14 days to go...
2 weeks left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, Baby Girl!
It's hot today. Daddy and I went to your Tatay and Nana's house for lunch and a swim. Your cousin's Sofia and Kara, your Tita Chonnie and Uncle Russ were there too.
We grilled, I sat by the pool, and enjoyed the contractions :-)
Now that I'm nearing the finish line - I can't help but think about how this pregnancy has changed me. Someday - VERY far into the future - if it's God's will - you'll be a mother someday too.
Here's some things about pregnancy that I've discovered:
- no matter how well you eat and how much you exercise - you'll put on weight in spots besides your belly (like - in your back, inner thighs, face, etc)
- your ability to walk will be replaced by a waddle once you hit the end of the pregnancy - even if you try your hardest to walk normally
- strangers will feel the need to touch your belly without your permission
- those same strangers - and maybe more - will feel the need to comment on how large you are and say things like "wow - looks like you're getting ready to pop!" - when you still have over a month left
- you'll learn to contort your body to shave your legs and *ahem* your lady bits - and feel accomplished if you only cut yourself a few times
- you'll have friends that really step up in the friendship department while you're pregnant - they'll be excited for you, check on you, and are genuinely excited to meet your baby
- but you'll also have friends - who you thought would be there but aren't the friends you thought they'd be - and you'll move forward with the handful of people that have been there for you through your bleeding scares, visits to the hospital, late night panic attacks
- you'll look at your husband in a new light - and feel amazed that you could love him more
- you'll sweat and be hot - no matter the season
- you'll count down the days just to get out of the 1st trimester nausea, count down the days through your 2nd trimester baby showers, but when you hit 3rd trimester - you just want time to slow down because you're just not ready!!!
I could go on and on...but I'm hot and need a nap.
We only have a couple more weeks til you meet Daddy and I...and we are so excited! We love you, Izzy!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
#15
15 Days to go...
Hi, Little One...
We are anxious to meet you. Every time I get a contraction - I think "ok - this is it!"
But, the contractions are not coming frequent enough for me to call the doctor.
And although they are painful, they're not to the point to where I can't walk or talk through them. So, we continue to wait for you to come.
One piece of advice I continue to get from my mom friends is "get lots of sleep now...."
I don't know how I'm going to do it. I really thrive on sleep and so does Daddy...seriously...Daddy NEEDS his sleep!
The contractions are occurring mainly in the early evening and continue until about 3 am - and then stop. So, I'm not getting much sleep now...and I try to catch up on sleep by taking mini naps during the day. I've been VERY blessed that I don't have to go to a job all day but can do some work from home and take breaks as needed.
I only know that I'm going to have to ask for strength and sanity every second of the day. I know that you're going to rely on me for everything. So, I'm going to have to rely on God for the same...for everything...for guidance, for patience, for strength, for sanity, for rest, for laughter, for...whelp...everything!
I find comfort in knowing that I have friends and family that are going through or have gone through this. I must admit - I get irritated when people continue to share negative comments and negative views about parenting . Now - I'm not talking about honesty - brutal honesty about parenting and what I'll be going through in labor and in the birthing process are one thing. But, I guess when I'm so close to this tremendous life change - being told "I really hope you want this baby" are not the best things to say to a mom-to-be.
Those comments are disheartening at times but I try to stay positive and look at you as such a miracle. I know how hard the transition will be for Craig and I, how tired we'll be, how our relationship will change forever, how we'll have to make sacrifices for you, etc, etc. But, I also know that this is a change and transition that I've prayed for. And, God would never have blessed me with you if He didn't think we were ready.
So, Baby Girl...we're just waiting and praying for your arrival. We're excited to meet you! For now...keep on growing!
Hi, Little One...
We are anxious to meet you. Every time I get a contraction - I think "ok - this is it!"
But, the contractions are not coming frequent enough for me to call the doctor.
And although they are painful, they're not to the point to where I can't walk or talk through them. So, we continue to wait for you to come.
One piece of advice I continue to get from my mom friends is "get lots of sleep now...."
I don't know how I'm going to do it. I really thrive on sleep and so does Daddy...seriously...Daddy NEEDS his sleep!
The contractions are occurring mainly in the early evening and continue until about 3 am - and then stop. So, I'm not getting much sleep now...and I try to catch up on sleep by taking mini naps during the day. I've been VERY blessed that I don't have to go to a job all day but can do some work from home and take breaks as needed.
I only know that I'm going to have to ask for strength and sanity every second of the day. I know that you're going to rely on me for everything. So, I'm going to have to rely on God for the same...for everything...for guidance, for patience, for strength, for sanity, for rest, for laughter, for...whelp...everything!
I find comfort in knowing that I have friends and family that are going through or have gone through this. I must admit - I get irritated when people continue to share negative comments and negative views about parenting . Now - I'm not talking about honesty - brutal honesty about parenting and what I'll be going through in labor and in the birthing process are one thing. But, I guess when I'm so close to this tremendous life change - being told "I really hope you want this baby" are not the best things to say to a mom-to-be.
Those comments are disheartening at times but I try to stay positive and look at you as such a miracle. I know how hard the transition will be for Craig and I, how tired we'll be, how our relationship will change forever, how we'll have to make sacrifices for you, etc, etc. But, I also know that this is a change and transition that I've prayed for. And, God would never have blessed me with you if He didn't think we were ready.
So, Baby Girl...we're just waiting and praying for your arrival. We're excited to meet you! For now...keep on growing!
Friday, June 12, 2009
#16
16 Days to go...
16 days...holy moly...
Morning, Iz!
Swoon....yes...I am swooning over you Daddy.
He saved me yesterday - and since you're in my belly - he saved YOU too.
He's my hero and soon you'll look up at him with and he'll be your hero too.
We go for our daily walks around the trails in our neighborhood. It's so pretty and nice with the pond and the paved trails. We go for about 45 minutes and walk with your dog sister and dog brother. It's our time together that I look forward to every day.
Since I'm getting much bigger and you're getting bigger - my baby belly is getting heavier and heavier. So, I have to take a break about 35 minutes into our walk. Normally, I walk and then take a break on a park bench and stare out at the lake. Daddy finishes the walk and makes a loop back to me and we head home.
So last night - as I'm waddling down the path - we decide to go a little further than normal. I try to make it down the last trail but I just can't. I see a park bench and tell Daddy that I'm going to rest up and to come back and get me.
Daddy takes the pups and heads down the trail as I sit and look at the lake. A few minutes pass by and I see that Daddy and the dogs are almost at the end and are about to turn around. I think I'm alone on the trail until I see that I'm getting approached. There's two of them and they're yapping away. They head right to me and are coming right at me. I start to panic and ask them to please go away. I'm almost in tears because they won't leave me alone. I continue to ask them to please leave me alone and go.
I see Daddy and the dogs turn around and he sees me being accosted. He starts to run towards me. He can tell that this is not normal and that I am very scared. As he approaches - the two of them run off.
SWOON....saved by my MAN!!
I tell you - that was a close one. And I don't care what anyone says, it was a scary moment. Even if the perpetrators were ducks!
I hate birds and Daddy knows how much they scare me.
How lucky are we, Sweet Girl to have a hero like him :-)
Keep growing!
16 days...holy moly...
Morning, Iz!
Swoon....yes...I am swooning over you Daddy.
He saved me yesterday - and since you're in my belly - he saved YOU too.
He's my hero and soon you'll look up at him with and he'll be your hero too.
We go for our daily walks around the trails in our neighborhood. It's so pretty and nice with the pond and the paved trails. We go for about 45 minutes and walk with your dog sister and dog brother. It's our time together that I look forward to every day.
Since I'm getting much bigger and you're getting bigger - my baby belly is getting heavier and heavier. So, I have to take a break about 35 minutes into our walk. Normally, I walk and then take a break on a park bench and stare out at the lake. Daddy finishes the walk and makes a loop back to me and we head home.
So last night - as I'm waddling down the path - we decide to go a little further than normal. I try to make it down the last trail but I just can't. I see a park bench and tell Daddy that I'm going to rest up and to come back and get me.
Daddy takes the pups and heads down the trail as I sit and look at the lake. A few minutes pass by and I see that Daddy and the dogs are almost at the end and are about to turn around. I think I'm alone on the trail until I see that I'm getting approached. There's two of them and they're yapping away. They head right to me and are coming right at me. I start to panic and ask them to please go away. I'm almost in tears because they won't leave me alone. I continue to ask them to please leave me alone and go.
I see Daddy and the dogs turn around and he sees me being accosted. He starts to run towards me. He can tell that this is not normal and that I am very scared. As he approaches - the two of them run off.
SWOON....saved by my MAN!!
I tell you - that was a close one. And I don't care what anyone says, it was a scary moment. Even if the perpetrators were ducks!
I hate birds and Daddy knows how much they scare me.
How lucky are we, Sweet Girl to have a hero like him :-)
Keep growing!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
#17
17 Days to go...
Seriously? 17 days...OMG (that's for you Craig...)!!
Hi, Iz!
I was having lunch with your Tatay and Nana the other day. We were eating dim sum (yummy) and chatting about a little bit of everything.
Nana wanted to make sure I knew the "signs" of when I would need to call the doctor or go the hospital when it was time for you to join our family.
I listened to Nana talk about how your Tita Chonnie was born - she was early and weighed about 4 1/2 lbs...tiny! She said she remembers that she was almost dropped into a bucket....huh? Yes...dropped into a bucket. Apparently there was a lot of rain in the Philippines during that time and of course the hospital got rid of excess water that made its way into the hospital by using buckets.
Then Nana talked about Tita Candice's birth. Nana and Tatay were at a Candice Bergen movie. She got up to use the restroom and "knew" it was time (I'll spare any male readers the graphic details). She walked back into the movies and told Tatay that it was time.
I listened to her talk about my birth and how I was a big baby (haha - I was only a little over 6 lbs) and she labored for a very long time. The doctor decided she needed a c-section with me.
Nana remembers everything about each birth. She remembers the movies she was watching, what was going on, the moments that surrounded each of her children's entry into the world.
It amazes me. It really does - that after over 35 years - the details - albeit fuzzy at points - are still in her mind. It solidfies that the moment that a child is born into a family - that moment is forever engrained into the memory of those who love them the most. Mother's capture each second and store it in their mind and in their heart.
I think about your birth all the time. I wonder if I'll be calm (ha - yeah right), I wonder if I'll yell a lot and turn into the Devil, I wonder what Daddy will be doing as I go through each contraction - how he'll handle watching me in pain, if he'll know what to do, if he'll feel as overwhelmed as me, I wonder if my first instinct is fierce protection, or if I'll be absolutely and utterly be in love.
So many things - so much to look forward to.
I can't wait to meet you very soon, Sweet Girl. For now...keep on growing!
Seriously? 17 days...OMG (that's for you Craig...)!!
Hi, Iz!
I was having lunch with your Tatay and Nana the other day. We were eating dim sum (yummy) and chatting about a little bit of everything.
Nana wanted to make sure I knew the "signs" of when I would need to call the doctor or go the hospital when it was time for you to join our family.
I listened to Nana talk about how your Tita Chonnie was born - she was early and weighed about 4 1/2 lbs...tiny! She said she remembers that she was almost dropped into a bucket....huh? Yes...dropped into a bucket. Apparently there was a lot of rain in the Philippines during that time and of course the hospital got rid of excess water that made its way into the hospital by using buckets.
Then Nana talked about Tita Candice's birth. Nana and Tatay were at a Candice Bergen movie. She got up to use the restroom and "knew" it was time (I'll spare any male readers the graphic details). She walked back into the movies and told Tatay that it was time.
I listened to her talk about my birth and how I was a big baby (haha - I was only a little over 6 lbs) and she labored for a very long time. The doctor decided she needed a c-section with me.
Nana remembers everything about each birth. She remembers the movies she was watching, what was going on, the moments that surrounded each of her children's entry into the world.
It amazes me. It really does - that after over 35 years - the details - albeit fuzzy at points - are still in her mind. It solidfies that the moment that a child is born into a family - that moment is forever engrained into the memory of those who love them the most. Mother's capture each second and store it in their mind and in their heart.
I think about your birth all the time. I wonder if I'll be calm (ha - yeah right), I wonder if I'll yell a lot and turn into the Devil, I wonder what Daddy will be doing as I go through each contraction - how he'll handle watching me in pain, if he'll know what to do, if he'll feel as overwhelmed as me, I wonder if my first instinct is fierce protection, or if I'll be absolutely and utterly be in love.
So many things - so much to look forward to.
I can't wait to meet you very soon, Sweet Girl. For now...keep on growing!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
#18
18 days to go...
Morning, Little One!
Today I'm going to do something just.for.me.
Daddy and I talked about all the anxiety I'm feeling about your arrival. I know I'm not going to be a perfect mom - maybe not even a great mom - but I just want to be a good mom. Being a mother and having a family is something that I've always wanted. It's been something I always prayed for and sometimes it doesn't feel like you arriving and actually being my daughter is real. I know what an incredible blessing you are, how so many people hope and pray for this experience, but for whatever reason, it's not in God's will for their lives.
I'm not sure you'll ever know some of the hard choices I had to make recently. And, I don't expect you to ever ask. That's a big part of parenting - just making sure that your children are safe, secure and well cared for. And a lot that goes into parenting is making sacrifices. But, so much of what I've chosen - yes chosen - to do for this family has been a no-brainer. I choose my family over everything. But yet, it's still really hard for me. To be driven for something that is truly thankless - and that's what parenting is much of the time - a job with very little accolades and pats on the back.
But, I'm absolutely sure that having you join me and Daddy is a miracle and a blessing. I know that we were chosen to be YOUR parents and we're so thankful for you.
So - today - I'm going to do a little pampering for myself. I'm going to take a couple of hours just doing stuff for me and doing stuff I love. Selfish - maybe? Necessary - absolutely!
Know this, Sweet Girl - I love you, Daddy loves you and we can't wait to meet you!
Keep on growing!
Morning, Little One!
Today I'm going to do something just.for.me.
Daddy and I talked about all the anxiety I'm feeling about your arrival. I know I'm not going to be a perfect mom - maybe not even a great mom - but I just want to be a good mom. Being a mother and having a family is something that I've always wanted. It's been something I always prayed for and sometimes it doesn't feel like you arriving and actually being my daughter is real. I know what an incredible blessing you are, how so many people hope and pray for this experience, but for whatever reason, it's not in God's will for their lives.
I'm not sure you'll ever know some of the hard choices I had to make recently. And, I don't expect you to ever ask. That's a big part of parenting - just making sure that your children are safe, secure and well cared for. And a lot that goes into parenting is making sacrifices. But, so much of what I've chosen - yes chosen - to do for this family has been a no-brainer. I choose my family over everything. But yet, it's still really hard for me. To be driven for something that is truly thankless - and that's what parenting is much of the time - a job with very little accolades and pats on the back.
But, I'm absolutely sure that having you join me and Daddy is a miracle and a blessing. I know that we were chosen to be YOUR parents and we're so thankful for you.
So - today - I'm going to do a little pampering for myself. I'm going to take a couple of hours just doing stuff for me and doing stuff I love. Selfish - maybe? Necessary - absolutely!
Know this, Sweet Girl - I love you, Daddy loves you and we can't wait to meet you!
Keep on growing!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
#19
19 Days to go...
in the "teens" now!!!
Hi, Sweet Girl!
We had another visit today with our doctor. And I would be lying to you if I said I was pleased with how our visit went.
But, I'm not going to argue with Mother Nature...and God. It's Him that ultimately decides when you get to join me and Daddy.
Looks like not much has changed since our last visit. Without getting too graphic, I'm still about 65% effaced, finger tip dilated, and you're head is not fully engaged. My cervix is soft...that's as much 'bout that I'm willing to share (when I told Daddy this - he practically gagged).
You're posterior position - which means you're head and body is facing up looking out rather than your face facing my backside. This explains why the movements hurt so much. When move - I'm feeling your knees against my stomach wall and elbows rather than you doing toward my back where the feeling would be less. If you would like to flip - by all means do so...like please...do so!!
I'm thinking you'll be here the week of the 22nd now...rather than sooner than Daddy and I had hoped. But, the longer you are in my belly - the better it is for you. So - no eviction notice given yet :-)
We love you, Little One! Keep on growing!
in the "teens" now!!!
Hi, Sweet Girl!
We had another visit today with our doctor. And I would be lying to you if I said I was pleased with how our visit went.
But, I'm not going to argue with Mother Nature...and God. It's Him that ultimately decides when you get to join me and Daddy.
Looks like not much has changed since our last visit. Without getting too graphic, I'm still about 65% effaced, finger tip dilated, and you're head is not fully engaged. My cervix is soft...that's as much 'bout that I'm willing to share (when I told Daddy this - he practically gagged).
You're posterior position - which means you're head and body is facing up looking out rather than your face facing my backside. This explains why the movements hurt so much. When move - I'm feeling your knees against my stomach wall and elbows rather than you doing toward my back where the feeling would be less. If you would like to flip - by all means do so...like please...do so!!
I'm thinking you'll be here the week of the 22nd now...rather than sooner than Daddy and I had hoped. But, the longer you are in my belly - the better it is for you. So - no eviction notice given yet :-)
We love you, Little One! Keep on growing!
Monday, June 8, 2009
#20
20 Days to go...
Morning, Iz.
Had a little taste of motherhood last night. Meaning - I was up with you all night and only got about 2 hours of sleep.
I hope the contractions I felt last night mean that you'll be here soon. Every time I had a contraction - you'd squirm a whole bunch right before. Sorry, kiddo, if Mommy's ute kept you awake too.
You'll be here on God's time - and I'm totally fine with that. Daddy thinks you'll be here in the "teens" so he's betting on sometime between June 13-19. I've always had the date of June 15 in the my head - so we'll see if one of us right!
I am going to work on your scrapbook today, clean the house, and run some last minute errands. If you're ready to come out and play...by all means...let me know and I'll do my best to get you out safely!
Love you Little One...keep on growing!
Morning, Iz.
Had a little taste of motherhood last night. Meaning - I was up with you all night and only got about 2 hours of sleep.
I hope the contractions I felt last night mean that you'll be here soon. Every time I had a contraction - you'd squirm a whole bunch right before. Sorry, kiddo, if Mommy's ute kept you awake too.
You'll be here on God's time - and I'm totally fine with that. Daddy thinks you'll be here in the "teens" so he's betting on sometime between June 13-19. I've always had the date of June 15 in the my head - so we'll see if one of us right!
I am going to work on your scrapbook today, clean the house, and run some last minute errands. If you're ready to come out and play...by all means...let me know and I'll do my best to get you out safely!
Love you Little One...keep on growing!
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What a blessing!
