Beast Week

It has been an utterly insane week, with 13 hours of comprehensive exams over three days. And save for a few unexpected hiccups, like my computer shutting down 45 minutes into the stats exam and all my work getting lost, I, and my fellow cohortees survived! Yay!  Here we are celebrating right after our last test:

 See, I'm so excited, I'm jumping for joy

I wish I could say I felt some giant sense of relief, but with all the energy and stress leading up to this week, combined with the fact that we won't find out whether or not we passed for another 3 weeks or so, all I can say is I feel...less overwhelmed, and with each passing day, more relaxed. Of course, as soon as I finished, my first thought was: "Okay, now onto my dissertation." Egads. Our fellow classmates threw us a party called, "Comps 2012: Lets Get Crunked!" I did not get crunked. I had some ginger ale and left when everyone started playing flip cup with red wine and shooting consecutive brandy jello shots. That our cue, June Apple, time to go home and go to bed. 

I do wish I could have enjoyed a good ol' dirty martini, and perhaps one of the harder parts of this process is that between being pregnant and running after a toddler, I didn't feel like I had any ways of relieving stress. Enter Amos with the sweetest Mother's Day gift a pregnant gal could ask for: A snow cone machine! That and loads of chocolate. My mom also bought me a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure, as well as a foot massage, and a gift certificate to Graeter's Ice Scream (!) so I'm feeling like I probably won't miss that martini so much after all...well perhaps a little bit.

Comps felt so much more manageable because of how awesome all my friends and family were. Emily and Kim and my Mama-in-Law Bet were rock stars who entertained June Apple at fun places like the dog park while I buried my nose in books. My saintly mother not only took off work to  June Apple wrangle, but also made me meals and divine cupcakes. And of course, none of it could have happened without Amos who did all of the above plus put of with quite a few minor (and major) breakdowns that usually involved me screaming and crying- so for that, I am eternally grateful.

June Apple, of course, did her fair share of bringing levity to the whole situation. I mean, who can feel stressed when you have a 16 month old growling at you like a bear and demanding that you sing Itsy Bitsy Spider, so she can do the hand gestures? Its all relative with that kind of deliciousness.

I must say that my little guy was the ultimate grounding force during the tests themselves, reminding me to stay calm and keep it all in perspective- plus demanding that I take frequent pee breaks! I think he will prove to be my good luck charm, for sure!

And so, here I am at 21 weeks, tired, and ready to recharge!

 

Dear Baby Bear,

You and I had quite a week together! I am sorry for those couple extra cups of coffee and those many bags of gummy candy I consumed this week to keep me going. I promise to eat and drink much better from here on out to make up for it.

I hope that you didn't even realize how much stress I was under, as I tried really hard to stay relaxed throughout it all, if not in my mind, at least in my body.

We are already quite a team, you and I. I was certainly (as far as I know) the only person taking comps who had two brains collaborating on the exams! Pretty sweet deal if you ask me.

So the next week will be focused on fun and relaxation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I know I will.

Your Papa and sister and I love you very much,

Mama

Hey you! I see you!

We got to see our precious bundle this week! We got to count all of the important body parts and organs, including the ones we were most curious about, and the verdict is...a healthy baby BOY! Amos was literally jumping around the ultrasound office for joy, with June Apple in his arms. I cried tears of joy, just to see his face and his little body. I feel so incredibly blessed. Words do not suffice. Amos made the ultrasound tech verify several times and she seemed annoyed that we were questioning her expertise at knowing what boy parts look like (we didn't know what we were looking at!) So, even though she showed us several times, and went so far as to circle and place strategic arrows, we are still, well, taking her word for it. But, so exciting, none the less. Baby Boy was rolling and tumbling the whole time, perhaps as excited to say hello to us, as we were to say hello to him.


We are very happy to know that he is healthy and doing well. And the fact that he is a boy, well, that is awesome, too. I was excited at the prospect of a boy or a girl, but now that we know, I can really get excited about all the possibilities. I know so many awesome little boys (and men), so I am excited to see who this guy becomes. 


Comps is less than a week away and shit is getting REAL. So I really need to stop writing this post and go figure out how to explain causal inference in a quasi-experimental design. Don't ask. I don't have a clue. But I better.


Here's the pic from this week. Although I am jutting out my belly, I do have to say, there is no denying or hiding this pregnancy.

 

Dear Baby Bear,

I was so happy to see you and get to know you a little bit this week! Papa is already making big plans for you and is very excited to take you hunting, fishing and do all of his man things with him. Of course, if you don't want to do those things, I am sure you will finds lots of adventures to do together. 

I sometimes worry that my stress from my exams is affecting you, or that you can sense it, so I am trying very, very hard to stay relaxed. Hopefully you will be cool as a cucumber and relaxed, especially next week when I have to take the test for 13 hours. Maybe your relaxation will rub off on me. I have to say, helping you stay relaxed is a huge motivator for me not to get too stressed out.

Keep grooving (just not so hard on my bladder)

Your Papa, Big Sister, and I love you very much.

Love,

Mama 

19 weeks and counting

Studying has gone into full swing around here  but we have had snippets of fun this week, particularly as it heats up and there are outdoor adventures are to be had. And in very important news, June Apple is finally calling me 'Mama,' although she still calls me 'Baba,' too. Other favorite words include 'diaper' which she says while violently slapping her nether regions. There's some baby sign language for ya. At first we thought she was only saying it when she needed a change, and we were highly excited about this level of bodily awareness. But, alas, she just likes to let us know she has a diaper- like twenty times a day. Favorite animal sounds of the week include bear growls and pig snorts.

 

 

So here I am at 19 weeks! This time next week, we will know the sex of this little butter bean, as we have an ultrasound scheduled for Monday. I am really excited to see what this bambino looks like and find out a little bit more about them. Lots of people have been asking me what I think the sex of the baby will be, and honestly, I have no idea. I find that I am very influenced by what other people think its going to be. It seems like everyone is pretty 50/50, but anyone who has an opinion about it, are sure that they are right, so we'll see....I'll be happy as long as its a healthy baby. And human. I can see how either a boy or a girl would be great. I love the idea of two little sisters running around, but, gosh, do I have a soft spot for little boys. Of course, Amos is hoping for a boy to continue his "dynasty." So any guesses? What do you think this little bundle will be?          

 

Dear Baby Bear,

I am so excited to get to see you in just a few short days! I am eager to know all about you and this is will be one of the first times I will get to find out just a little bit. What will you show us? Who will you be? I hope you can hear us and that you'll wave when we see you. 
I've been craving beer and margaritas lately. Don't worry, I haven't given into the cravings. I wonder if its a sign of your tastes (Oh, help me) or just a sign that its summertime and that's what I like in the summer. Who knows? Only popsicles and grape juice for us.


I love you and will "see" you soon!


Love,
Mama

18 weeks and counting

So, I feel like I am clawing and crawling my way to the end of the semester this week, trying to get through, so I can commit more time to studying for comps. And needless to say, I am so brain dead from writing papers, I don't feel like I have much to say this week In the meantime, here I am at 18 weeks, along with an even more adorable picture of June Apple and her new friend.

Dear Baby Bear,


When I was pregnant with your sister, all I wanted to eat was fruit. Couldn't get enough of it, especially berries and apples (name choice a complete coincidence). This time around all you seem to be asking for is anything sour, pickled, fermented and vinegary- sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles (I know, a cliche), dilly beans, pepperocini, salads with Italian dressing (especially Olive Garden salads). So what does this all mean? I think it means you'll like to spice it up and take the road less traveled. That you'll like to kick it up a notch and go out on a limb when you need to. Or maybe you'll just like pickles. But we are not naming you Penny or Peter Pickle. No worries there.


I love you more than sauerkraut and kimchi,
Mama

When I was 17...

Its been a crazy week of final papers, finishing up my practicum (yay! no more two hour commutes!) and running after June Bug. June Apple had her 15 month appointment this week and while her height and head are in the 50th percentile, her weight lands her in the 6th ( a jump from the 3rd!). The doctor was really happy that she had gained nearly two pounds over the past 3 months, and grown and inch and a half. But she suggested I start giving her Carnation Essentials Instant Breakfast, mixed with her milk to bulk her up. Argh. While I don't mind finding healthy ways to increase her caloric intake (avocados, olive oil, yoghurt, etc...) I am not going to give her some sugary drink powder with God knows what kind of crap fillers just so that she can gain weight. Plus, I know what percentiles mean, and I am not overly concerned about June gaining weight so that she can be more like the 'average' American toddler. I want her to be strong and healthy and eat tasty foods that are good for her and give her an appreciation of eating and feeling good. Anyone who meets her knows that she is healthy and happy, with lots of energy. So, Carnation gets a big thumbs down. 

In other news, here I am at 17 weeks. Hello, pregnant lady! Where did that belly come from?! Its strange because I feel like I am bigger this time around than with June Apple, but since I started off this pregnancy weighing less, my maternity pants are still loose around my waist. Probably not for long! Not as sharp of a pic as I would like, my friend Emily took this on her phone and it was an especially bright day....

Dear Baby Bear,

You are quite the little jumping bean! You kick me all the time, day and night, and I bet this is only a hint of whats to come! I think its your way of letting me know you are there when I get distracted by the antics of your big sister. June Apple likes to blow raspberries on my tummy, which probably sounds pretty crazy to you. I am sure that you hear her laughing when she does this. I am guessing the two of you will have lots of laughs together!

Your Papa thinks you are going to be a big big baby because you kick so much, but I think its because you are feisty already. Well, you'll fit right in with us, for sure! Big or small, I love getting to know you already.

Love,

Mama

Family Expansion

And so here we are again, full on gestation! This time around we were caught a little by surprise, but we are  excited nonetheless! We actually discovered the exciting news on June Apple's 1st birthday, when I took a test on a whim before we went out to dinner for wine and sushi- no wine and sushi for me... Truthfully, I thought that something might be up, as I had been feeling like I was on an emotional roller coaster (as Amos can attest!) and nursing June Apple had become really painful. So, needless to say all clues pointed in one direction. As exciting as finding out was, I have to say, I definitely had an , "Oh shit...." moment, when I looked at the year ahead and realized, okay, between now and when I deliver this little bundle, I have to take my comprehensive exams and propose my dissertation and run around after a toddler. Egads. Well, truth be told many more have faced much more overwhelming circumstances with a lot fewer resources, so I have to keep it all in perspective. Its gonna be a wild ride, no doubt, but with so much love and support from family and friends, I know we'll make it through the madness.

So, here we are, and I'm already at the 4 month mark! Amos was marveling the other day about the difference between this pregnancy and my pregnancy with June Apple. With JA, it seemed like it was all we could think about, and this time around, well, we've got a lot of things going on around here! Of course, I am always thinking about this little sweet pea, but we've got another bigger tornado in the form of a 15 month old, that keeps us on our toes and running. But this little one is definitely making their presence known! One of the awesome things about being pregnant a second time is that I know what a kick feels like, and this one is a kicker! I didn't recognize June Apple's kicks until I was about 22 weeks pregnant with her, so its exciting to feel this baby movin' and shakin' even sooner. Amos thinks its because this baby is going to be HUGE, and that we should just go ahead and name them Moose (let the naming wars begin!) I think they just want to make sure we know they are there and ready to party!! So, here I am at 16 weeks. Apparently many women show earlier in the second pregnancies because, well, I guess my ab muscles are already stretched and wrecked from the first time around. I'm not sure if I am that much bigger, although in this pic I do certainly look pregnant! 

 

So those are the basics for now, gotta run because I see that June is playing with a Sharpie. More updates to come!