Cohosh Tea, Enemas, and Boiling Your Pee...OH MY!

Maternity Leave has commenced. Still no baby (obviously), but due date is Thursday. Just playing the waiting game. Feeling good. Not feeling too anxious--just excited and nervous about the unknown, but I know I have a GREAT support team and I'm in good hands.

I thought we'd start out this soggy, Fall Seattle day with some interesting "facts" people have shared with me, or friends of mine throughout our pregnancies. "Surefire ways" to tell the gender of your babe, how much hair your kiddo may don, all about breastfeeding, and of course ways to get labor under way.

Some I'm sure you've heard before:

1) The more heartburn you have during pregnancy, the more hair your baby will have when he or she is born.

2) If you hold a pendulum above your belly, if it swings in a circular motion, you're having a girl. If it swings to and fro...a boy, of course!

3) Breastfeeding is much more painful for blonde women.

4) Redheads bleed more, so they need Pitosin during labor.

5) If you carry your baby high in your belly, it's a girl. If you carry low, a boy.

6) If the baby's heart rate is below 140 beats per minute, most definitely a boy. Above that--girl all the way.

7) And my ALL TIME FAVORITE: If you boil cabbage in your own pee and it turns purple, you are having a girl. (Wait...is that purple or green cabbage...and wait...whaaaaaaat???)

A list of things you should most "DEFINITELY" do to get labor started:

1) Eat spicy foods

2) Take castor oil, or maybe a nice relaxing enema. (Um, no. On both accounts, NO!)

3) Cohosh Tea (not really proven to do anything, nor particularly safe)

4) Parsley... eat lots of parsley. (mmmm....cups and cups of parsley)

5) Eggplant Parmesan (Not sure the thought behind this...but if you insist)

6) Take a bouncy ride in an SUV (Oh, okay. Why didn't I think of that. Shake the baby out!)

Not surprising that these old tales exist...what does surprise me is to what extent people actually believe these to be true. I have really enjoyed just sitting back and letting people give their advice. What's more fun is deciding who really stands behind what they're saying, and who is just passing along what they've heard.

I won't pretend to be an expert, but I feel like I have a pretty good BS meter. From what I've sussed out, and also discussed with my Midwife, there's really only a couple of things that are safe and/or have much medical credibility to possibly getting labor underway. Here's the very short list:

Sex

Nipple Stimulation

These things "work" because they produce specific hormones that your body produces when it goes into labor and starts contractions. Walking is another one that is often recommended. Though it seems that walking itself probably doesn't induce labor--rather it seems to help move the baby down into the pelvis.

Other things that have been interesting are people's theories on my size. I had two separate instances of people asking me if I am having twins. When I said no, one of them followed up by saying I was definitely going to have a huge baby then. But other people have told me separately "you're all baby--the rest of your body is totally normal". Oh...thank you. I'm happy to report that I am normal! I honestly haven't been upset by these comments...I mean, not that I want people to walk around telling me how giant I am, or that I really do look normal. Mostly it just makes me laugh. I will admit I do get a certain satisfaction out of giving a vague and sarcastic response.

People's bodies vary so much, and every woman has a different pregnancy experience. In my opinion, the VERY BEST thing you can do for a pregnant woman is just to tell her how wonderful she looks! :)

P.S. What About the Anniversary Times!

Oh, and PS--Cory and I had the chance to get away to celebrate our 5 year anniversary two weekends ago. We decided it would be best to stay close to home and found a fantastic B&B in LaConner called The Wild Iris. It could not have been a more perfect one-night getaway. Much needed, too. We had an amazing stay, amazing food, explored LaConner, and stopped in to see my sister and baby Julia on our way home. It's been an incredible 8 years together, and so happy to have hit our 5th year of marriage. I'm a pretty darn lucky gal!

Full Term, Baby!

Tomorrow marks my 39th week of pregnancy. I really can hardly believe that. Time is such an interesting phenomenon. How it can feel so drawn out at times, and then suddenly here I am at the end of my pregnancy.

How am I feeling, you ask? Pretty darn good, really. I am tired. Very easily tired. I'm ready for a break from work (just 3 more days to go). I'm a little nervous about going through labor. I'm very excited to meet our little girl. I'm super duper in love with my amazing husband who has been so incredibly supportive through it all, and has looked out for me since day one. I'm feeling very loved, and lucky with all the wonderful people around me. I have the most amazing support of friends and family I could ever ask for. My moods change easily...I get cranky quickly--especially with the tiredness. But I think overall I'm handling it okay. Haven't caused any heartache that I'm aware of! I really have had a relatively easy pregnancy. Sure, there has been discomfort, but I haven't had any major hiccups, and for that I am VERY grateful.

It's funny this whole idea of labor. It's strange knowing it could happen anytime. It could happen today. It could happen in 3 days, a week, or as long as 3 weeks away. (Oh please, please, please not 3 weeks away!!) If it goes to 3 weeks without signs of labor, that would mean I'd have to be induced, and I'd like to avoid that for sure! It's very strange not knowing when to expect it, or also really what to expect. You practice in birthing classes, and women share their stories, and you read about what labor will be like. But every woman is so different, and you have no real reference for it. So the unknown is strange. It's simulatneously scary and exciting. It does kind of remind me in a way of the days leading up to running my marathon. You spend a long time preparing, and waiting, and anticipating. You have some idea what it will be like, but don't know for sure. The marathon was harder than I thought in some ways. Easier in others, and also full of unexpected challenges. It will be interesting to see what my birth story will be.

In the final days leading up to the arrival of our baby girl I'll be trying to relax and focus on staying rested and in good health. Maybe take in a movie, or a dinner date with Cory, and visiting with friends. Our house is ready, the room is ready. The dogs are going to be a challenge no matter what. I'm sure things will come up that we need after baby's arrival, but we've gone over our checklists a million times and we feel as ready as I think we can be. My Mom will stay with us the first week of her arrival, and Cory's Mom will be here the week following. I will be grateful to have the help--I know we both will. Cory will take a week of vacation time when the baby arrives, and then go back to work right away. Wishing he could take more time off, but since we work at the same company we'd have to split our FMLA and we want to be sure to maximize our time at home. So he will take another week off at Christmas time so we can spend some extended time with our families. I think this will work well...still wish he could have more time off, but grateful that he does get the paid time off.


We'll keep you all posted on what comes next...and if I find myself sitting at home waiting, and waiting, and WAITING for her arrival, I'll try and keep the old blog updated more regularly.

Stay tuned...

Home stretch

Wow...I mean wow...35 weeks tomorrow--that's just 2 weeks away from being considered full term. 5 weeks away from my actual due date. That is insane to me.

My Grandma Gnagy (who just turned 91 this month) told me on Saturday that she thinks I'll deliver in about 3 weeks. My Mom delivered a little over a week early with both my sister and I. However, Christa was nearly 2 weeks past due with both her kiddos. So, it will be interesting to see what happens! Grandma seemed pretty sure...and well, the woman did birth 7 kids. Though I still tend to think it's one of those things you just can't predict!

Either way--the time is ticking away. We are mostly ready. I feel good enough about HOW ready we are so that if the baby were to make a sudden appearance, we wouldn't be scrambling.

We had a family baby shower in Wenatchee over the weekend. There were a million gazillion people there, and we all fit cozily into my Ma-in-law's house. They have quite a bit of space, but it was still cozy. But it worked out well. We were spoiled rotten. I can't believe how much was given to us, and even more, I can barely believe we fit it all into our car...plus the dogs and their crates. Madness, I say! I've got a lot of clothes to wash and a few items to put together and then re-organize a few things in the baby room. I started the process last night, but got pooped and went to work on my 'Thank You' cards. Then I got pooped doing that and hit the sack! LOL.

Though I wouldn't mind if the baby came before 40 weeks, I do hope that she waits until after the weekend of the 16th, as it's our 5th anniversary. Cory and I are taking two days off of work, and are planning SOME kind of little getaway. We're not sure of details yet, and will definitely stick close to home. But it'd be nice to have that time together as planned. But, Mother Nature will have to dictate that one.

Speaking of days off...this weekend is the Labor Day holiday. So, Monday off, and I'm taking Tues off as well. I can't tell you how much I need those extra days! We'll be spending our weekend nearby--we have a class on Saturday on Labor Coping, and then a wedding on Sunday. The rest of the weekend is up in the air...just the way I like it! Ooh, maybe Calhoun BBQ and firepit needs to happen!! We also may and try to sneak in a daytrip to Cle Elum to spend a little time with Mariah and the babies who arrive back in Washington tomorrow.

I'll try to be more frequent with the posts...especially as my due date draws closer! Next post, I'll try to remember to blog a bit about the pregnancy comments I've received over the last few weeks. People are so weird sometimes!!

Is it October yet?

I'm ready to be on leave. So ready.
Patience is hard.

Also...I could REALLY go for a Diet Coke right about now.

Oooh Baby, Baby...Uh Baby, Baby...

Just reached 31 weeks yesterday. 6 weeks until I'm considered officially full term. 9 weeks to my due date. HOLY. MOLY.

I am feeling LARGE AND IN CHARGE, these days. Okay, maybe not really in charge. Mostly just large. I feel like just suddenly I am feeling so much more movement...sometimes it's constant. And I'm trying to figure out how I can possibly grow any bigger and what THOSE movements will feel like. But, it most certainly will happen--not too long from now.

Cory and I attended our first birthing class last night. I really liked the instructor. It was a small, and pretty quiet group. Learned a few new things, and practiced some relaxation and coping techniques for labor. Best part--the 10 minute massage I got from Cory!

I was talking to an acquaintance the other day, and she was telling me that she was chatting with another mutual acquaintance as they were out walking one afternoon. They were talking about pregnancy. The subject of weight gain and diet/nutrition during pregnancy seemed to be the general topic, and this person was saying that you choose how easy you make it during pregnancy--that you are in control and that you just decide that "this is how I'm going to eat", and you can be in control of your body. Now, I want to say that I wasn't there for the conversation, so maybe I'm speaking out of context. But the way the conversation was relayed to me was that the tone came across as "I just don't see why this is an issue for people--you are in control of what you do". The thing I find most funny about these statements is that this particular person has never been through pregnancy. It came across to me like they were stating these things as facts. But really--COME ON! How can you know? You can't. Don't be dumb. I remember thinking before I became pregnant that I would be resolute in eating as healthily as possible and would keep my weight gain down. But wow--my cravings and aversions sent me in the complete opposite direction. And though I certainly could have made better choices...my hunger and the things that didn't make me want to toss my cookies were completely beyond personal choice. My body has been doing most of the choosing. I probably took the conversation a bit personally...I'll admit that. But I am fairly certain the conversation came about because of me. I can't know for sure, but have good reason to suspect. I'm not shocked that these comments came from this particular person. It's just so silly, is all.

I'm feeling better about my eating habits these days though. I've been much better about portion control, and eating smaller, more frequent meals to keep my hunger at bay. At my last visit with the midwife on Monday, I had only gained 1.5 pounds over the last 4 weeks. That is a huge improvement over the previous 28 weeks! I'm working hard at maintaining a much lower/stable gain through the end of my pregnancy. Partially because I don't want to have to work so hard to lose it after the baby. But, mostly I don't want to increase my pregnancy risk factors. I am a low risk pregnancy, but I want to ensure the baby, and labor/delivery have the best chance of a healthy outcome! It helps that the nausea has mostly stopped!

Next appointment is in two weeks--it sounds like I will probably need to have one more ultrasound. TMI ALERT--Again with my major weight loss--the extra skin I have makes it difficult to tell the exact position and estimate the weight of the baby, so Sally (our Midwife) would like me to have another. That makes me wonder though how it will be when I go into labor. Babies can still twist themselves around...so will they be able to tell position at that point to know that baby girl Calhoun is in good position to deliver naturally? I'll have to ask that question next time.

Speaking of food...HUNGRY. Time for lunch! What's going on in your lives??????????

ZZZZZzzzzz

Man, oh man, I want to sleep. SLEEEEEEEEP.

This is the hardest time of day for me...right after lunch. Food in my belly and brain starting to say "you should just lie down and close your eyes for a few minutes."

I made the mistake this morning of eating breakfast super early, and not packing any snacks so I was feeling mega hungry. I did okay though...I could have just said "hell with it" and pigged out, but I kept it pretty simple. I did have a burger for lunch, but it was a normal size and no extras with it. Just water to drink. Mmmm...burger. It was SO. GOOD.

Tomorrow marks 29 weeks. WHAT??? How did that happen? 11 weeks from my due date seems UNREAL. I had a freak out moment as I was trying to fall asleep the other night about all the things that we have yet to do. But then when I woke up the next day, I realized how silly I was being and though there is still stuff to do, there's time, and it's not so much that it's out of control. The house is pretty much ready. Just need a crib, stroller, and car seat to be ready for the infant. There are other things that would be great to have but not completely necessary. Plus, we still have another baby shower coming up in August in Wenatchee.

I registered for the childbirth classes yesterday--so starting the first week of August Cory and I will be jumping into that. We have so much coming up the rest of the Summer and into early Fall, so I made a big master calendar so we don't lose track of where we're supposed to be!

I get tired so easily and have been spending a lot of time doing "lazy" things. Watching Netflix, doing crossword puzzles. I am starting to feel a tiny bit restless and guilty sometimes for resting so much. I don't like to just sit around...I'd rather be moving or doing something...and obviously I have good reason, but hard to leap over that mental hurdle.

My blood glucose test came back totally normal, and at really healthy levels, so no signs whatsoever of gestational diabetes. Hooray! Received my shot of Rogam (for the negative RH factor) last Monday, which was nothin'. No pain really...quick and easy. Next midwife appointment is in 2 weeks, and then will meet with her every 2 weeks going forward until my last month which will be weekly appointments. I love our midwife...she is just so great--puts me at ease. She practices both out of her home and at the Seattle Healing Arts Center. My last appt. was at her home office...so I got to hang out with her two big pooches during the appointment. They both agreed that the baby's heartbeat sounds nice and strong! :)

I may need one more ultrasound towards the end of my 3rd trimester...because of all the weight I lost about 5 years ago, I have that pesky extra skin which makes it a little more difficult to feel the baby's size and position externally. It will depend on how my belly continues to fill out!

Continuing to feel lots and lots of movements. Movements getting bigger and there are times you can watch my belly move...pretty darn cool. Sometimes it's a little startling...and I think soon she'll be right up in my rib cage. It's a weird sensation, and I like trying to figure out just what she's doing in there. I think she's preparing to be either a cage fighter or a trapeze artist.

Third Tri

Wow...3rd trimester. Here I am. 12 weeks to go until the official due date. How am I feeling??

Tired, grumpy, excited, a little fearful, full of questions, worried about getting all our pre-baby classes completed. You know...the normal stuff that comes along with pre-baby.

I am trying so so hard to live in the moment and enjoy these last days that Cory and I have that are just the two of us. I know I still have close to 3 months before this little snuglet arrives, but it will go quickly!

We will be taking a very mini vacation just after Labor Day--probably over to the Peninsula somewhere...maybe Port Townsend--one of our favorite places to daytrip to. We're hoping we can swing two nights. We wanted to try and plan a trip by train up to Vancouver, but I don't think it's in the cards this time.

Had a LOVELY baby shower last weekend, hosted by my wonderful friend Tasha! It was so special to celeberate with friends. Tasha did an amazing job...amazed at her stamina being nearly 8 months pregnant! You all spoiled me for sure! A MILLION GAJILLION THANKS! My Mom and Stepdad were here and we had a really great visit. Mom made the curtains that went up in the baby room, stayed for the shower while Cory, Stepdad Ben, and my Dad (who stayed wtih us Sunday night) tooled around the Ballard Seafood Fest. A big weekend full of amazing company and friends. I even made it most of the way around Greenlake with Dad and Cory on Sunday. I did have to stop early and waited for them to get the car--I had a bad sideache that just kept getting worse. It felt good to walk though, and the weather was awesome.

I was super tired and not feeling all the well Monday, so I done called in sick and took the day off. Stayed home and pretty much napped. Worked on a couple of small projects, but pretty much just laid low. It was nice...though I did get a little lonely by the end of the day and was happy when my hubster walked through the door.

Looking forward to the weekend again tomorrow. I'm treating myself to see Harry Potter (yep, I'm a dork), planning some morning coffee time, brunch with a friend Sunday, and then my Mom and Stepdad are here again Sunday night. Mom got a fancy new Macbook Pro from a place here in Seattle and is bringing it over for programming. I think it's an early retirement gift for herself...she is retiring at the end of this month. So crazy! So proud of her though for doing it a little earlier than she had originally planned! It's a big change.

I'll try to do some more regular posting. I've felt a little lazy about it lately...when I start I can't think of much to say, or something silly like "it's not important enough". Silly, Miriam.

Things I'm Missing Today

It's yet another gray day in Seattle, and it's a Monday, and I'm feeling a little blue today. I'm glad we had some sunshine over the weekend, but boy howdy--could I really use a good long dose of the stuff. I think we all could! It's really amazing how much more energetic and lively I feel when that orb shines high and bright in the sky.

I am really missing running today and missing some of the things we would normally be doing this summer. This past weekend was the annual Pacific Crest Sports Event weekend at Sunriver, OR. We've spent a week there the last 3 summers, and it's one of my most favorite places to be. I am missing that week of relaxtion, sun-beaten paths, lazy mornings, afternoon swims, BBQ's, the great outdoors, the sports expo, time with the fam, the walk to the village, exploring the miles and miles of biking and running routes, shopping, and of course daily coffee/scrabble dates with Cory! It has become a yearly destination...something I never envisioned myself or my family doing. I guess I've just always considered myself more the type of person who wants to travel to new places each time! It's just interesting to me that we've found a place we love so much. Cory and I really hope that we can make the trip next Summer, with our little one in tow! We'll just have to wait and see.

This past weekend was also the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon. An event I've never done because it's always the same weekend as the Sunriver events. But I would really like to do it some year. I know quite a few people who participated. For some it was their first event ever, for others it was their first full marathon. For others, a repeat. Today I find myslef living vicariously through their stories--just really missing running and all that comes along with it! I look forward to the day I can dip my feet back in.

Overall though, we had a nice weekend. Unfortunately we did make an unexpected trip to Wenatchee to visit Cory's Dad in the hospital. Poor guy went and got himself a MRSA infection. It has been QUITE a week for him. So glad he gets to go home today! We are so glad to know that he is doing well and hope that his recovery continues to go without a hitch! That is some scary stuff! He and Josie have had a pretty rough week. We had to suit up in gowns and gloves every time we went into the room to see him. Just precautionary...pretty hard to get unless you're touching the stuff--so no contact with the patient. But he is in good spirits...ready to go home, but glad to see him smiling and making jokes! The rest of the weekend was spent with friends--a Fri night BBQ, a baby shower for Tasha, and a bday/goodbye gathering for Bangeypoo. I was pooped when I finally got home Sunday night. Slept really well last night. Though I'm ready for a nap right about now.

My Mom gave me a box of toys/books/clothes that belonged to me as a baby/child. WOW! So much fun to go through! It was fun putting things in baby girl Calhoun's room last night. Some of the items we probably won't use, but will keep in a box for now. So many things I had forgotten about. Kind of amazing how certain memories just came flooding back instantly.

Feeling lots of movement these days. What to Expect.com tells me that this week the baby is starting to open her eyes. No pigment yet in the iris', but will begin opening eyes and practicing blinking. Baby weighs a bit over 1.5 lbs (Wait...what about the nearly 30 lbs. I've gained already! You mean, that's not baby! ha ha.), and is just over 9 inches long. What's crazier, is apparently by the end of next week, baby reaches nearly 15 inches in length. That's a LOT of length in a week's time! I guess when they say "rapid time of growth", they're not kidding around. I struggle with my appetite constantly. It is never ending, and it's really hard sometimes watching myself expand so much. I KNOW IT'S NORMAL. And though my weight gain is high for where I'm at (26 weeks on Wednesday), I WILL get it off again. It's just hard watching things go the opposite direction of where you worked SO HARD not to be anymore. It's a mental struggle for sure. I'm lucky to have Cory's amazing support to tell me to "get outta my head". Some days are easier than other. I will say, the excitment of meeting our baby girl far trumps any of those negative emotions! I love her...WE love her so much already!

Just around the corner...

A HUGE congratulations to Ian and Mariah and their two new bundles of joy! Two healthy twin girls born last week! Cory and I are over the moon for them, and know they are going to be amazing parents!

Speaking of parenthood...my THIRD TRIMESTER starts in just a couple of weeks. I can hardly believe that. Where did the first 6 and a half months go? Wowsa! I'll be 25 weeks tomorrow, and the 3rd trimester starts around 27 weeks.

MOSTLY I've been feeling pretty good physically. The nausea seems to return every now and then, but it's manageable. I am noticing I'm getting tired more easily again--I'm pretty much ready for a nap by 1pm, and again around 4 or 5. BUT, I'm doing just fine and hanging in there.

Yesterday the boss told me to take 1/2 day since I had finished a big project last week that was a bit difficult. She told me I 'more than earned it'. Which was awesome to hear! Plus, a beautiful, sunny day to take some time off...it was perfect. Cory and I had lunch with our friend Carol (an ex-coworker from our days at the bakery), and then I went home, did a few small projects, took a nap, and then hit Greenlake for an easy stroll. It was nice to walk, and then sit and enjoy the sunshine. Just a little quiet 'me' time. It was needed. No office phone. No monotonous HR paperwork. No facilities issues. No interruptions. Just me, my iced latte, and some people watching. Cory and I had dinner with THaffz at Gorditos! (Man I forgot how good that place is!) Then spent some time chatting back at Casa de Calhoun over some PB and Chocolote ice cream! Yep, you guessed it...that one was ALL MY idea. You should've seen me leaving the market. I was definitely your walking parody of a pregnant woman. Two pints of ice cream. One under each arm. It was worth every calorie.

These days all I want to do is spend my spare time at home. I wish I didn't have to work so much. I'm finding my patience waning a little with repetitive tasks and being glued to a desk. BUT, it is necessary! I just have so much I want to get done at home, and it feels good to be at home getting ready for the baby, enjoying our beautiful yard, getting organized, finsihing projects. NESTING!!!!!

Cory and I put together a calendar of our Summer up to when the baby is due the first week of October. We've got a lot to look forward to, and also a lot to accomplish in the next couple of months. We need to get enrolled in our birthing classes, tour the birthing center at Swedish Ballard, and finish getting the house ready. Thrown in between are some baby showers, a wedding or two, and hopefully a weekend trip to Chelan for a tiny little vacation by the lake!

Lots of emotions running through me these days. Scared, excited, nervous, anticipation--it's a lot to process. But overall we are both so excited. We know it will be hard work and will take a lot of adjusting, but we are so excited to meet our baby girl!

I guess the Radiologist's 80-90% girl prediction was accurate, because BORG day #2 brought another look, with the conculsion of baby girl Calhoun! We are very excited. We would be happy either way, of course. But excited that our daughter will grow up with her female cousin just a couple of months apart. Not to mention the twin Fraser gals who will be making an appearance any day now! Hopefully they won't all fall in love with Tasha's son (due just a couple of weeks before our little gal) and fighting over who gets to marry him. Hardy har!

I am DEFINITELY nesting. All I want to be spending my time on is getting the house and nursery ready. We have plenty of time to get it all together, and really need to wait as we can only purchase so much at a time. And with baby showers coming up soon, we still don't know what needs we will have. But in the mean time, it does feel good to slowly check things off the list!

I've been feeling quite a lot of movement the last few weeks--stronger movements for sure. It's fun, and comforting. I feel it most at night when I lay down to sleep. I also feel quite a bit while sitting at my desk during the day.

We got some really great ultrasound pics last Friday--even the 3d pic turned out pretty good. It can be really hard to get a good shot for many reasons.

I've been finding my emotions over the last week have been more up and down than before--more like they were in the beginning of my pregnancy. It's funny how much I think I might be in control of my body, but SO AM NOT. :)

We had a really nice family baby shower for my sister in Wenatchee last weekend. She is looking so adorable! I can hardly believe she is 32 weeks along! It was a beautiful sunny day--around 80 degrees. Oh how I miss Eastern Washington Summers!

Today marks my 23rd week. It is hard to believe that I am nearly 6 months along! Wowsa!

I am still plugging along with voice lessons right now. So far I'm not uncomfortable at all--in fact in some ways I feel like singing has become easier. Or maybe my new singing habits are just solififying as I get rid of bad habits. I feel much more relaxed in some ways since being pregnant. I'm not sure what it is--maybe it's because I'm much more focused on something much bigger and more important than all the little things that can be so nagging. Not to say that those things don't still exist, but I have been finding that I feel much calmer. Interesting! I know I've said it before, but I just LOVE my voice coach. She is so encouraging, and such a great teacher. I always leave there feeling so uplifted!

Happy 'Hump Day'! We're half way to the weekend!

Wicked Chicken

This is the chicken dish I made last weekend. It was delish and has made me want to start cooking more regularly again!

The coleslaw was really simple and so good--would've been great to add some poppy seeds as well (that's for you Alex!) The coleslaw called for "rocket"--some kind of cabbage, but didn't even look for it in the store. I just used fresh red and green cabbage, carrots, and the other ingredients.

The chicken was so easy--only marinades for 1/2 hour and then cooks for 1/2 hour. It was perfectly tender. Only thing I thought was inaccurate, the recipe says once the chicken comes out of the oven, just pull the bone out of the thigh. Um...not that easy. My stepdad and bro-in-law used a knife to cut them out. Next time I'll just buy boneless. Though, the bones made a nice soup stock--we've had delicious homemade chicken and veggie soup all week!

Here's a link to the recipe: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/wicked-chicken-with-coleslaw

The 3 day weekend seems like such a blur. It was a good weekend--just can barely believe how quickly it seemed to pass by.

Cory and I had brunch with friends at Bad Albert's Saturday morning, which was SO GREAT! Then we made our way down to Tacoma to visit our friends Anna and Jessica and their 4 month old baby, Olivia. It was the best visit--so fun to connect with them and talk baby and hold the little nugget. She is just so sweet, and seemed to be fascinated with Cory! She kept laughing and smiling at him when he spoke. Just so sweet, and such a mellow little gal.

My Mom and Stepdad came over Saturday night and stayed with us. They've been over quite a bit during my pregnancy. It's been nice and they've been so helpful. We were treated to a delicious Indian dinner. Sunday, my sis and her fam came down and I cooked up a storm for lunch. I made oven roasted chicken for sandwiches--served up on french rolls with homemade coleslaw, and cilantro bean salad. I was kind of impressed with my chicken cooking skills after years of not having cooked meat! Though, I have been trying to get back to a more veggie based diet--for many reasons I really prefer it and overall feel so much better.

Monday Cory and I had a Scrabble/Coffee date--we haven't had one in quite awhile. Who won? Oh, thanks for asking...I did. I beat him by nearly 75 points. Good game, sweetie! :) Cory spent the afternoon at an M's game, while I treated myself to a movie--I saw Bridesmaids. Good flick!

This Friday we head over to Wenatchee--we'll have our ultrasound Friday evening, and then Saturday we're throwing a baby shower for my sister. The weather is supposed to be in the 80's and lots of sunshine. I. CAN'T. WAIT!

There you go--a play by play of the last few days. I know--fascinating! Tonight more work continues on getting the house ready for baby! Borrowing a carpet cleaner for the attic room in prep for moving our guest room/music/art room up there! Fancy, I know. Don't be jealous--come over...you can help!

A BORG is a boy OR a girl

Ultrasound scheduled. First weekend of June we get another chance at finding out if that 80-90% prediction of girl is actually true! Huzzah!

Cleaning and Gelato-ing

Cory and I started cleaning, organizing, and planning for the little babe's nursery a couple of weeks ago. We're making good progress, but yowza, there's a LOT to do.

First step was to go through all the boxes in the spare bedroom and start sorting into "keep", "toss", and "shred" piles. That part is done! It took us a good chunk of a Sunday to do that, and then move all "keep" stuff to the attic. Yesterday I spent the afternoon cleaning out the closet in that room and moving a few pieces of furniture around that we will be keeping in the nursery. Now we need to relocate the spare bed upstairs so we can really get moving on putting things together.

I also spent some solid time sorting through all of my clothes--making piles of "seriously, get rid of it already", "This will totes fit me post-maternity", and "fits me right now". I have two bins of clothes to get rid of. Which feels good and will make so much more room. It was totally overwhelming at first...I have WAY TOO MUCH STUFF! It will feel good once it's all clean and put away and the 'give-away' stuff is out of the way.

Lots of reorganizing still to finish up in the coming months--cleaning out our laundry/storage room and organizing that, putting the nursery together, setting up the spare room in the attic, and replacing our couch in the living room with a hide-a-bed, or something of the like. Not to mention all the cleaning and recleaning that's needed! We're making progress, but boy do I just want it to be done and ready to go!

Also, a quick Gelato Review. Stop #3--QFC. It is horrible. I agree with Alex on this one. I tasted a few flavors that were pretty standard: Mocha Almond Fudge; Chocoloate Mint; and Strawberry Shortcake. The chocolates were okay--texture was wierd. The Shortcake was horrible--the texture and taste was like Pillsbury vanilla frosting. Way way waaaaaay too sweet--couldn't taste the strawberries, and the service was subpar (not that I expected outstanding service at a tiny gelato bar in the middle of a grocery store--they have other things to focus on). I couldn't finish it--after probably 10 or so bites, it found it's way to the old circular file! Does that make me an 'elitist'. Nope (not about this anyway). If it were good gelato, I'd eat it from any establishment!

Next on the list: Fainting Goat in Wallingford!

A Borg is a Borg is a Borg...

Baby Calhoun wasn't so willing to show off his/her private bits at the Ultrasound on Monday. I told Cory we are already raising this kid right!

The Radiologist did tell us that he thinks it's more likely we're having a girl, and threw out a percentage of 80-90% chance girl! While I appreciate some kind of info...I really just don't understand how he came up with those odds. Especially considering both the Doc and the Tech each said the babe just wasn't giving them a good view.

However, he did say that everything looked good so far on the ultrasound, and he didn't see anything that caused him concern. So..PHEW! I think we were both really nervous this time. Not sure why, but just were.

I may be able to get another ultrasound to confirm gender...working on that. But if not...we'll just have to wait and see!

Get Outta Here!

Early departure from the office today, AND the sun is out.

This 'knocked-up' gal (stay classy, Mirms) is knocking off work early today and is taking the day off tomorrow. A much needed break from my cubicle corner! Oh, and have I mentioned that Monday is BORG day? (Boy or Girl--thanks Cor!) Next ultrasound is Monday morning. Stay tuned for results!

On the docket:
$5 Hi-Life Brekky w/Alex tomorrow
Gelato Stop #3--QFC
Yard work--getting my veggie garden in shape. Lots to do!
Not think about work!

Who wants to join us for breakfast tomorrow?!?

Well...that just happened.

Subaru Dealership: "Okay, so your clutch and hoses need replacing. That'll be $1750. We also found that your head gasket is leaking oil and that will need replacing eventually. If you have it replaced today, you can save $900 in labor, and your total will ONLY be $3600. What's that? Oh, the estimate on replacing your two front seatbelts that your dog chewed? You're looking at about $950.

Me: "@#$%^&!"

"Oh WOOOW...so that's ONLY $4550 before taxes. That is an AMAZING deal. Wow. Thanks! Let me call up the bank and see if they'll let me sell them one of kidneys or a lung or something...those are body parts that I can live with only one of, right?"

"@#$%^&*&^%$#@!!!!!!"

"I'm going to wring Zeke's adorable little neck."

"I want some french toast."

"F Money. Just....F it!"

What was actually said:
"We'll hold off on the gasket and seatbelt repair...just the clutch today, thank you. Yes, that's right. JUST the clutch. Yep. JUST THE CLUTCH."

The good news: Cory and I are both employed and have been able to save some money pretty aggressively in prep for the arrival of Baby Calhoun. For this we are very gratfeful. We have good jobs, good benefits, and work for a good company. I won't complain about that. Unfourtunately I also had to fork out money for a large bill last week--so we are almost back to square one. However, we still have about 5 months before the little peanut makes his/her debut, so that is encouraging as we should be able to tuck a few more dollars away. We are also grateful we had the money when we needed it. Generally, that hasn't been the case for us, due to many circumstances. So it feels GREAT not calling on our family for hep this time. GREAT!!! The frustrating part is that when you're starting to make progress and then something comes up and you hve to fork it over. BUT...it's the way ye olde cooke crumbles, as they say...I guess. It'd just be really great if we could avoid any crumbling cookies for a while...like a good solid year. Give us a full 365 days--that's all I ask!

Royal Grinders - Gelato Stop #2

I almost forgot to blog about my net stop on the Gelato Train! Okay so I lied about QFC being my next stop. It WILL be the next one.

This is how it all went down:

Had a lovely brunch with Miss Thafz, Alex, KHall, and the Hubster on Saturday April 30th at Roxy's Diner. YUM! A Monte Cristo BREAKFAST sandwich...YES...MUCH more of THAT please!

After breakfast what else would four lovely ladies do on a gorgeous sunny Seattle day, but indulge in a delightful frozen treat. (No, I'm not calling Cory one of "the ladies". He escaped to go pay our rent.) I mean it was only a block away...it was practically staring us in the face. We strolled our way down the street, moseyed on over and said hello to Lenin's statue, and meandered in to Royal Grinders. There was some kind of competition taking place outside in the courtyard area. No one seemed intereted in our help though...weird, right?

In we walk to Royal Grinders--immediately greeted by the super cute (and super young) hipster dude behind the counter. (Sorry that I don't remember your name Hipster-guy). He was incredibly sweet, to boot. Duh--with four gorgeous babes right in front of him...he was in Hipster Heaven! He let us sample as much as we wanted, which was great because there were a lot of interesting flavors I wanted to try. In the sorbet department we had Strawberry Jalapeno (DELICIOUS, and no I'm not kidding). It had a great balance with just enough spice to give a tiny kick, but not knock you over. There was also Pineapple Basil--also delicious. A great balance, and tasted like Summer. I would definitely go back for more of that.

I decided to skip the sorbet this time though, since my main goal here is gelato, gelato, gelato. The best flavor they had was the Almond Caramel. but alas, there was only enough left for a tiny sample. The Cinnamon was also quite good. Though I decided to go a little more traditional route when it came time for choosing for my order. I went with Mint Chip with a tiny scoop of Chocolate Cappucino on top. That "tiny scoop" is what they deem their Lenny Scoop. A free 2nd flavor of your choice as a tiny dollop on top.

In the service department Royal Grinders beat D'Ambrosio hands down. They let us mill about and take our sweet time, also letting us sample as much as we wanted. However in the gelato department, I'm giving it over to D'Ambrosio so far. They have the upper hand when it comest to texture of the gelato, presentation of the product, and the flavor choices. Though, service definitely can not be ruled out as an important factor. D'Ambrosio's service wasn't terrible...it just wasn't particularly noticeable.

It's a good thing there are many more places to try...a good thing that QFC is pretty much on my way home...tonight!

The times they are a-changin'

As a mama-in-progress, at any given moment there are a gazillion thoughts running through my mind about bringing a new life into the world. I'm beyond excited! I'm over-the-double-rainbow-excited! The more that my belly begins to grow and the more flutters of movement I feel, the more excited I become. The more my body develops and the baby's growth progresses, and the more I read about what is happening with the little bug's progress each week, the more I am fascinated at the process and in awe of what the human body is capable of. The less "clinical" it is feeling, and the more "there is a human being--a little tiny person emerging" in there. A couple of nights ago I was reading about the process of labor and delivery, and though there is definitely fear and uncertainty that come with it, reading about it makes me feel more at ease about what my body will be able to do.

Most of my fears spring up while I'm trying to fall asleep. And most of the thoughts that I get a bit anxious about are not about caring for a newborn. Though that will certainly come with its own challenges, my fears are more deeply rooted in what challenges lie in our child's future. I'm sure my parents (well, all parents really) faced these same fears as they brought children into a new generation--facing the unknown, changing technology, the state of the ever-changing World. Mostly I think I am terrified of the things that I cannot control. Without getting into the debate of "but are we really in control of anything"--more to the point, it's the outside influences that send me reeling: Violence in schools; Keeping up with technology; The economic and political state of the United States and the rest of the World.

But at the very root of those fears also lies what I think pushed Cory and I into the decision to have a baby. We have always wanted to have children, but we did debate about it now and then too. There's so much that you can be terrified about living in the World that we do. There are horrible things that happen every day. There's so much FOCUS on horrible things. BUT, there also are many, many wonderful things to be thankful for--to celebrate and to experience. And why shouldn't one of those experiences be bringing new life, full of so many possibilities, in the World?

Is it overly optimistic, or even narcissistic to think that we would like to contribute more to our own little corner of the World by doing what we can to raise a caring and compassionate human being? When I look at the community of people that Cory and I are connected to, I just can't help but think that this is one of the most important decisions we have ever made. (Okay, duh!) But also one of the most important things I think we can do to try and perpetuate the kind of community that we would like to see continue in our tiny corner of the World.

I'm sure there will be many things we discover about parenthood that are incredible surprising--even astounding. And I'm sure that will come in both positive and negative ways. It will come with heartache and happiness. There will be lots of discoveries, challenges, changes, laughter, tears. The one thing I am certain of is that we will do the best that we possibly can to make sure our child knows that he/she is loved.

Results

Cory and I had our 3rd appointment with our Midwife yesterday. Man, she is just so great!! We got our genetic testing results back, and all came back well. No signs of any abnormalities, so we are thrilled to hear that. We will have our 2nd ultrasound in about 3 weeks. This will be an extensive one where they will take lots and lots of measurements of the baby's organs and limbs to further determine how things are looking. And, of course, we will also get to find out if we're having a little Cory or a mini Miriam.

The only "bad" news I received yesterday, was stepping on the scale. Wowza! I am already up almost 17 pounds. Sheesh. However, I'm trying really hard not to worry too much and let it bother me. I had a rough go with the nausea and basically only ate what sounded good. That left little to no room for exercise as well. YOU try exercising when all you can do is try not to throw up.

Now that I'm feeling much better, I am starting to focus on eating better again. I'm still on the meat wagon, as it's really the best way for me to get iron and protein. My blood results did come back with some mild anemia. I've also been a bit more active. Not at the level I'd like to think I would be, but I've been on a few short walks, and have been working in my yard when the weather permits.

I know I'm going to have to work really hard to get back into shape after the little bug arrives. It is already a really important goal to me. I fully plan on being a hot jogger mom. Watch out Greenlake ladies. I'm going to give you a serious run for your money. It may be a bit ambitious, but my goal will be to participate in the Wenatchee 1/2 marathon next April. The goal will simply be to finish it...no time goals, etc. Just to complete the 13.1. My long term goal is to complete my 2nd full marathon Spring or Summer of 2013.

My belly is starting to poke out just a bit. I already FEEL big, but I know I have a long way to go. I'm sure in the next month it will begin to grow by leaps and bounds, and honestly, I'm excited for that! I've been feeling little minor flutters that I THINK are baby movements, but it's really hard to say. I imagine in the next few weeks that it'll start to become pretty clear.

On a completely unrelated note...let's get moving with these seasons we call Spring and Summer, shall we Seattle? Sheesh...I will not tolerate another cold Summer. Get yer butt in gear already!

I've decided that my nw job as mother-to-be is to find the best Gelato in the cit of Seattle. Thanks to Chris Bange and Alex Blouin for pointing the way to D'Ambrosio Gelato in Ballard last night! It was a perfect finish to our dinner at Thaiku just up the street. The only other time I had set foot in D'Amborsio was about 4 or 5 weeks ago when my Mom was visiting. We were strolling through the Ballard Sunday Market and I was desperate for a cold drink. It was during a time of heavy nausea for me, and I couldn't handle the smell coming from the sweet shop. I had to make a quick exit.

However, that period seems to mostly have passed and I am finding my appetite on the mend! Oh sweet, sweet relief! After listening to Bange and Alex discuss where to find the best Gelato in Seattle last night, I decided it should be my duty, yes my DUTY , to assess the situation for myself. The goal will be to hit up one place per week. I'll aim to do this on Sundays. Let me know if you're free to join! Second, third, and fourth opinions are welcome!

So far D'Ambrosio will be hard to beat. Lots of fun flavors without being pretentious. The girl behind the counter was really great. Okay, maybe the place was mildly pretentious--but it is Ballard-Hipster-Ave after all! I had peach-orange yogurt (so it wasn't actually gelato this time, but I did manage to snag a taste of Alex's pistachio and it was delicious!) It was so creamy without being too heavy or melting all over the place, the flavor was perfectly balanced, and plus you get it in a cone for free!

I think the next place I try will be QFC. Yes, that's right...the grocery store. Since this was the subject of much debate last night, I think I better tackle this one quickly! We shall see...stay tuned! Then onto much more distinguished vendors such as Fainting Goat Gelato, Bottega Italiano, Procopio Gelateria, Gelatiamo, and The Chocolate Box.

On the pregnancy front--all is going well so far. I have my next prenatal appointment tomorrow moring, and we should be getting our second round of genetic testing results back. No phone calls from our Midwife, Sally, so that is a good sign. At my last appointment things were looking really good so far, and the first part of the testing came back normal. We should get more information on the Downs Syndrome testing tomorrow. Our next ultrasound will be in about 3 weeks, and we will find out if we are having a junior or a juniorette. I can hardly believe it's just 3 weeks away! It will mark the 20th week of my pregnancy--half way through. That blows my mind!

On a related note, my sister found out she is having a baby girl! Congrats to Christa, Brandon, and Jaxon. Jaxon has decided her name sill be "Sis".

Super quick update!

I have so much I want to share, but will have to make this quick. First of all--I am just beyond thankful for the support of all my wonderful friends and fam. Thanks to all of you for the wonderful people you are! Cory and I had our first ultrasound about a week and a half ago. It was so incredible--especially to see the little bug move. I didn't realize how active he/she would be. All measurements came back within normal ranges. I had an appointment with my Midwife this morning, which was fantastic. I love the holistic approach, and she is just an incredible positive force to be working with! I got to hear the heartbeat which is so wonderful and reassuring. My initial bloodwork has come back a-okay. We'll have another round of blood tests in a couple of weeks to complete the genetic testing. But came back negative for Cystic Fibrosis, and the ultrasound readings came back with normal readings, so likelihood of Downs Syndrome is low. I am a little anemic, but not surprising given my vegetarian background, and how much volume your blood increases during pregnancy. It's a good thing I've taken up carniverous activities. I'm also RH negative, which means I will need an additional minor treatment around 28 weeks of pregnancy to combat the slim chance of any complications if the baby is RH positive. I'll need another "treatment" (a shot) after the baby is born as well. I had a wonderful bday celebration yesterday--was spoiled and so good to spend a brief moment with friends! The official start of my 2nd Trimester begins on Friday--here's looking forward!

Is that a baby in my tummy, or am I just nauseated to see you?

By now you know that Cory and I are expecting our first babe--Wednesday marks the 12th week of my pregnancy. Just another week until the start of the 2nd Trimester. That blows my mind.

Are we excited? Absolutely! Is it overwhelming? Yeah, sometimes. Am I experiencing all the crazy, whacky hormone stuff that goes along with pregnancy? Yup.

I have to say--I was hoping to enjoy this time more. Please don't get me wrong. I am happy to have a little one cooking up a storm inside. But it has been a hard time. I don't feel good. Pretty much ever. There are days where I feel better than others, but I always feel off in one way or another, and it's hard not to dwell on that when it's constant.

Food is the wierdest thing EVER when you're preggers. Mostly I don't feel hungry. But if I don't eat, the nausea is worse. Then when I do eat, I feel sick. Things that are generally a normal part of my diet sound awful--mostly veggies and vegetarian products. Meat sounds good. Yes, ladies and gents, these days I am a carnivore. Sometimes it's the ONLY thing that sounds good. Pretty much the stuff my body needs most right now sounds awful. Fruits, veggies, whole grains. P-U-K-E. I am pretty much living by the rule "whatever doesn't sound like it might make me throw up, that's my meal." Cheetos. Oh Cheetos are fabulous. Cheez-its. Salt & Vinegar potato chips. Yes--staple for a REEEAAAAAL healthy diet Mir! Good work!

Well, like I said--2nd Trimester is right around the corner, and for most women, their symptoms seem to diminish during that time. So, fingers crossed that I don't inherit my Mom's full pregnancy nausea she endured with both Christa and I. Cory has been a CHAMP. He has been so helpful. He's done so much for me and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband!

One of the coolest things about being pregnant right now, is that my sister is also preggers--she's 2 months ahead of me. My good friend Tasha is also expecting, and is just a couple weeks ahead of me. Ian and Mariah are expecting twins in July, and two of my college friends are expecting--both due within a couple of months. It's so great that we will have a built in Mom/play group. This blows my mind and makes me ridiculously happy! I just can't think of anything much cooler than that.

Oh, and boy howdy do I MISS diet coke!

Sunday

It kind of feels like Spring is in the air. Maybe I'm calling it too soon, because the 'weather people' keep saying we could still get some snow, and after yesterdays wind-pocolypse and February Rainfest 2011, I suppose it's possible, but I'm not hedging ANY bets on it. We've had a lot of sunny days the last couple of weeks. Though cold, it's so nice to see that old Vitamin-D providing, life-affirming, soul-warming friend. Today is a beautiful, sunny Seattle Sunday.

Going to hit the Ballard Farmer's Market and pick up a few items to make some tea treats for a party this afternoon. (Okay, I suppose I may have to sample the cheese and chocolate vendors while I'm there. Wouldn't want to be rude or anything.)

I can't wait for continuing warmer weather--when I can dig my hands into the garden and plant my own market in our back yard! I also discovered we have a neighborhood pea-patch right across the alley from our place. I love that. I think I may have to try my hand at my own garden first...I'm not sure how green my thumb really is quite yet!

Happy on-the-verge of Spring!

Happy New Year...Chinese New Year!

Hey! I know...where HAVE I been???

I'm sorry blogosphere...everytime I sat down to write something I either got interupted or just got overwhelmed about updating. But here I am...making a comeback. But don't call it that.

Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year. In my office feng shui is a big deal. a VERY big deal. We have a Master that comes in from China every year and walks through our building giving direction for the upcoming year. Lookout is very positive this year, which is great! I even got to get in on the action and got a personal "reading".

The Master gave instructions to myself and my boss, the VP of my department, that on the morning of the Chinese New Year, we should leave our houses a bit later than normal. Drive NE or NW for 1 to 2 miles, then make a big circle, turning West. Then we should stop somewhere within that area for breakfast. And THEN head into the office. He said doing this ritual would help improve our luck for the year by 25 to 30%. Which is great news for me because during his reading he told me my year is going to be 80 - 85% good. But with this morning change, increases my rate to 100%. Woohoo!

What better way to start off my Thursday than instructions from the boss to complete this feng shui task! I had a wonderful breakfast at Patty's Eggnest with all the local Sr. Citizens of Greenwood and Ballard. I had to improvise my NE direction a bit as there's not a direct NE direction (or NW for that matter) from our house.

So Happy New Year to you all! May you have 100% luck this year! Wishing you health and happiness in this year of the Rabbit!