Boston

I went to Boston on the weekend of July 4th with my cousin Susan. Little did I know Miss Stella Grace was beginning her development. So here is my baby girls first trip out of Florida and my first trip to Boston! 

 View of Boston

 Me on the trolly

 Fennway Park

 

Boston Commons

 Harvard

 Harvard Statute (I rubbed his shoe for luck!)

 MIT

 Oldest fire station in Boston

 Boston Library

 The church across the street from  the library

 Cheers

 Me in front of Paul Reveres house

 Paul Reveres House

 

 Best pastry's in Boston

 

On the flight home

12 Days of Christmas

I am doing a 12 days of Christmas goals list... these are things I WILL accomplish in the next 12 days!

1. Work out for at least 8 days out of the next 12
2. Paint 2nd bedroom(baby room)
3. Finish the master bath (Steven's help)
4. Finish ALL laundry
5. Complete shopping and have all presents wrapped by Sunday Dec. 19th
6. Paint 4th bedroom (play room/office)
7. Organize all bills/papers
8. Pick a mural out for the baby room
9. Design and set up baby room
10. Have a date or two night with Steven
11. Take a drive and look at lights
12. Enjoy Christmas

Pasta Sauce Recipes

I recently have been going to the local farmers market when I can. Every time I go I have purchased a pasta (so far I have 3 different ones). I am now trying to figure out how I should make them. What kind of sauces should I use with the different flavors: sun-dried tomato, pepper blend, and a garlic blend. Also, what meats and veggies should I add. So far I have found:

• Lemon Sauce- http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lemon-Pasta-Sauce/Detail.aspx

• Tomato Sauce- http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Tomato-Cream-Sauce-for-Pasta/Detail.aspx

• Mushroom/Zucchini Sauce- http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pasta-with-Mushroom-and-Zucchini-Sauce/Detail.aspx

• Rosemary/Garlic Sauce- http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rosemary-Pasta-in-Roasted-Garlic-Sauce/Detail.aspx

I want to make dinner more exciting! Not over done or fancy, just different. I don't like doing the same recipes all the time and I want to mix it up a bit. I need to prepare for making child friendly foods. Granted I have a while but it never hurts to start early.

Gift Registries

I have finally finished up my registries. It took awhile because I put a lot of thought and did a lot of  research before deciding what we needed/wanted. I am very happy with my end results but I have been watching (for quite sometime) how many items actually get purchased off of a registry. In the past 3-4 years I have been to over 15 bridal and baby showers. Recently, I went to a bridal shower and noticed that she did get quite a few items off her registries (50 of 130). I also have gone to three baby showers in the past few months and have noticed that most of the items given are NOT on the persons registry. I went back and looked over each registry to verify... 1st shower only 26 of 123 items were purchased, 2nd shower 23 of 90 items were purchased, and the 3rd shower 20 of 106 (5 of which I know were me!).

So here are my questions: Why bother with registering if people are just going to give you what they think is best? Why put so much time into it, especially if you have to buy everything yourself anyway? I understand straying a little bit (like baby clothes) but to give something completely different (ex. you register for Born Free bottles and someone gets you Avent)? I am not sure I get that.

I am not trying to complain or sound mean, I just honestly want to know. I remember getting most of what I registered for when I got married but its seems to be different with baby showers and I want to financially prepare myself for the possibility of  having to go back and purchase what I need. I have not had my own baby shower yet so I will keep you posted but I was just curious. Please feel free to tell me what you think.

Update

Steven and I went to our first baby class a Winnie Palmer. It was a class based around the second trimester. The class went over preterm labor, nutrition, exercise, planning for birth, and infant care issues. We actually learned quite a bit. I learned that the pressure I feel on occasion are Braxton Hicks contractions. We learned about at home remedies for pain and ways to distract from the pain. It was a long class but good.
I also had a check up last week and decided I am primarily going to see the Midwife, whom I have met and think is awesome. Some of the doctors in the office seem to be very tradition and I am looking to mix it up! This will definitely be interesting! Everything looks good with our baby girl. She is growing like she should and is moving like crazy.

Top Ten Goals

I got this idea from another blog and decide that have a goals list is a wonderful idea. Now, my blog is primarily based around my pregnancy so I am going to do a Top Ten Goals for my pregnancy, with some parenting goals thrown in.

1. Read the Bible/Do a devotional.There are many reasons to do this but when you are in the word consistently you tend to listen to what God has to say and follow the plans He has for your life. I can't expect to grow in my spiritual life or represent God the way I should if I am not daily seeking Him. I want our baby girl to see God in me and that requires more then I have been doing lately. 2. Work on my marriage.I want to make sure we have such an amazing foundation that nothing but God himself can shake it. I am not saying that Steven and I are in a bad place, in fact we are doing amazing, but it never hurts to want more or to be even better. I know I can be a better wife and it is something I am constantly working on.  3. Create a cleaning schedule.This really means, clean the house and keep it clean! I am the worst house keeper. I hate laundry and dishes! I know, two things that are extremely important in running a house but I just have the worst time with them. I think I have also brought down Steven. He was never good at putting laundry away (he lived out of baskets) and now I have started doing the same. With the dishes I try to use one and wash it but if you don't follow through even one day, you can become overwhelmed. 4. Breastfeed. There are so many benefits to breastfeeding. Were to begin... bonding, it helps burn off the pregnancy weight, better for babies health, helps prevent obesity in you and baby, I can go on forever (here is a good website). I have a great support system and I already have a breast pump (thanks Randi); two amazing thing some women don't have. I am also not afraid to ask for help so with God on my side I know I can breastfeed! 5. Make my own baby food.Not only is this extremely cost effective, you can also regulate what your child is eating. I am not saying this is going to be a breeze but it is something I would like to do. A friend of mine gave me this idea (her blog page here) and she recommend a website that looks great. Babies are expensive and I want to do whats best for us financially as well as keeping baby healthy. 6. Exercise: before and after.Something that is totally feasible! I know this will help with those up/down pregnancy hormones and it will keep me on track weight wise but I am not motivated at all. Because of the time change, it gets dark at 6:00pm and Steven doesn't get home until 6-630ish most nights. I hate working out by myself because its hard to stay accountable. I want so much to be motivated but honestly I'm just not. If anyone has suggestions let me know!! 7. Be consistent and follow through.When it comes to parenting, I hear these are HUGE. As someone who is certified to teach and works for a high school, I see what happens when you are inconsistent. When being consistent there are clear cut "yes" and "no" categories. This lead to the "follow through," when you stay consistent your child knows what happens when he/she misbehaves (clear consequences).  8. Read daily.This is something Steven and I can do together or separate with our baby girl. I want to read to her daily, it can be a bible story or a fun book. My main goal is one story before bed and while I am breastfeeding Steven can read a story.  9. Reach for the stars.This applies to me as a person and a soon to be parent. I have two quotes for this:  Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. ~Robert Fulghum It's not only children who grow.  Parents do too.  As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours.  I can't tell my children to reach for the sun.  All I can do is reach for it, myself.  ~Joyce Maynard  10. Be Content.God has blessed me in so many ways and more often than not I find myself wanting more things. Sure it would be nice to have more clothes, but my closet is full. I need to enjoy what I have and not worry about what I don't have or what I think I should have.

Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers

This is something I have started debating. I know when I go back to work that I would be unable to continue with cloth diapers because almost all daycare's won't allow them. So the question is: Is it worth using cloth diapers for only 4 months? Also, are cloth diapers harder to use (for Steven of course)? I have done some research about the subject and these are the main points I found...

    * Skin Care & Health concerns: Cloth is generally better for two reasons, you can tell when your child needs to be changed (therefore less rashes) and because they do not use any weird by products (EPA). Also, babies are more comfortable in cloth diapers.
    * Convenience: Disposables, no question! Also, disposable diapers do not leak as much as cloth diapers.
    * Environmental: Disposable diapers make up a huge part of the garbage we dump in our nation's landfills every year but on the other hand laundering diapers uses up a lot of energy and water, and the detergents used pollute the nation's waters. So you can decided whats more important to you.
    * Cost: This depends... cloth has a more expensive start up rate (but not if you get them second hand), if you use a laundry service cloth diapers can be more pricey. If you wash them yourself or the laundry service provides everything, cloth diapering can be less expensive.

In conclusion, as a first time mom who plans on going back to work and will have to use disposables anyway, if only for daycare, whats the best option? Personally, I am "on the fence." Stevens cousin said she would help me get started with cloth diapers but the convenience of disposables is hard to pass up!

Note: This is intended to be an interesting discussion, not a war!

Website used:
http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/diapers.htm
http://life.familyeducation.com/diapers/baby/50452.html

Anatomy Ultrasound

Yesterday was my anatomy ultrasound, It's where the sonographer measures everything on the baby to make sure everything is normal. The sonographer checks the heart, stomach, lungs, legs, arms, head, spine, etc. and I got a few awesome shots of my baby girl...

 Profile Picture

Heart Rate: 162BPM

Profile Picture

Foot!!

First Kick

I started feeling her move at around 17 weeks, it felt like bubbles popping, and it has been consistently getting stronger and stronger. Yesterday I felt her kick/jab my hand for the first time. For those of you who know me well, you know the beginning of this pregnancy was a little rough for me. Not because I was overly sick but because the pregnancy was not planned. I am not saying I wasn't thrilled because I know its a gift from God but I was/am so scared. I am a worrier, just ask Steven he will tell you. In the past couple of years there have been quite a few "obstacles" thrown our way and we have been playing catch up. Now that we have a baby on the way I have a whole new set of worries. Having a child is a big responsibility! You have so much influence over a person's life when you become a parent and they depend on YOU! Feeling her kick for the first time has made her become that much more "real" to me. I want to be the best mother I can and I want to her to know who God is. I don't have many Christian friends who have had children or even friends who have had children so if you are one of them you better believe I am going to be coming to you for advice! I just want everyone to know I feel elated that God would see me fit to be a parent.

"It's Normal"

I went to the doctors on Monday 10/18 for my check up and again on 10/22 because I was having some pain/pressure. A phrase I heard constantly last week was "it's normal." Did you know everything is "normal" during pregnancy? I have never had a nose bleed until I got pregnant, normal. Random stomach pains, normal. Feeling like your bladder is going to explode, normal. UTIs, normal. Starving one minute and couldn’t eat a thing the next, normal. Nauseous but still hungry, normal. Numbness, normal. Headaches, normal. Leg pain/cramps, normal. Oh and my favorite... the emotional roller coaster, normal. I am not sure how I feel about all of these wonderful "normal" symptoms of pregnancy. Can't wait to find out whats next!!

On a brighter note, I got my results back from the "testing" ultrasound and blood work, everything came back negative so she's great! Next, I have my "anatomy" ultrasound on 11/03 (I will be exactly 20 weeks!).

P.S. Unrelated to this post... I want to thank my cousin Stephanie for all the amazing maternity clothes and my sister-in-law Randi, it means so much to me!! I won't have to buy a thing (more for Stella)!! Also, a huge thanks to Shirley, whom I work with and won't read this, she has been picking me up toys and books since I told her I was pregnant. The things she has gotten me will be a huge help and savings!

Overwhelmed

I went to babies R us over the weekend to begin my registry. I spent over an hour there trying to decided what I would need and only ended up registering for a total of 16 items. Out of these 16 items my sister-in-law helped me pick out half when I first found out I was pregnant, so on my own I registered for about 8 items. I do however have a registry on Amazon.com and I have been adding items as I research them. Babies R us is just so overwhelming... say I need a stroller, what kind of stroller, what brand, what color, etc. babies R us has everything right there which is good and bad. Good because you do get to see the product, bad because if your a first time mom with NO experience you get a little freaked out.
I feel so unprepared! I still have to clean the entire house, get rid of anything that may be harmful (baby proof), design and set up a nursery, think about childcare, find a pediatrician, cook food and freeze, wash everything, pack hospital bags, schedule a "babymoon", oh and sleep! I know I know... I have time but its all going by so quick and there are major holidays in between! I am already 17 weeks and have only decided on which room to put her in.
As of today I have gained 0.8lbs and I am definitely showing (I look more fat then pregnant), I only get sick now if I don't eat fast enough and I no longer feel comfortable in my regular pants (I feel like I am squishing her)... on to maternity pants! I am currently reading two amazing books (pregnancy related), Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize and Expectant Prayers for Expectant Mothers by Jennifer Weiss. I have a few others I will be reading but they are mostly "How To" books. If anyone has books they would recommend let me know!

It's a...

GIRL!!!

We are absolutely thrilled and
can't wait to meet HER!!

The baby is happy, healthy and growing like SHE should.

Boy or Girl?

I had an ultrasound this weekend and we got to find out what we were having but before I share I want to hear your opinions. Do you think its going to be a boy or a girl? My most recent "belly" picture is in my last post. I want to hear what you think...

 

Here it is again!

The Moriarty Wedding Weekend

First, I would like to congratulate my cousin Sarah and her new husband Ryan; May God Bless You! At the beginning of last week I went to the doctor for my baby check up and was given the flu shot. I got sick around midnight that night and could not hold any solid food down until Wednesday. My sister and mother came over to nurse me back to health on Tuesday which helped so much! I was freaking out the entire time about the baby's health but the doctor said everything was fine, it was me who needed to get better. I still wasn't feeling all that well on Thursday but we had been planning a trip to New Jersey/New York since we found out the date of my cousins wedding. Our flight was Thursday night and we got in around 9pm. We proceeded to get the rental car which was supposed to be a Nissan Sentra but we ended up with a Cadillac SRX.  Both good cars but luxury was fun!

  

 Friday I took Steven into the city and we did some sight seeing.

Leaving for the city!

Thinking Central Park

Central Park

Time Square

St. Patrick's Cathedral

  Steven had a beer in Soho and my family joined us later that evening and we had some New York pizza.

I do not drink the beer!

He's loving it!

Saturday was the wedding and it was beautiful! I had a blast for the time I was there... I got sick and had to leave early but it was still awesome!

Sunday morning Steven and I (and the entire hotel) got woken up at 1:00am because the fire alarm was going off. We had to evacuate the building and we waited an hour to get back in!

 

From this event I conclude I am great in emergency situations (maybe from working at banks and high schools?) and Steven needs a little work. I was out of bed and had all valuables in 60 seconds... Steven took 3.5 minutes with my help. It was quite the night. Sunday we slept in, woke up at 11:00am, got packed, and headed out. We got breakfast with my family at the Park Ridge Diner (and took fun pictures- see below), which was a whole other event (crazy waitress), and then went shopping at some outlets in Jersey near the airport.

"Testing" Ultrasound

Yesterday I had my second ultrasound at Winnie Palmer. This was the ultrasound where they measure the back of the babies head. It took a total of about 2 1/2 hours with them also drawing blood. Apparently our baby didn't want to cooperate because I had to get up and walk around a few times and when the baby still wouldn't cooperate the sonographer had to bring in the high risk doctor because he is the one that reviews the measurements. By the end of the whole visit I was tired and really hungry. Plus I had a headache but we got some cute pictures! Here are a few images:

Head and Body

Its waving!

You can see the head more clearly.