Jan
2013

A Letter to My Niece

categories: Family

Dearest Mollie Claire –

I couldn’t help but want to write how I am excited that you will be making your big debut in a few months. You are already a kicker, so I am led to believe you have your mama’s stubborn streak, and perhaps your daddy’s spider legs.

I am so thrilled you will be able to grow up around your cousin. I have big hopes that you teach him all the important things in life like sharing, fishing, running through irrigation systems at night and barn parties. All things your Dad and I got  to experience living in Caroline County. And when you come to visit us, which I hope will be often, Mikie can teach you about sharing (oh, so important), DC history and you can bet, when you are old enough, you and I will be spending a day at the American Girl store. I will be thrilled with ANY American Girl you pick, but I secretly hope you chose Molly, who not only has your name, but was the one I coveted as a kid.

I can’t wait to tell you all the stories about when your mama and daddy were younger. Like how your dad had an obsessive streak when it came to things he was interested in – things like dinosaurs, the Titanic and trucking. He always knew he would he would be a truck driver for as long as I can remember, perhaps he is just as stubborn as your mama! One time, when he was maybe 4 or 5, he dug a HUGE hole in the backyard looking for fossils. Literally all you could see were his eyeballs over the edge. I don’t recommend you do this at home – but if you do, remind him he did it once too.

Your mama knows how to have fun too. I didn’t meet her until she was maybe 16, but I can always count on her to go shopping or watch movies. She is very set in her ways, but lucky for you, she also knows how to listen and consider other opinions. You are lucky to have a mama like that.

There are many more stories about both of them together, but I will save those for when you are older. Much older. Just know, you are being born into a loving, faithful home and you will need for nothing. Plus you have the coolest Aunt ever, so how can life be difficult for you?

Hugs and Snuggles,

Aunt Jackie

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Dec
2012

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

categories: Pregnancy

Wow, it’s been a long time since my last blog, and what a time it’s been! As I mentioned before, S. and I went to find out the sex of our baby and I was right! We’re having a boy! We had so much fun going to Infant See 4D, talk about fancy! It was done in a huge room with a big bed with fancy sheets, dim lights, candles and music. There was a HUGE projector screen and a long couch for my adoring fans. Or just S. We had 15 minutes with a very friendly tech who shared in our excitement. And Michael Alan left nothing to question. He … ahem … was very accommodating. And VERY active. It is the most surreal experience to SEE something inside of you moving around and kicking, but not feeling anything. I can’t wait for those moments.

We had to keep our mouth shut for a few days since Christmas was 3 days away and we wanted to do a fun reveal. If we had to wait any longer, my sister in law would have smothered me in my sleep. We had everyone pick blue or pink balloons and we blew them up at the same time. The blue ones blew up and the pink ones had pin holes, so they didn’t blow up. A lot of our family picked a boy, so it was pretty cool to see the excitement.

To be honest, this is all still very surreal. Maybe because I can’t feel him move around yet, or because I am just too tired to think about it. I’m just struggling to believe I am actually pregnant!

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Dec
2012

Old Wives Decide

categories: Pregnancy

It’s hard to believe on Saturday S. and I find out if I am growing a boy or a girl. I will feel silly if it’s a girl because I’ve called it him for so long. We are planning a fun gender reveal on Christmas when our families are all together. Which also means we have to keep this HUGE secret for a few days, which already seems like eternity. I am not sure how people keep pregnancies a secret for so long.

I stole this idea from another infertility blog I frequent, but let’s look at some old wives tales to determine the sex of Baby W.

Old Wives Tale #4:  Heart Rate
If the baby’s heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl.  If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy.
The only time we tracked the heart rate, it was 139. It’s a boy … barely!
Old Wives Tale #12:  Shape of Belly
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl.  If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy.
I feel like it’s too soon to figure this out. But my lower belly is hard, but hard towards the center. I am going to say high and go with a girl.
Old Wives Tale #13:  Ring Test
Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly.  You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth  and it’s a boy if it swings in a circle.
Definitely a circle. Boy.
Old Wives Tale #14:  Shape of Mom’s Face
When your face gets fuller and rounder when pregnant, it means you’re going to have a girl.  If your face is long and narrow, it’s a boy.
I feel like my face has gotten narrower as of now. Boy.
Old Wives Tale #15:  Key Test
Pick up a key.  If you pick up a key at the top (the roundest part), you are going to have a boy.  If you pick up the key at the bottom (smallest part), you are going to have a girl.  If you happen to grab the key in the middle, congrats, it’s twins!
Before reading the test I picked up a key by the biggest part. Boy
Old Wives Tale #16:  Mayan Tale
The Mayan tale adds the mothers age at conception and the year of conception.  If the result is a even number then mom is having a girl.  If the result is an odd number then a boy is on the way!
Result: 2,039. Boy.
Old Wives Tale #17:  Drano Test
The drano test combines a tablespoon of Drano and urine together.  If the mixture turns green, it’s a girl.  If it turns blue, it’s a boy.
Yeah, I’m not going to do this one.
Old Wives Tale #18:  Acne
If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl.  It’s thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones.
My skin has been very dry, no acne. Boy.
Old Wives Tale #19:  Cravings
People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy.  If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl.
I feel like my biggest cravings have been Dirty Potato Chips and Peanut Butter. Boy!
Old Wives Tale #21:  Ultrasound
I’m not sure that this falls under ‘old wives tales’, but, as with anything, ultrasounds may not be accurate all of the time.
Too early to tell.
Old Wives Tale #22:  Skin under Left Eye
The eye test is when a “V” or “branches” appear when you pull down the skin under your left eye.  If you see a “V” or “branches” in the white part, you’re having a girl.
I see none. Boy.

Old Wives Tale #25:  History of Parent’s Kids
You can find out the sex by going off of your parent’s kids and the order.  If you are the first born, you will have what your mother had but starting with her second child.  If you are the middle child, you will have what she said, but starting with the third child.  If you are the last child, you will have what your mother had in the exact order.  I think this tale only works when the parent’s had three kids.
I am the first born, and Mom’s second (and last kid) was a boy. Thus, it’s a boy!
Old Wives Tale #26:  Time of Conception
The person that is most aggressive in bed at the time of conception is the opposite of what the baby will be.
This is weird and not something I remember or care to share. Plus with fertility treatments, I am sure we were in the ‘let’s get this done’ mind.
Old Wives Tale #27:  Legs
If your legs get really big, you’re having a boy.  If your legs stay in shape and lean, it’s a girl.
Sam said I was gaining weight in my legs. It’s a boy 🙂
Old Wives Tale #28:  Moodiness and a Little Pecker
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you.  Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy because there’s a little penis inside you.
This is really creepy, but I would say I’m happier. Boy.

Old Wives Tale #29:  Bread
If you eat the ends of bread, it’s a boy.  If you eat the middle of the load, it’s a girl.
Who eats the butt of the bread? Gross. It’s a girl.
Old Wives Tale #30:  Chinese Gender Chart
The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%.  It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived.
Boy.
Old Wives Tale #31:  Mom’s Beauty
Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy.  It is said that the girl “steals” the mother’s beauty.  If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, you might just be having a little boy.
All I hear is the pregnancy glow and how happy and thin I look. It’s boy!
Old Wives Tale #33:  Clumsy vs. Graceful
If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she’s having a girl.  If she becomes clumsy, she’s having a boy.
Clumsy by far. Boy.
Old Wives Tale #34:  Toddlers
If a toddler boy expresses interest in a pregnant woman, she is having a girl.  If he doesn’t show interest, she’s having a boy.
The only toddler I’ve been around has shown zero interest in me, and all the interest in S. It’s a boy!
Old Wives Tale #35:  Side You Most Rest On
If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she’s having a boy.  If she prefers resting on her right side, she’s having a girl.
I prefer the right. Girl.
Old Wives Tale #39:  Necklace Over Hand
Have someone hold a necklace over your hand.  If the necklace swings back and forth, it’s a boy.  If it moves in a circle, it’s a girl.
Back and forth. Boy.
Old Wives Tale #40:  What Do You Think?
71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having.
Boy!
Old Wives Tale #41:  Morning Sickness
If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it’s a boy.  If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl.
Easy Peasy, boy.
Old Wives Tale #43:  Protein
When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy.
Slim Jims … boy.
Old Wives Tale #44:  Feet
Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant?  If so, you just might be having a boy.  If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, you’re having a little girl.
Feet are freezing! Boy.
Old Wives Tale #45:  Hair on Legs
If the hair on your legs has been growing at record speeds, you might be having a boy.
I’m like Tim Allen on the Santa Clause. It’s hilarious and gross. Boy.
Old Wives Tale #46:  Hands are Dry
If your hands are constantly dry, it’s a boy.
What if your dry ALL OVER ALL THE TIME? Boy.
Old Wives Tale #49:  Headaches
If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy.
I miss my Excedrine Migraine. Boy.
Old Wives Tale #51:  Baby Names
It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particular baby.
We already agree on a boy AND girl name! 🙂

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Dec
2012

What If God Was One of Us?

categories: Family, Marriage

I’ve been muddling this for awhile, but I feel like I need to address it on my blog. I am a huge fan of Mayim Balik’s blog Kveller: A Jewish Twist on Parenting. They have great insights into the Jewish faith and the basics on raising good kids. Sure, Mayim has some interesting takes on child rearing – baby wearing, nursing until they ask otherwise, etc – but I take what I can and leave the rest.

Am I Jewish? Nope. Is S? Well, kinda. He was raised Jewish and I was raised Catholic. What do you get when a Jew and Catholic get hitched? A Unitarian. I won’t bore you with the principals of our new faith, you can check it out at UUA. But I assure you, we are not a cult full of unshaved pot smoking hippies worshiping blades of grass (or Satan). Okay, moving on.

So there was an interesting blog on Kveller a few days ago about a family who celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas. At first I thought it was a nice story, and much like what our home does, but then I got to the comments and OH THE HUMANITY! Especially this gem:

<i>Both my husband and I are Jewish and somehow our children are quite respectful, understanding and appreciative of other people’s cultures. We are also quite multicultural in our approach to the world. Fancy that. What we have done is given our children a firm foundation in their own heritage and provided them with an underpinning that will last their entire lives. A child needs direction in this world no matter how much she is taught to respect both of her parents heritages.. The question for the author is what is she doing about that? A person cannot be both a Christian and a Jew, even if that Jew decides Christmas is OK because Jesus was a rabbi.</i>

Look, we joined the UU church because community and a sense of belonging was important to us. And we want our child to know that Bubbe and Pop-Pop are not wrong in what they believe and neither is Grandma and Grandpa. Hell, we might even throw in Diwali and Ramadan into the mix.  I feel like if we are giving our children SOMETHING to grasp in this world they will be okay. How would it be fair for me to ask Sam to compromise his beliefs so our child can have SOMETHING to believe in. That will breed resentment and that’s not good for a kid either, right?

We are all doing the best we can. Just wait until you meet my UU  kid – he will be respectful, appreciative of other’s cultures and have a firm grasp on right and wrong. Oh. And a hectic December with all the tree trimming and menorah lightings.

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Dec
2012

Influenster: Cosmo VoxBox

categories: Product Reviews

I got my very first Influenster VoxBox! Anyone who knows me, knows I love free stuff and I have an opinion about EVERYTHING, so I was excited to be chosen for the Cosmo VoxBox. It had lots of goodies, so here are my reviews:

Forever Red Exclusively at Bath & Body Works: I’ve been looking for a scent after reading about my friend Jen’s experience, and I really like this one from Bath and Body Works.  They describe it as a blend of pomegranate and osmanthus (what the heck is that?) and a little rum, which in my book goes a long way. I spritzed it on in the morning and smelled it all day, but not in an annoying Grandma way.  I checked the price, and it is priced JUST right for me – a full size bottle is $22.

Ghirardelli Sea Salt Escape: This couldn’t have come at a better time since I am obsessed with putting sea salt in weird things – like chocolate. This was delicious with just the right sweet and salty. I ended up getting another one for my trip to the movies Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt and Caramel.

FriXion by Pilot Pen: I was instantly transported back to Lockerman Middle School where we were allowed to transition into adulthood by using erasable pens. They were hard to find and terrible to write with. These, however, are amazing. I didn’t even realize the eraser was an eraser. A throwback with a futuristic twist.

Gillette® Venus®:  I am no stranger to Gillette Venus razors. Since I began shaving, these were popular and pretty. Guess what? They still are.

Gillette® Venus® Embrace®: Like the Venus razor, I use the blades. I hate shaving, so I try to make it as quick as possible, so I like the blades with the Olay soap around the edges. I wouldn’t recommend it for summertime shaving (unless you use shaving cream), but for a quick winter shave, these are perfect for skipping the extra step.

 Do you want an invite? Let me know! 

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Dec
2012

Worst. Blogger. Ever

categories: Pregnancy

The minute I go public with my blog, I fall off the face of the earth. At least it seems that way! We’ve officially moved into our new apartment and working our way through the boxes. I am already loving the extra space and visualizing where baby toys will go and where we will do feedings and tummy time. It’s a fun vision!

I am officially in the 2nd trimester! I am now eating like a normal person, but way more tired than before. These days I’ve likened taking a shower to running a marathon. It doesn’t help that I work from home and I can get away with dirty hair for a day.

I had to stock up on some more maternity clothes, it seems nothing fits, especially pants. I put on my ‘regular’ pants the other day and attempted the belly band and it was down right humorous. I couldn’t even zip the zipper enough to hide my polka dotted panties.

I could write a list a mile long about things that are making me cry. Mostly the thought that my baby will go to college and leave me one day, the Carters commercial with the little kid talking and how being pregnant isn’t always fun and we were morons for thinking this was a good idea. I am lucky S. is so understanding. I would have laughed in my face.

We find out the sex of this little peach (it’s the size of a peach this week!) on the 22nd and I am planning a gender reveal on Christmas when our families are there. I hope I can keep my mouth shut for those days 🙂

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Nov
2012

You Will Never Sleep Again

categories: Pregnancy

Well hello friends! Yes, it’s been a hot minute since I blogged, but I’ve thought about it often and that should count for something. The thing is, we decided to move … 2 buildings over. We. Are. Morons. But … this is a much bigger layout, so I can have a dedicated office space and a huge room for the baby. I told S. there is no way we are moving again for a few years. Thankfully we are in agreement on this!

Changing subjects – let’s talk about what I hate, more than anything, right now. I hate when I tell people I am pregnant and I get a response like this:

  • “Better rest now, you will never sleep again. EVER.”
  • “Oh wow, wait until you hit the terrible twos!”
  • “I was in labor for 569 hours and his head was the size of a basketball!”

Guess what. I know all about sleep deprivation, that raising a kid is hard and labor isn’t fun. What is with women sharing horror stories? Can’t someone tell me how wonderful and rewarding raising a kid is? How things will be hard, but it’s worth it?  I will never, ever tell a pregnant woman the negative part of all of this … unless they ask 😉

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Nov
2012

Too Soon to Complain

categories: Pregnancy

I am way to tired to be blogging, but Sam is cutting up chicken for chicken salad and it is making me barfy. The office is the only place I can be right now.

Let me preface this by saying that I’ve had a relatively easy pregnancy. Only threw up twice, beautiful hair and nails, not much weight gain (granted, I am only 10 weeks in). But today I had me a day. A day when I felt sorry for myself and pouted. I didn’t even shower. I just put on my new jammie pants and wallowed.

I. Am. So. Tired. And I’ve been tired. And nauseous. Since day 1. I am at the point where I feel like I am going to feel this way FOREVER. I will never NOT be queasy. I will never NOT be fatigued. I will never be myself again. EVER. Honest to God. How do pregnant women work during the first trimester? I work most the time from home and I am a total zombie with tears by 2PM. They are the true heroes who deserve a federal holiday. Columbus Day my ass.

Of course, I know that is total bologna, but hey, such is life. As Mama always said, tomorrow will be better.

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Nov
2012

Week 9: Olive

categories: Pregnancy

How far along? 9 weeks (and 3 days if you care about the details)
Size of baby: An Olive
Total weight gain/measurements: +2lb. Which still amazes me. Funny story – I am obviously losing weight it my hips and butt (and face) and on Sunday, I wore pants that were a little too big to the grocery store. As I was walking, I could feel my underwear sliding down and by the time I was in the car, it was literally being help up by the crotch of my pants. Under my butt and everything. I doubt this will last long …

Sleep: Still snoring, still love sleeping.

Best moment this week: Just being pregnant and being public. Oh! And a bigger apartment just became available, so we are moving on 9 December. It’s a great location – literally 2 buildings over.

Miss anything? Nah, nothing this week.

Food cravings: Is my OB reading this? I hope not. Things have been crazy and we have ordered in a few times and each time I get the same thing – a bacon cheeseburger sub with onion, mayo, lettuce and pickles. And each time it tastes like the best thing I’ve ever had. Not sure if that counts as a craving …

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nah, nothing specific. But my queasiness has started to subside. Driving makes me feel a little gross, but lemon drops help.

Symptoms: fatigue, crying jags, short patience, big boobs.

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