Sleeping on the couch

You’d think the end of pregnancy is the end of a marriage! My engagement ring is in the safe, and most days my wedding ring stays in my jewelry bowl… I sleep on the couch part of the night…

I assure it’s nothing like that – believe me, I’d rather be cuddled up with my husband and sporting my pretty rings. But my fingers are like little sausages, and my hips hurt when I lay on my sides, which is the only sleeping option left these days.

So my rings are off and my nest of pillows on the couch let me zonk out for a couple hours sitting more or less upright. After a 4:30am bowl of cereal that is. Yes, I’m complaining.

 

Walking, and pineapple

So we’ve reached the magical 37 weeks. Red Bean can come any time he or she is ready! After a couple of weeks “taking it easy”, I was thrilled to have beautiful weather and a long weekend to spend with Zach.

Weird dried fish in the Jamaican market!

We spent all day Saturday out walking. He took me to one of the weird and cool places we have here in DC – the Florida Street Wholesale Markets. I think that’s what it’s called. It’s a bunch of warehouses selling largely wholesale foods and produce for restaurants and corner stores in DC. Several sell retail to the public as well. Since the markets are spread out, we walked around several blocks and strolled through all the weird ethnic places – filled with dried fish, grains, rices, flours and spices of all kinds, meats both familiar and unfamiliar. I bought four perfect mangos in one market, and elsewhere, several kinds of lentils and peas. We finished up at the coolest Italian market, Latteri’s, where I loaded up on canned San Marzano tomatoes for sauce, some pastas and six bottles of wine.

Some Thanksgiving highlights

This was a year for a low-key Thanksgiving. My belly is so big and heavy. Staying home, just the two of us, felt right and good. Here’s a picture of me, feeling big enough to explode:

I woke up well rested and made apple fritters for breakfast – first try of a recipe I found via Pinterest. They were very delicious but not as photogenic as those on the linked page – so look at the linked page and I’ll skip the photo of mine. Mine were too dark on the outside – I think I needed to be deep frying them instead of shallow frying, which let them touch the bottom of the pan. Either way, I would definitely make them again!

Thanksgiving

I’m thankful for my caring, funny, brilliant husband.

For the baby we’ve made that will be here soon.

For health and comforts of life.

For the evening sun pouring through my window.

For the delicious meal we’re about to share.

For the adventures behind us and those ahead.

Our wonderful baby shower

My main baby shower was a couple of weeks ago – we had all our parents as well as many fantastic friends join us to celebrate Red Bean’s impending arrival. It was SO much fun! Our wonderful hosts Kristi, Jeff and Carrie outdid themselves creating a really great, easy-going, sophisticated baby shower. We were so glad to share this will everyone – Zach and I love and appreciate all of you!! Pics after the jump!

Approaching thirty-six weeks…

In spite of being distracted by I-don’t-know-how-many episodes of Breaking Bad, this was a productive weekend.

My office threw us a very nice shower on Thursday evening that got me inspired to sort and organize the baby things I have on hand – and I must say we’re very well equipped. There is no dearth of adorable onesies and swaddling blankets – and lots of other sweet and needed things too. I still have the big task of washing everything which I’m saving for next week, when I go to my three-day-a-week work schedule. But the sorting and putting away helped me plan out how to use the space efficiently, and also helped me tackle a little pocket of cleaning in the bedroom that I’d been putting off.

On Saturday morning, Zach installed the car seat! We officially have a baby seat in the Prius. Here’s Dad-to-be after completing this feat of wits and strength:

For those interested, we chose the Britax Chaperone. We tested a few in a baby store, and liked that this one is a detachable infant carrier that attaches to several of the really great Britax strollers – so we’ve got our stroller selected to0 – Britax B-Scene – but are waiting to buy it until spring. Babe can be carried in a sling during the remaining winter months. Stroller walks can wait for longer, warmer days.

After car seat installation was complete, we headed out on a shopping trip with three goals: one, a new 2×2 Expedit for the living room, and baskets for the cubbies; two, decent DVD storage binders; three, all of our home birth supplies. The Expedit (now put together and nearly filled up) was a needed organizational tool -now holding some computer parts, balcony gardening tools, and two cubbies worth of knitting materials (aka, my stash). The binder was a big dad-ward step for Zach – he transferred 90% of our DVDs into two binders, keeping cases only for special stuff, thereby making more storage room in our other living room cubbies for thingsthatneedtobeputsomewhere.

And the birth supplies, obtained at Rite-Aid and Target, are from the list provided by our midwives which we need to have on hand in advance of our 36 week home visit – so we’re ready when ever Red Bean decides to make his or her grand entrance into the world.

Missions Accomplished!

More weekend accomplishments included the actual transfer of DVDs into the binders, a fabulous photo session with a great family whom I’ve been shooting for since their first baby was expected almost four years ago! Lots of photo editing, pizza with grandparents-to-be Dave & Donna, and the ordering of a steam mop, gift from grandmother-to-be Avi.

Two and half days of work until Thanksgiving, then a nice long weekend ahead. I’m looking forward to that.

Hey Dad

Captain Obvious

It’s really hard to work when you’re pregnant.

Sitting too long is not comfortable. Waddling to the bathroom every hour is also not particularly comfortable. My simple 15 minute bus ride/ 4 block walk of a commute is kind of a hassle, because the bus is crowded and walking any meaningful distance causes pretty strong Braxton Hicks contractions.  I get sleepy after I eat, so after lunch I’m just a drowsy mess.

And by 5, I am clawing to get out of my pants and bra and into a comfy t-shirt.

It’s hard to focus. And I have a lot of work to get in good order for others to do when I’m gone.And my mind is on swaddling, and when should I wash the new cloth diapers, and baby shower thank you notes. And on the ache in my shoulder that I have no idea the source of.

It’s just really hard to work when you’re pregnant.

Baby safe – and a November giveaway!

UPDATE:  The giveaway goes to Abby Himes, who’s sister-in-law is expecting and will be lucky recipient of the soaps and belly balm! Thank you all for visiting, reading, and participating.

With the recent news of Johnson & Johnson’s resistance to removing potentially carcinogenic chemicals from its baby products, I’ve been more aware of what kinds of products are available that are safe, natural and still do the job of cleaning things that need cleaning.

This photo is (c) All Rights Reserved, used with permission

I’ve always been a fan of fabulous soaps and I was charmed when I came across a line called Biggs & Featherbelle at MOM’s Organic Market in Alexandria a couple of weeks ago. The soaps were all natural, packaged in pretty little corrugated carboard with artistic wrappers and smelled fantastic.  I chose two – one called Momma Bar (refreshing, with lavender oil – soothing, relaxing and antiseptic) and one called Barleqsue (seductive, with Ylang Ylang, geranium and patchouli). 

A tour of my “Woah Baby” board on Pinterest

If you don’t already know what Pinterest is, get on that.

Here’s a glimpse of some of my pins in my “Woah Baby” board:

These are adorable - would be fun to thrift shop some t-shirts and make a few.

Another thing I'd like to try to make, for use as a nursing cover.

ahhhh

An etsy print I'd love to add to the yellow/gray/white scheme of the bedroom.

Very cute drying rack that would be handy for drying cloth diapers.

Still hunting for baskets like these - but cool, right?

LOVE this - visit their site, they have great stuff!

 

Happy Weekend, everyone!