2011 in Review

Stolen from Lauren...


1. what did you do in 2011 that you had never done before? a triathlon and a half marathon!
2. did you keep your goals/resolutions in 2011 and will you make some for 2012? I don't remember making any resolutions.  I know I wanted to get into better shape and I sure did that!
3. did anyone close to you give birth? not super close, but it was fun seeing baby Savannah.  
4. did anyone close to you die? my student.  It still hurts to think and talk about.  I hope to journal about it soon though.  My wound is healing, but the scar will always be there. 
5. what states/countries did you visit? CT, NH, ME, MA, RI, NV (Vegas baby!), and CA (finally saw the Pacific Ocean!)
6. what would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? a baby (hehe), motivation to organize/decorate the house. 
7. what is your biggest achievement of the year? learning how to swim and ride a road bike and completing both the tri and the half marathon.  I guess really the biggest achievement was setting a goal, working out a plan and achieving that goal.  Training is the most difficult part of a race!
8. what is your biggest failure? not staying in better touch with friends and family.  I hate talking on the phone!
9. did you suffer illness or injury? luckily, no!
10. what was the best thing you bought? my new 2011 Subaru Forester. I love it and feel so much safer in it!
11. where did most of your money go? 2 mortgages (barf!), refinishing the basement, loans and other bills.  being a grown-up stinks!
12. best song of 2011? Moves like Jagger (the best running song ever!)
13. best tv show of 2011? The X-Factor, other go-to shows include: The Biggest Loser, Switched at Birth, and a new favorite is Impractical Jokers. 
14. best book read in 2011? The Help was very inspiring
15. best film watched in 2011? breaking dawn pt. 1.
16. what do you wish you had done more of in 2011? cleaning, reflecting, sun bathing, enjoying summer
17. what do you wish you had done less of in 2011? working, complaining
18. what are you most looking forward to next year? becoming a mommy, of course!
19. what change would you like to make to your life next year? get organized and stay organized!
20. quote a 2011 song lyric that sums up your year: 

The glow that the sun givesRight around sunsetHelps me realizeThis is just a journeyDrop your worriesYou are gonna turn out fine.Oh, you'll turn out fine.Fine, oh, you'll turn out fine.

But you gotta keep your head up, oh,And you can let your hair down, eh.you gotta keep your head up, oh,And you can let your hair down, eh
.........
Only rainbows after rainThe sun will always come again.And its a circle, circling,Around again, it comes around again
(Keep Your Head Up by Andy Grammer)

Don't ya just love a bargain?

Yesterday was a pretty awesome shopping day with Mom and Core.  We headed down to the CT shoreline and did some shopping at the Stork Exchange in Westbrook.  That place is heaven for any woman on a budget.  I purchased 11 items (2 pairs of over the belly capris, a pair of black work pants, 7 shirts/sweaters, and a super cute black dress) all for $100.  I was a little overwhelmed by the price initially, but really it works out to less than $10 per item and 9 of the items were from Motherhood and the other two (one of the capris and the cute dress) from Target.  I easily saved about $400 off the retail price.

So what's so cool about this place?  Well, they have TONS of consigned maternity clothes. Their price system is pretty cool too.  They have the original price (most things start off in the $14 range except for higher end stuff) as well as 3 more price cuts that occur when certain dates pass right on their tags.  I loved finding that the clothes I picked were at one of the later dates and therefore a cheaper price!

Besides all the cute maternity clothes, they have a huge selection of designer children's clothes.  We already decided we will be headed back there in February, once we know the gender.  (I find it especially humorous that the two people who were the most disappointed that we planned to find out the gender are now the two most excited to start the baby's woredrobe-Mom and Corey!)

They also have a huge selection of consigned baby items (strollers, cradles, etc) and toys as well as a giant selection of new (and very reasonably priced) Melissa and Doug toys.

For those of you not in the market for maternity or kids' goods, they also have a wide selection of designer women's clothes, prom dresses, wedding dresses, purses, and jewelry.

I highly recommend everyone checks this place out!  I swear, you will not be disappointed.  However, if you are in the market for maternity clothes, I kindly ask you leave the cute, medium clothes for me to pick up at a later date!


Mom also picked up a cute piece of artwork for the baby's room, as well as a neat bead maze (<--similar), and a cute talking teddy bear/dog to stay at their house.  I love how excited she is for the baby!



After our super productive time at the Stork Exchange we headed to the Tangier Outlets.  There we focused on stuff for Nik's birthday, but we did stop into Motherhood. I found another cute, purple summer dress (Corey thinks I should wear it for my shower), and mom got me a bright PINK shirt (I'm having a girl, ya know) and another surprise.   Once we got home she shared the surprise with me.  It is an adorable picture frame for our ultrasound picture that reads "Coming Soon".   It also has lots of other quotes you can use, but the family all agreed that "Coming Soon" was the best.


We then ventured to a restaurant.  Great food-horrible service.

Then off to the Clinton Outlets.  By that time I had spent way more on myself than I anticipated so I focused on buying a few things for the bro then we were on our way home.   But not before stopping at Goodwill so Corey could pick up an ugly sweater for Chris (now that was an experience), and then Big Y to get Nik's ice cream cake.

Once I got to Mom and Dad's, I stuffed myself for the first time in about 4 months!  Not only was I able to eat the ice cream cake, but I had seconds!  And the second slice was huge!   The first trimester (and all the icky stuff that comes with it), is really coming to an end!

Bargain Hunter

So here is what happened today...
I drove into the city with Kiel this morning so he could check in on his stores and I could work on organizing my classroom and plan my units for the new year.  That's the boring part.


On our way home we had to stop at one last store, which happened to be in a mall.  Perfect,  I would find my brother a birthday present. 


Well, once I entered the mall I totally forgot that I had intended on buying Nik a gift, and was on a mission to find Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter.  Long story short, I couldn't find it.  But I did happen upon The Body Shop where I asked if they had any cream to prevent stretch marks.  The bubbly, young associate led me to Cocoa Butter Body Butter.  The price was a little higher than Burt's, but she said I could spin their wheel for a chance to win a percentage off.  Lucky me! I got the highest percentage possible- 50% off!  Sold!


Then I went browsing in JC Penny for the maternity section. There I found super cute jeans with a pink ticket that read $1.97.  What?  I found a lovely cashier and asked her to check the price.  Indeed they were  $1.97!  Sold x3.  I bought 2 pairs of medium-one light and one dark.  And a dark pair in a large (just in case!).  Apparently they are phasing out their maternity section, which only consisted of 3 racks today.  Sadly the cashier also told me I missed out on cute shirts that were ticketed at $4 and were bought out by a lady this morning.  Bummer. 


I will be wearing a pair of the medium jeans tomorrow, when I head to the consignment shops and outlets with Mommy and Corey for some more shopping.  


On the list for tomorrow: work shirts and a present for Nik!  

Songs with Special Meaning (Right Now)

N*SYNC-God Must Have Spent

So a few months ago, before I even knew I was pregnant, I heard this song on the radio.  For the first time I was listening to it as a "mother".   Before, I just thought it was a song a guy wrote about his girlfriend, but listening to the words for what seemed like the first time just a few months ago, I was able to see that N*SYNC had written it for mommies!  I 'youtubed' the video just now, and was beyond surprised that the music video had the same mother/child take that I had realized just months ago.  I hope you enjoy listening!  Be sure to really listen to the words!
(I recommend listening to it with your eyes closed, then you won't have to subject yourself to the awful hair cuts and dye jobs of the '90's)

Josh Krajcik-Hallelujah

A few weeks ago when I heard Josh Krajcik sing Hallelujah on the X-Factor, my heart nearly stopped. I can't remember the last time I heard something so beautiful.  His voice is perfectly soothing and the lyrics are amazing!  This song should be playing when I am in labor.  It will surely calm me down and who wouldn't want to be born listening to such a beautiful voice/song?

Etta James-At Last

 

Her voice.

The lyrics. 

Perfect for a preggo woman to listen to while thinking of her baby to come.  

For you are mine at last....

*I hope to bring you another installment of my current mushy preggo songs before the next 27 weeks are over!

Week 13

So I am really starting to feel a whole lot better.  I haven’t had a headache in 3 days and haven’t been nauseous in about a month!  Even though the nausea is gone, I still have these crazy food aversions.  I feel like people have a hard time understanding this, but some foods I just don’t like anymore.  They don’t make me sick; I just have no desire to eat these foods.

I am on vacation this week.  I am hopeful the extra sleep will be good for me and I’ll be able to get a lot done around the house.  I’m determined to paint the master bed and bath, organize the office (which will become the guest room when the guest room becomes a nursery), get some schoolwork done, and organize our boxes in the basement.

- The Weekly List -

How far along? 13 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: All along I had my pre-baby weight wrong.  Last week I checked out my online medical chart and realized I weighed 4 pounds more at the beginning than I thought I did.  So I am actually down 12 pounds now.  I’m a little nervous considering by this point it is recommended to have gained about 1-5 pounds.  However, I’m sure I’ll make up for it in the weeks to come!

Maternity clothes? I purchased the Be Band (from the makers of the Bella Band and sold at Target for about $13 less), and my mom just got me the real Bella Band (thankfully in a different color) for Christmas. I have been using the Be Band every day that I don’t rock yoga pants.  I’m not a huge fan, but it definitely gets the job done.     

Stretch marks? Nothing yet  

Sleep: Still can’t get enough.

Best moment this week: Christmas, and getting lots of stuff for the baby and us!  Sharing the news with everyone at work and the rest of our family.

Miss Anything? Deli meat, nothing else really

Movement: Nope

Food cravings: I got my mom’s stuffed shells AND Gus’s creamy Italian dressing (one gallon to be exact!), not craving much more at the moment.

Food aversions: (new topic this week)  chicken, pork, chocolate, most other sweets, coffee.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not feeling sick at all!

Ailments: (another new topic to help me document my ailments for future pregnancies, please feel free to pass over this section since it is nothing more than me complaining!)  Gas pains!  Never experienced these before, but I am somewhat happy to know what my baby will be going through in about 6 months.  I never knew gas could cause such pain!  Minor cramping, which I am attributing to the growing and stretching of my uterus, I’ll call the doc in a few days if it continues.  Head aches.  Stiffness in my upper back/ shoulders.

Have you started to show yet: Yeah, but it still doesn’t look much like a baby bump.  Still just look fat!

Gender prediction: Boy.  Did the needle trick yesterday and once again BOY!

Labor Signs: Nopers

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Super stressed this week, but felt happy for the most part!  Seeing the baby move was the happiest moment of my pregnancy!

Looking forward to: Shopping with mom and Core for maternity clothes this week.  Feeling the baby move for the first time!

A Reflection on Week 12

Sorry Week 12 was completely overwhelming for me.  Besides the fact that it was the week leading up to Christmas, I was also suffering from a constant moderately-severe headache.  Each night after work I couldn’t wait to get home and just lay in the darkness.  I couldn’t muster the energy to document all the wonderful things that happened last week while they were happening, but I guess it is better to reflect now than never doing it.

As you can see, we were able to take our 12 Week belly photo.  This shot was taken at 10:30 at night after a 3 hour severe headache nap. 

12/20/2011

We were lucky enough to make it to Saint Vincent’s Hospital to have our “first look” ultra sound.  Now if hearing a heartbeat spells relief, seeing is really BELIEVING!  It was beyond amazing to see our little bundle for the first time.  He was so easy to spot and super active the whole time.  He was literally using his little legs to launch himself off the side of my uterus.   It was super cool to see that a twelve-week-old fetus looks undeniably human.  His big head and round belly took up most of his body mass, but it was still amazing to see the little legs and arms.  It was especially cool to see that he was trying to get his little fingers close to his mouth.  Are we going to have a thumb sucker on our hands?   The tech was amazing, she informed us that our little one’s heart rate was a speedy 172 beats per minute.  A little alarmed, I asked if that was okay and reassured me that is was due to the fact that we had quite the little squirmer in there.  I’m still a little bummed that I can’t feel all the activity that is constantly happening within me, but I guess I should enjoy my restful sleep since in just a few weeks the jumping bean will likely keep me awake at night!

On a funny note, when the tech told us the baby measured 59mm from crown to rump, Kiel quickly and nervously asked “Does that mean he doesn’t have legs?”  Clearly he hasn’t been reading the baby books and didn’t realize the standard measure of a fetus at this point is from the crown to rump since the legs are typically still curled up.   Being a professional and wanting to reassure a nervous father, the tech quickly located both legs and feet and took pictures to prove to Kiel that our little on does have legs (and arms and hands too!)

(photo taken 12/20/2011)

12/21/11

After seeing our baby the day before, I could not contain myself any longer.  I totally let the cat out of the bag at work.  I shared the news with my coworkers throughout the day and at 1 o’clock, I made the huge announcement to my 9 students.  Here is how it all went down:

I showed the class the picture of the ultrasound on my iphone.

Amanda: Does anyone know what this is?

Kids: Yeah, a baby.

Amanda: Yeah!  Why would I have a picture of a baby on my phone? Who do you think is having a baby?

Erika (snapping her fingers, squinting her eyes, trying to think of whose baby it is): Oh you know that lady. That lady, you know who I mean.

Amanda: That lady?  Who? 

Other kids: Yeah that lady. (I assume they were talking about the Easter Seals women who comes in to work on communication devices every other week). 

Amanda: Hmm?  No, who do you think has a baby in their belly?

Joel (pointing to me): YOU Amanda!

Amanda: Yeah you’re right!

Lizzy: Oh My God! Are you serious?  Let me see it!

All kids freaked out, screamed, laughed came up and hugged me, and rubbed my belly!  

I love that my students are just as excited as we are that there is a baby growing inside me.  The next day they were so cute, asking how I was feeling, rubbing my belly (that could get old), and just giving extra hugs.  I know they are going to be super awesome during this whole process.  Even though they all have behavior issues and learning troubles, they have the utmost respect for me, and would do anything to make sure I feel okay and they baby will be okay.  

We also made it facebook official on this day.  Here is the caption that accompanied the beautiful photo of our baby:

What's so special about Christmas this year? It's our 10th one together and the last one as "just the two of us!" Baby St. George is expected to make his or her grand entrance on or around July 2nd! We are so in love already!

I love how thrilled all of our friends and family are about this news!  Baby S already has so many people who love him (or her)! 

12/25/2011

Christmas morning I opened some pretty cool pregnancy/baby related items:

• 3 super cute maternity shirts.
• 2 pair of maternity pants-1 pair of brown work pants, and a cute pair of black capris that I am sure will be getting a TON of wear.
• The BABY BULLET!!!!!  I know it will be about a year before I even get to use this incredible piece of technology, but I cannot wait to try it out!  Kiel may be sampling baby food in the near future!!
• A Babies ‘r Us gift card!
• A baby book to document what is happening now and during the first year.
• A ring toy (you know the multi colored rings that vary in size from smallest to biggest on a post)
• The Bella Band (in white)
• A beautiful Willow Tree carving of a husband and a pregnant wife.
• A bottle of Josh Beckett wine (wait, what?)

I am so lucky to have the most generous and supportive parents out there!  I am so thrilled that they are so excited and grateful to become grandparents!   2012 is going to be pretty incredible for all of us!!

There is no Weekly list for this week, but at least I took a picture!

Ten on Tuesday

So when I get a chance, I'd like to just blog about different things.  I'd like baby to know about other things going on in my life as he/she is growing inside me.  I found this Ten on Tuesday list on another blog I read.  I'll post more about her on another day. 

1. How do you eat your eggs?


I don’t.  I actually have such issues with eggs that if I can taste them in cake (which I can sometimes) then the cake is nothing but garbage in my eyes!

2. Do you volunteer?


At the moment, no!  I hadn’t realized that I had stopped volunteering, but I guess I just don’t have the time or energy right now. 

3. What’s your favorite brand of jeans?


I don’t really have one.  Any pair that is big enough in the thighs and butt, but small enough in the waist is perfect for me….but hard to come by.

4. What was your child’s first word? Or what was your first word?


No child yet...

Mine was probably mamma or dada, or cumma cumma cumma cumma cumma cumma chameleon. 

5. Can you french braid?


I’m not really sure.  I have a hard time braiding my own hair, and have never tried to do someone else’s.

6. Do you prefer wide rule, college rule, or blank paper?


Blank.  If I’m taking notes I prefer to make boxes and arrows and star certain things.  I find lined paper too restricting. 

7. Is there a specific treat do you always make during the holidays?


No, but I bet some people are looking forward to my chocolate covered, double stuffed Oreos.  Now if only I had the energy to make them!

 8. Do you have a KitchenAid mixer? Do you want one?


No, and I would love one.  But I hate having lots of stuff on the counter and I already think we have too much going on on our counters. 

9. What kind of computer do you use?


A MacBook, courtesy of Boston Public Schools.

10. Favorite Christmas movie?


Prancer.  I remember going to see it with my family as a child in the Jewett City Theater and when we came out it was snowing.  Snow was not in the forecast so it was a Christmas miracle, and a story we still talk about today.  Very special!

H-E-A-R-T-B-E-A-T Spells Relief -Week 11

Today was the day I had been anticipating.  The day when we could finally know for sure that there is a little baby growing inside me.  Let me preface this with how neurotic I have been for the past week and a half.  Ever since my hardcore symptoms seemed to diminish I was faaareaking out that the baby had passed inside me.  I have heard way too many horror stories not to have that in the back (or front) of my mind when I started feeling better before the typical mom-to-be.  Then today…I could not stop thinking about what could potentially happen at this appointment.  Why do I always seem to think the worst?  I hate that I am this way. 

We got to the office early and, as usual, they took me right in.  My protein and glucose tests were negative (yahoo!) and my weight had dropped a bit (yahoo?).  I guess technically it is not a bad thing that I have lost weight.  I have only been able to eat healthy foods. Sweets are just not appealing (umm, yeah, I threw away two Oreo cookies that I stole from the teachers’ room today because I they were just not as appetizing as before.  I guess I only grab sweets out of habit since my old self could never have resisted such chocolate and frosting goodness!).  

Then into the room for the big reveal!  The doc came right in and just asked how I was feeling.  I shared my minor complaints: frequent headaches, dizziness, exhaustion.  She nodded and basically said, “yeah, you’re pregnant get over it!”  (She is like my mom in many ways!).  Then she whipped out her magic wand, rubbed some goo on my belly and began searching for the baby.  Again and again she happened upon my own heartbeat.   Then their it was, lower and further to the right than I had expected…A rapid heartbeat that was almost as loud as my own.  I heard it even before she said, “oooo, there it is.”   I looked over at Kiel and I have never seen such joy and relief in his face.  His eyes were bigger and bluer than ever before, and his smile was literally from ear to ear.  (He would probably have to say the same for me, well except for the blue eyes!).

The relief I was overcome with was like nothing I had experienced before.  I don’t think I even realized how much I had been stressing the whole time.  But now, I feel AMAZING!  I am so elated there is a little life forming inside my growing belly.  I want to share it with the world that I am going to be a mommy!  But I promised myself I would wait just a bit longer.  I want to take a glimpse at my baby before screaming on a mountaintop…or updating my facebook status! 

 - The Weekly List -

How far along? 11 Weeks 1 Day

Total weight gain/loss: So I haven’t gained a pound.  I am down a total of 5 pounds.  Getting a little nervous, but my doctor doesn’t seem to be concerned at all!

Maternity clothes? No, but maybe you can tell from my picture that my 11 week belly is probably tinier than my 10 week belly.  And that, my friends, is what bloating and constipation can do to your “pregnant belly.”  It can be here one day and gone the next!    

Stretch marks? Not even close yet!  

Sleep: Well, I fell asleep in the backseat of my car in a public library parking lot the other day between work and afterschool tutoring.  I know, I have major issues, but I have NEVER been this exhausted before.  Everyone talks about the pregnancy nausea and vomiting.   I never thought my biggest issue would be this ridiculous exhausting.  It is seriously BAD!

Best moment this week: Hearing Baby’s heartbeat for the first time.  Everyone tells you how great it is, but I never expected it to be THIS incredible!

Miss Anything? Pepperoni-only because I have been eating ridiculous amounts of Ritz crackers and they need a little something more!

Movement: Nope

Food cravings: My mom’s meat-stuffed shells, Gus’s creamy Italian dressing, citrus fruits (grapefruit, tangerines)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really.  I had to clean a particularly nasty hearing aid today and I almost lost it!

Have you started to show yet: Well, I thought I had last week, and then it kind of went away.  Today I look bigger again, but I’m guessing it is just bloat!

Gender prediction: Boy still 

Labor Signs: Negative!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: A combination of both.  I am really starting to stress about not being able to get everything done before the holiday. 

Looking forward to: Seeing Baby next week!  Telling my kiddos (students) they will have a new baby brother or sister coming this summer!  They are totally going to freak, especially since my due date is on one of their birthdays!  

Fahreaking Out

So this week I really began to feel incredibly better.  Yes, I am still super exhausted, but I have had no sign of nausea in at least a week.  Chocolate doesn’t make me want to vomit anymore and really, nothing else does either.  I have been googling over and over again and everything seems to point to the fact that I am one of the lucky ones.  At about this time (10-11 weeks) the placenta starts taking over and hormones start to drop. 

So I guess I need to stop freaking and start getting excited that we will finally hear our little “boy” on Tuesday.  I can’t freaking wait!  What a relief it will be to finally be reassured that baby boy is okay.

On another note, one of my coworkers who knows about the pregnancy, basically because I believe in the power of prayer and she has me and the baby in her prayer book every night, has told me that she thinks it will be a boy.  How?  Because of my eyes.  Huh?  Well apparently my eyes are “sunken in and black.”  I hadn’t noticed it before, but she is right.  I have these enormous bags under my eyes.  How can this be considering I a getting 8-10 hours of sleep a day?  I typically run on about 6.   She said boys suck more out of you and cause you to be more tired.  Seems to make sense considering girls tend to make you sick and I really haven’t had the horrible morning sickness everyone speaks of. 

That’s all for now.  More to come on Monday-the beginning of Week 11!