Pumpkins and Candy, Mmm!

We had all of two trick-or-treaters tonight - the pumpkins are still lit and glowing - and we decided to have some fun of our own...

 ...and last but not least, baby boy's halloween picture 2010!



Two thirds

When I found out we were pregnant (5 days before I'd missed a cycle) I immediately took a picture so we'd have a 'pre' photo.  Because of how pregnant math is done, we were almost 4 weeks pregnant at that time (but really only about two).  I've had SO much fun being pregnant and watching my body change.  It sounds completely cheesy but it really is amazing what a woman's body is capable of - growing and sustaining life.

I am so, so glad I have taken weekly photos - it's neat to go back and see how much I change.  Since there's not really space to post 25 photos side by side, here are months 1-6 (and still not in the format I would have preferred, but that's another story!).

Hard to believe there are only THREE more months to go!  I've also been measuring belly circumference and it's interesting to really SEE the growth.  I was measuring weekly but then realized that there were days where I'd clearly grown so now I just do it whenever I'm thinking about it and this week from Sunday to this morning I was just under a half inch bigger.  The last photo above (also my 25 week TIBS photo) was taken on Monday.  The next 13 weeks should bring some BIG changes!! 

Hoping to have some nursery updates this weekend!

TIBS - Week 25

Week 25

Baby boy is convinced my uterus is a playground. 

Mama is convinced that watching baby boy play on (in?) said playground is fancy entertainment.

...and that about sums up the week.

PS - Baby Boy's best friend Baby Ching was born last Wednesday, happy one week Henry!

Nursery Sneak!

Last week when we were in NC, I stopped by the children's store to find out about ordering the chair for baby boy's room - while there, they told me our furniture had shipped.  We figured that it would be a couple weeks but got a call on Thursday that it was waiting for us.  It worked out perfectly since there was a game on Saturday and we'd already planned to be in town so we picked it up Saturday morning and it's now in the nursery!

I'll share more about the bedding when it's closer to being done - we need to add the ties/ribbon to the front and sides and the sheet we've put on now is just to give me a sense of completion until more is done in there... there are two options for where the chair will go, one is beside the crib where the stroller is now, the other is in between the window and dressed (below) - which is where I'd originally planned to have it.

The dresser would need to slide down closer to the entry, which isn't a big deal - it will all depend on the bookshelf and nightstand.  The nightstand is on back order and we haven't ordered the bookshelf yet as we haven't decided if we're going to splurge or buy one unfinished (or thrifted) and finish/refinish it in a matching espresso stain. 

Can't wait to share the wall - some of it will be done before baby comes, some parts cannot be done until after he's here.  Speaking of being here, his best friend HENRY was born on Wednesday!!!  We love baby Henry already and can't wait to meet him!!!

Mountain Mama

When we lived in North Carolina, I worked at an awesome shop called Great Outdoor Provision part time.  It was SO much fun and I miss it a lot.  Not only was it a great place to work where I met many great friends and interesting customers, I also enjoyed a fab wardrobe for my own adventures.  Fast forward a bit and we moved to VA and I now have a growing belly that my clothes no longer accomodate.  Not a problem for every day work and life in general - but we do almost everything outdoors when the weather is nice, so... cotton isn't exactly a girl's best friend.

My soft shell fit until just a couple weeks ago and now it no longer zips.  Thankfully, because of that I remembered I still had a blue soft shell at the shop in NC and stopped by to pick it up last weekend.  I'd forgotten about it because it was a medium - but the color was too good not to go for it so I put a little cash down and stuck it in the back.  I am SO glad I did that... it should fit perfect during the most part of when I will need it - nice!

For other needs though, I was out.  Or so I thought... before I discovered MOUNTAIN MAMA!  I can't even write more without jumping up and down to share...

Flame orange no less!   Amazing isn't it?  Not sold yet?  You must not be pregnant... It is AMAZING.  Seriously.  When the high was 60 today, I jumped at the chance to wear it.  I actually took the picture above earlier this week but the one below (also seen in TIBS Week-24) was taken today. 

(...and yes, I realize I'm looking at myself, I wasn't really thinking that I should look at the camera and thought that well, nevermind... pregnant brain?)

I was so excited to test it out, I took a short hike behind the neighborhood when I came home.  It started to rain a little so I had to cut the afternoon short, but I am in LOVE with it and know that I'll wear it to shreds.  I'm already planning to buy a medium in black.  The orange is a small and fits perfect right now so the black should carry me through the larger belly months. 

Aside from the obvious reasons to love Mountain Mama - all their gear is made in the US and they try to be as green as possible - most of their tops only have a 20 mile travel in total from production to shipping - pretty cool!  AND, because of the fab technology used in their tops, they could definitely be worn while not pregnant too!  That said, I doubt the medium I order will fit when I'm not pregnant (at least I hope it won't, ack!) but the orange one should fit for sure.  I have some Smartwool base layers and I'd say that the Cloud Rest top I have would be the equivalent to Smartwool's mid-weight apparel.  Today's weather was 60s and I was comfortable - I had a fleece vest as well that I shed once inside, but outdoors I was just fine and probably would be fine cooler as well.  Any cooler than high 50s and I'd need a soft shell as well, but I'm usually always cold so I'm sure the average person would be just fine with the top alone.

Is it obvious that I am really, really impressed with this top and Mountain Mama in general?  The best part about the company is that the owner was just like any of us, an avid outdoor loving woman with frustration over the lack of techinical clothing for pregnant women who saw a need and created a solution.  (What?  That's not you?  No worries, MtMama may have technical clothes but that also means SUPER COZY!)  A pretty awesome solution if you ask me.  Oh, and the owner, she's actively involved with the company - I spoke to her after I placed my order and she's awesome - what's not to love about Mountain Mama?!  If you're on Facebook, be sure to look 'Like' them - there are often posts about giveaways from other blogs!

TIBS - Week 24

Week 24

Baby boy is quite the mover - so far, all continues to go well.  I've gained a total of 14lbs - right on target with the recommended 25-35 for my size.  Twice daily rub downs with Lubriderm and Palmer's continues to be the routine - stretch marks are not welcome!  Evening entertainment consists of us sitting on the couch with my shirt half up so we can watch my belly move.  Why on earth we find watching the same thing so much fun is beyond me... maybe there's actually more to this whole miracle! :)

We've had one hospital tour and should have another sometime in November.  The nursery furniture has been shipped and I cannot wait to have it set up so I can get my wall plan in action - it's too complicated to describe... or I'm too lazy to try to illustrate what's in my head - you pick!

Baby Boy's Indian Brothers and Sisters

Of the world's malnourished children, nearly one in three lives in India, and about half of all childhood deaths are attributable to malnutrition.  In India, 1.5 MILLION children die before their fifth birthday because of unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, or poor hygiene.  Of every 1,000 babies born there alive, 52 will die before age one.  Nearly HALF of all children younger than five are malnourished.  - Compassion.com Fall 2010

Before I was pregnant, I didn't really 'get' it.  Women get pregnant, have babies, some struggle due to lack of care, some babies live, others don't, it's all in location and access to care.  Actually BEING pregnant has completely changed my view on this.  The facts remain - but it's a little scary being pregnant.  There is someone living inside of you.  Often when baby boy is really wiggly and I can look down and SEE him moving, I can't help but think, "omg it's alive!"  I WANT him to be alive, but there are just no words to really describe and express the feeling, both physically and emotionally. 

Once you're pregnant, you go to the doctor, confirm that there is a baby growing and then set up your next monthly appointment. If you have insurance, you likely won't pay again, but you'll know how much it would have cost because your insurance company will send a statement showing the total charged and how much was paid.  At each of our visits so far, the total charged has been about $300, add another $200 for sonograms - we've had four of those (we've actually had five, but one was elective because I'm impatient like that!).  The math on that brings us to just under $3,000 and we're only half way into the appointments.  When I say you likely won't pay again, I mean that we have not even had a co-pay for any of the visits. I know insurance companies work differently so this is just ours - but the point is that prenatal care is readily available and accessible if you have insurance.

For people without insurance, there are programs through most health departments that will provide routine prevention and care to a mother and her baby. 

After our first monthly prenatal appointment it really hit us how fortunate we were to not even have a co-pay ($30) for each visit.  Even when we're at the hospital and it's time for baby to debut in the flesh, we'll only pay $150 - total, all things included - yes even anesthesia if it's desired/required.  Insurance really rocks.

I promise I'm about to tie all of this together... We have several sponsored children through Compassion International and the plan is, when he's old enough (3), to request information on a little boy with Paxton's birthday.  Until then, and with all of the above thoughts in mind, we decided that we wanted to do something NOW.  Compassion has this thing called Child Survival Program that provides prenatal care, education, supplements, vaccines, and even income generating projects to pregnant women and women of young babies.  It's not a sponsorship program - but a very essential program to the women involved.  How could we not support this?  It's actually LESS than what we'd pay if we even had to cough up a co-pay each month.  It was a no-brainer.

We decided to be surprised rather than choosing a country and we have been assigned to a CSP in India called Upkar.  Right now there are about 30 women that receive benefits.  We're really excited to learn more about how we are helping them receive better care for their babies!  I LOVE that we can do this and am so thankful there are programs that provide such help to women in need.  I have WAY more to say about this, but I fear I've lost most everyone by now... if you're still here, I should totally send you a treat!  :)