SnOMG 2010

I guess since Drew and I missed the first big snow of the season for NYC, it was only fair that we be here for the mother load.  We've been snowed in for almost a week, with Drew only going to work one day.

Our street:

We're at the very end of the road, so we haven't gotten a lot of help from the plows.  Drew and Tom have shoveled very valiantly.

The amount of snow we got is just ridiculous.  Ree. Dic. You. Luss.  I was up to my thighs and could comfortably sit.

The plowing and snow drifts were as tall as Drew:

Renata and Tom brought the boys out to play; it was fun watching them try to traverse the snow!

Jack just wanted to eat it.

We even tried a little sledding down the small hill in front of our place.

I love Hayden's "That was VERY fun!".

We are all super sick of the snow now, but it will be fun to remember the blizzard of 2010!

Jolie in 3D!

After weeks of constant wondering, bizarre dreams and almost unbearable impatience, I got a break.  We discovered that our medical benefits would cover an elective ultrasound - even in 3D!  I scheduled an appointment for the next morning. :)

My mom came with me and we got to see fully developed Jolie, looking ever so much like an actual baby.  The last time I saw her was almost 20 weeks ago, and boy oh boy, little lady has changed.  

I have worried for a couple weeks now over if she would, in fact, come out a boy and I would have to return everything pink.  It is confirmed that she is indeed a girl and I have begun cutting tags!  :)  Weighing in about 5 pounds and probably a little shorter than 20 inches, she has a head full of hair (oohh, I hope it's dark!) and is nice and chubby!  The technician showed us her fat little butt, chunky forearm and even a fat roll on the back of her neck.  Mom and I died.  Apparently, she has a wide head, too, which is something every first time preggo wants to hear. :)

As far as what she may look like, we determined that she does have Asian eyes and a wide face like me.  Her mouth, though, is all Drew.  Proof:

Jolie was pretty mad at us for interrupting her rest time; she kept trying to hide behind the placenta and her hand, and gave us a couple of mad faces, which Mom and I still loved:

We also got to see her in 2D from the side and got to watch her little mouth move around.  We got a great shot of her puckering:

And, of course, she sucked her thumb, probably trying to get us to stay away :)  (P.S. Please ignore the "I Love You!".  I'm not sure why technicians think you want that on an ultrasound picture.)

It's crazy to sort of know what she looks like!  And it's even crazier to think that we're just a few short weeks away from seeing her in person!

A few of my favorite things

As mentioned in the last post, the nesting instinct is starting to kick in hard core.  Never before have I had such a strong desire to organize, clean and organize again (Chrissy? Kaley? Jessica? DREW? Back me up, here).  I have started a "Jolie" pile in one corner of my room that is slowly growing.  Mostly, I am excited about organizing her clothes. :)

It started with these shoes.  They still sit on my dresser where I can see them everyday.  Now, however, we have entered the world of super cute hand-me-downs and thoughtful gifts!  Baby clothes are so. cute.  Since I have no closet to show yet or baby to dress, I figured I might as well confess my mini obsession with Jolie's wardrobe and show you how cute some of this stuff is.

Renata has been coming home with a thing or two over the past couple of months.  One day, she came home with these:

A former photography client of ours started her own Etsy business and her stuff is gorgeous!  I HAD to buy some stuff from Knits and What Knots!  I got a sweet hat:

And this ridiculously adorable headband:

Even though I have no baby to dress yet, I still like to go through the clothes and pick out little outfits.  Go ahead, call me crazy.  I don't care. :)  My favorite so far (compliments of Rachael and Ava!):

I would totally wear this.  Jo is going to be my mini-me.  :)  

Thank you for indulging the crazy pregnant lady.

34 week thoughts

Ever wonder what I would look like if I gained 15 pounds in my middle?  Here's what 34 weeks looks like:

Yes, for you Salisburians, I am indeed wearing the free t-shirt I got when SU redid Fireside Lounge.  It's pretty snug. :)

Time is flying and creeping at the same time.  I remember just trying to get to 12 weeks so we could finally tell everyone.  I remember reaching 20 weeks and realizing how big of a milestone it was.  I remember the first time my pants did not fit and thinking how much I was showing (this is laughable).  And now, here we are, at the brink of 35 weeks - 2 weeks from being full term.  Holy crap.

Now that I've experienced nearly an entire pregnancy, I'd like to make some observations:

1. I don't think I will miss being pregnant.  A lot of women have told me both, but I think I'll be okay.  I understand why some women do this just once.  It takes quite a toll on your body!  I am constantly in a state of discomfort, my belly button has all but disappeared, and sometimes, I really fear that my stomach skin just might not make it.  I will say, though, that I have had an easy pregnancy and it's been fun.  I will most certainly do it again.

2. I WILL miss maternity pants!  Oh, the joys of stretchy material and no worries of fat rolls.  Wonderful, wonderful invention.

3. I always thought the reason pregnant ladies waddled was because of balance.  I was wrong.  We waddle because our hip joints and back hurt.  I'm fine on my feet balance wise, but that waddle just relieves a little bit of the pain.

4. There really is a "honeymoon" stage of pregnancy and it IS the second trimester.  I was literally in a state of constant EUPHORIA during my entire second trimester.  I cried because I was SO HAPPY.  The week that I entered third trimester...well...there was definitely a change. :)  Poor Drew.

5. Being touched on the belly is actually enjoyable.  Renata didn't like it, but I do!  I don't mind when women (even strangers) ask to give it a rub.  It's just so round and there's a cute little baby in there!  Men should still not cross that line, however. :)  

6. A birth class is not a waste of time!  Drew and I took the 4 week class at AAMC and really benefitted from it.  I would recommend it to all first timers.

7. Husbands are the best idea EVER.  No matter what I always have someone around who will rub my back, help me put on my socks, pick up things I drop, make sure my fly is not undone (since I can't see it anymore), tell me how pretty he thinks I look, freak out with me over how weird my belly looks when she rolls around, encourage me, listen to every fear and keep me grounded.  Even though I get jealous sometimes that he gets to be a parent without going through birthing the child, I am so glad Drew is around.  

8. Nesting is REAL!  I am anxious to put things away and get things ready.  Since Jolie's room is not quite done yet, I have been limited to rearranging piles of her stuff in my room.  It's killing me a little.

9. Besides labor and delivery, I think my biggest fear is that she will actually come out a boy and I will have nothing but pink things to dress him in.  I'm praying about this one. :)

I have many more observations.  But this will do for now. :)  I'm going to take a pregnancy nap while I still can.