My first real midwife appointment was on Wednesday, Dec 1st. I was quite anxious to hear the heartbeat b/c I had psyched myself out over hearing about chemical pregnancies, blighted ovums, etc. The only "proof" I had that I was pregnant was the 4 positive HPTs and my morning sickness. I was only 10 weeks and 1 day and I knew that a lot of times, it is not possible to detect a heartbeat with a doppler until 12 weeks.
The midwife explained that my heartbeat will be in the 80s and the baby's heartbeat will be between 120 & 170. She found mine right away and said "well, your heartbeat is in the high 90s, so you must be excited." No kidding! 10 seconds later she moved the doppler over about an inch and there was the baby's heartbeat. Talk about a sigh of relief! She made the comment that she was quite surprised that she found it so fast. Hopefully the baby will continue to be so cooperative which is only fair considering the amount of morning sickness I have suffered so far!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
I guess I am an undercover crunchy/granola/whatever momma to be...
One of my SILs and I were hanging out yesterday afternoon and I learned something new. So far, she is the only SIL (I have 4) that I have revealed my birth plan to. As long as I remain low risk, I will be delivering at a birth center with mid-wives and would like to do a waterbirth. This may seem crazy to some, and I am okay with that. I just have this huge fear of hospitals and have had very serious reactions to a variety of medications, particularly Demerol & Versed, so I would like to avoid medications as much as possible.
I am not going to push my beliefs on anyone, so don't worry about that. I think every person should do their research and go with their instinct on what they think is right for them. Now if I become high-risk or something happens, I will obviously do whatever is best for me and/or the baby.
I also plan on breastfeeding and cloth diapering. Gasp! When I told my SIL that I plan on cloth diapering (CDing) she gave me a high five. However, she told me that she was quite surprised I would go that route because I don't "seem" like the type.
I find that to be kind of funny, but at the same time, it is a good thing. Cloth diapering sure has changed since my childhood and there are just so many options. My mom was shocked when I showed her all the options and made the comment "what about the rubber pants?" Yes, CDing has come a long way and is a lot easier than it used to be.
I am not going to push my beliefs on anyone, so don't worry about that. I think every person should do their research and go with their instinct on what they think is right for them. Now if I become high-risk or something happens, I will obviously do whatever is best for me and/or the baby.
I also plan on breastfeeding and cloth diapering. Gasp! When I told my SIL that I plan on cloth diapering (CDing) she gave me a high five. However, she told me that she was quite surprised I would go that route because I don't "seem" like the type.
I find that to be kind of funny, but at the same time, it is a good thing. Cloth diapering sure has changed since my childhood and there are just so many options. My mom was shocked when I showed her all the options and made the comment "what about the rubber pants?" Yes, CDing has come a long way and is a lot easier than it used to be.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
"Outing" myself...
Big news in our household....I'm pregnant! I have known for 3 weeks tomorrow and am just too excited to contain myself. I do ask for those of you that know me IRL or on facebook to not say anything on FB b/c only immediate family and very close friends know right now. Of course I have to include a photo of the 3 tests (yes, I was in disbelief):
Now for the funny story, although I must first start with a backstory... We had been TTC (trying to conceive) for 4 cycles. The Friday before I tested, C asked me if I thought this was the cycle. I had never been so sure that my period was coming and I told him this wasn't our month.
My first 2 cycles "trying" were very odd. I had a cortisone steroid shot in my SI joint (low back) to help with my back pain and I truly believe that the steroid made my cycles go crazy. Cycle number 3 was super short - only 18 days and I ovulated on day 7. Craziness!
So on Sunday, October 17th, I woke up and took my basal body temperature like I do everyday and went back to sleep. (I temp every morning at 5:30 am and then just go back to sleep if I don't need to get up right away.) 8:30 rolls around and I decide to see what my temp was and I was expecting it to take a nose dive like it normally does as my period is about to begin. To my shock, my temp had gone up and was higher than it had ever been. This can be an early sign of pregnancy, so since I was 12 DPO (days past ovulation), I decided to test.
The first test I dipped was messed up and the control line did not even appear. I figured that I must have not dipped it long enough, so I re-dipped. Sure enough, 2 lines appeared. Then I figured that I must have messed up the test and started with a new test. Sure enough, 2 lines appeared again.
It is now about 8:45 am, so I decide to go wake Chris up. (I had always thought I would do something creative to tell him, but I was too excited, shocked, and in disbelief to not tell him.) So I go to Chris and say "I tested and there are 2 lines." The poor guy was so confused and had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. I told him he just need to come with me and he begrudgingly agreed. He looked at the tests, scratched his head, and said "So does this mean we need to have sex?" WTH? My response was "no, we already did that and this is the result - I'm pregnant." :)
Back to Chris's comment - one of the things I was doing while charting was using OPKs (ovulation predictors). These things drove me batty! I had convinced myself that there was something wrong with me b/c I NEVER got a positive OPK. For the record, a truly positive OPK has a darker test line than a control line. So all of those people that I see saying that they have 7 days of a positive OPK really need to read the instructions.
Well that's all for now, I'm sure there will be plenty more to come.
p.s. My EDD is June 28, 2011.
Now for the funny story, although I must first start with a backstory... We had been TTC (trying to conceive) for 4 cycles. The Friday before I tested, C asked me if I thought this was the cycle. I had never been so sure that my period was coming and I told him this wasn't our month.
My first 2 cycles "trying" were very odd. I had a cortisone steroid shot in my SI joint (low back) to help with my back pain and I truly believe that the steroid made my cycles go crazy. Cycle number 3 was super short - only 18 days and I ovulated on day 7. Craziness!
So on Sunday, October 17th, I woke up and took my basal body temperature like I do everyday and went back to sleep. (I temp every morning at 5:30 am and then just go back to sleep if I don't need to get up right away.) 8:30 rolls around and I decide to see what my temp was and I was expecting it to take a nose dive like it normally does as my period is about to begin. To my shock, my temp had gone up and was higher than it had ever been. This can be an early sign of pregnancy, so since I was 12 DPO (days past ovulation), I decided to test.
The first test I dipped was messed up and the control line did not even appear. I figured that I must have not dipped it long enough, so I re-dipped. Sure enough, 2 lines appeared. Then I figured that I must have messed up the test and started with a new test. Sure enough, 2 lines appeared again.
It is now about 8:45 am, so I decide to go wake Chris up. (I had always thought I would do something creative to tell him, but I was too excited, shocked, and in disbelief to not tell him.) So I go to Chris and say "I tested and there are 2 lines." The poor guy was so confused and had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. I told him he just need to come with me and he begrudgingly agreed. He looked at the tests, scratched his head, and said "So does this mean we need to have sex?" WTH? My response was "no, we already did that and this is the result - I'm pregnant." :)
Back to Chris's comment - one of the things I was doing while charting was using OPKs (ovulation predictors). These things drove me batty! I had convinced myself that there was something wrong with me b/c I NEVER got a positive OPK. For the record, a truly positive OPK has a darker test line than a control line. So all of those people that I see saying that they have 7 days of a positive OPK really need to read the instructions.
Well that's all for now, I'm sure there will be plenty more to come.
p.s. My EDD is June 28, 2011.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Cleaning blinds the easy way
I am one of those people with a heightened sense of smell and do everything I can to keep things clean and fresh around the house. One of the things that used to take me a lot of time were the blinds. I remember when I was younger walking around the house with 2 different buckets (one with wash water and one with rinse water) and a rag to clean the blinds. It would literally take me an entire day because I would wipe each slat separately. Crazy! Crazier still is that I did this on my own without my mom ever even asking me to do it. : )
Thankfully I have come up with a much more efficient way to do this. All you need are a bath tub, laundry detergent, and a large towel. Simply take your blinds out of the holder and take them to the bath tub. I use the shower sprayer to do an initial rinse to remove dust. (Be careful with metal parts as they can rust.) Then put the drain plug down, add some hot water and some laundry detergent. (I put about an inch of water in the tub.) Make sure the detergent is mixed thoroughly with the water. Now you just need to place the blinds in the water. I normally let it soak for about 10 minutes and then I pick up the blinds and rotate 180 degrees b/c there is more water in the bath tub by the drain. This ensures that both sides of the blinds are in the solution.
After soaking, simply drain the water and rinse the blinds. Place the blinds on the towel and remove as much water as possible. I don't stress about completely drying the blinds, but I like them dry enough where I am not leaving a dripping water trail throughout the house. Now just hang up your blinds and wipe excess water away. Super easy!
I do this about every month or two. The blinds in the bathrooms seem to be the worst, but I am sure that has something to do with my hair products. This method is easy, doesn't leave dirty water spots, and removes odors that may attach to the blinds.
Thankfully I have come up with a much more efficient way to do this. All you need are a bath tub, laundry detergent, and a large towel. Simply take your blinds out of the holder and take them to the bath tub. I use the shower sprayer to do an initial rinse to remove dust. (Be careful with metal parts as they can rust.) Then put the drain plug down, add some hot water and some laundry detergent. (I put about an inch of water in the tub.) Make sure the detergent is mixed thoroughly with the water. Now you just need to place the blinds in the water. I normally let it soak for about 10 minutes and then I pick up the blinds and rotate 180 degrees b/c there is more water in the bath tub by the drain. This ensures that both sides of the blinds are in the solution.
After soaking, simply drain the water and rinse the blinds. Place the blinds on the towel and remove as much water as possible. I don't stress about completely drying the blinds, but I like them dry enough where I am not leaving a dripping water trail throughout the house. Now just hang up your blinds and wipe excess water away. Super easy!
I do this about every month or two. The blinds in the bathrooms seem to be the worst, but I am sure that has something to do with my hair products. This method is easy, doesn't leave dirty water spots, and removes odors that may attach to the blinds.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
There really needs to be a license requirement to be a parent...
I was at my mom's house last weekend and while we were out running errands, we drove by a Buy Buy Baby store. And before anyone asks, no, I'm not pregnant. However, I have heard of this store and was quite curious. It is owned by the same company as Bed Bath & Beyond and it definitely looks that way on the inside. There are only 3 stores in my state and I find it amazing that there is not one in my area.
Anyway, my mom and I went in and walked around for a few minutes. When we came out to my car, we noticed that the car next to us was running, but there was no one in there, or so we thought. My mom then noticed that there was a baby in a car seat in the backseat!!! The baby was probably about 18 months old and was eating something. We contemplated what to do and we decided that my mom would go into the store to alert someone and I would stay in the car to make sure the kid is ok.
A minute later a store employee comes running out and starts to write down the license plate number on his hand. Immediately behind him is a pregnant woman screaming "that's my car"! She looked at my mom like she was crazy and that it is perfectly acceptable to leave your baby in the car. My mom then said, "what would happen if your car turned off - the baby could suffocate. Did you know he is eating something? And how about this passenger door that was left open!?! Someone could have kidnapped him!" The lady insisted that the child was fine (which he was) and continued to look at my mom like she was crazy. The lady then closed the passenger door, jumped in her car, and sped away (without putting on her seatbelt).
Crazy, right!!! I now wish that we had called the police and given her a real wake up call. It wasn't like she was going to be there for just a minute. She passed us in the parking lot on her way in and she had a cart.
Also, about a month ago, C & I were on our way home from the beach. We noticed that a lady was driving with a baby on her lap! I think the child was about 2, but I don't know for sure. We called FHP, but we have no idea what happened.
It really just floors me. I mean, I don't even leave my DOG in the car unattended and you bet your butt she has a seatbelt harness & gets buckled in.
Anyway, my mom and I went in and walked around for a few minutes. When we came out to my car, we noticed that the car next to us was running, but there was no one in there, or so we thought. My mom then noticed that there was a baby in a car seat in the backseat!!! The baby was probably about 18 months old and was eating something. We contemplated what to do and we decided that my mom would go into the store to alert someone and I would stay in the car to make sure the kid is ok.
A minute later a store employee comes running out and starts to write down the license plate number on his hand. Immediately behind him is a pregnant woman screaming "that's my car"! She looked at my mom like she was crazy and that it is perfectly acceptable to leave your baby in the car. My mom then said, "what would happen if your car turned off - the baby could suffocate. Did you know he is eating something? And how about this passenger door that was left open!?! Someone could have kidnapped him!" The lady insisted that the child was fine (which he was) and continued to look at my mom like she was crazy. The lady then closed the passenger door, jumped in her car, and sped away (without putting on her seatbelt).
Crazy, right!!! I now wish that we had called the police and given her a real wake up call. It wasn't like she was going to be there for just a minute. She passed us in the parking lot on her way in and she had a cart.
Also, about a month ago, C & I were on our way home from the beach. We noticed that a lady was driving with a baby on her lap! I think the child was about 2, but I don't know for sure. We called FHP, but we have no idea what happened.
It really just floors me. I mean, I don't even leave my DOG in the car unattended and you bet your butt she has a seatbelt harness & gets buckled in.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Nervous...
Okay, so I can't really post this on Facebook or anywhere else because I have too many clients on FB, but I am competing in my first real photo competition tomorrow. I am super nervous and have some serious knots in my stomach just thinking about it! I know that it is good for me as a photographer to do this and that it is really beneficial. Man, this feeling is almost worse than school critiques!!! Wish me luck!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Yummy Greek Vinaigrette
I am a definite sucker for vinaigrettes. At work last Friday, we had a Greek salad from a particular restaurant and the dressing was so tasty. I was of course craving the dressing all weekend, but I refuse to pay $8.00 for lettuce, feta cheese, & dressing, so I was bound and determined to find a recipe that would be close. (Plus I didn't really feel like driving and I almost always have the ingredients for salad dressing on hand.) Here is the recipe I found from www.recipezaar.com.
Here it is:
1 cup olive oil
3 teaspoons garlic powder
3 teaspoons dried oregano
3 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
Mix & serve!
Here it is:
1 cup olive oil
3 teaspoons garlic powder
3 teaspoons dried oregano
3 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
Mix & serve!
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