

The kitchen outside of the stink? Spotless.

A cute bench/breakfast bar was shown and two vacant highchairs pointed out.

Next I was escorted to the bathroom where several toilet coverings especially for tots were lying.  Clean.  Phew!

A changing table was found at arm’s length.

The house is similar to that of one we would have looked at if it were for sale: vintage, with many nooks and crannies, lovely.  Brookline-esque, if there is such a thing.

We wander into the playroom.  A bright blue (scoring points already!) light-filled room with a television bigger than two closets at our house put together was shown off.  The television, well, it was off.  Toys were shelved neatly away.  We are now distant from the veggie stink.  Ahhh.

But where are the kids? I hear something!

Three-season porch…there they are! No infants are currently enrolled.  Only a handful of toddlers were mingling.  So adorable.  Their staring eyes showing off that they can put their spring jackets on all by themselves and tell us the colors that they are.

And then I’m lead to a large one story deck with a fence.  They’ll be taking a walk soon…I wanted to stay; it looked like it couldn’t hurt…

One cat, but the damn smell.  What gives?

I survived my first interview.  It felt good to get one under the belt.  I was too nice.  I didn’t ask enough questions. 

Well, there’s always the second interview.  Or, maybe I’ll employ myself with the job full-time.

a letter

One of my many pregnancy-related emails said that a good activity for this week is to write an open letter to baby.  I’ve decided that since I abandoned my journal a long time ago, that this was the next best place to write it. 

Dear sweet baby,

Mommy is getting used to talking to you when you kick (or punch as I like to call it).  I feel the need to talk to you whenever you make yourself known down there.  Well, you’ve been known to me for a while.  My belly button is on its way out and I’ve dressed you up in lovely maternity clothes, I swear. 

True, I’ve been uncomfortable here and there, but it’s not your fault.  You’re trying to grow and spread your wings.

I imagine what the day will be like when I meet you.  I’m pretty sure I’ll cry.  I know what my first words to you will be.  Something about love and something about protecting you for the rest of my life.

I imagine us taking walks and soaking up the sunshine.  I think to what will come when you grow up.  Will you look more like your father or act more like me?

I want you to be a happy baby.  I want you to tell me when you’re down so I can erase all bad feelings.

I’m scared to death to be a good mommy.  I’ve already acted this out by being stressed about everything I eat which is everything you eat.  I just want to teach you that although the world is messed up in spots, that it’s really a place that you can come to embrace in your own way.

We’ll give you a good beginning with tons of love.  Your father is so excited for your arrival.  I know he just can’t wait to get his hands on you and give you a squeeze and a big kiss.

Me? Well, I’ve had a bit more fun.  You’re in my tummy reminding me that you’re doing your thing and not to forget it!

Baby, just tell me–are you a boy or girl? Daddy and I are trying to pick out a good name for you and it’s proven to be a difficult task.

See you soon.

Lots of love,

mommy