27 weeks, 1 day (July 28, 2009)

Here’s my baby belly at 27 weeks, 1 day (taken on July 28th). We’re so excited to finally be in our third trimester. The second trimester flew by! I think it helps that I’m working pretty much full-time, and I’m busy with projects here at home too. We’re almost there! The hubby keeps talking about how she’s going to be here in less than three months. Eek! So exciting!

27 weeks, 1 day

27 weeks, 1 day; this is a stern reminder that I really need to clean the front entryway mirror!

Baby Shower, July 18th

Hi, all! Here are some photos from the baby shower we traveled 12 hours to attend in Minnesota. The trip was well worth it! We saw friends and family we haven’t seen in a while (some since the wedding–4 years ago!), and we had a great time. The cake was delicious (I was so excited for cake), and the company was awesome. Just for consistency’s sake, I was 25 weeks, 5 days at the shower. Enjoy!

Such pretty decorations; my mother-in-law coordinated this part of the party (it was a combo party with both families--the hubby's and mine).

Centerpiece from Mom and Rachel's table.

This one's for my cousin Jennifer, courtesy of Rachel and my mom! Gotta show off that smiling face and the baby belly.

Lots of family and friends from both sides attended.

Though the men were uncertain of this unisex baby shower, they were good sports, took part in the games, and kept each other company . . . in the corner they somehow designated as their own.

It was such a comfy chair that I didn't even mind it was front and center.

We received so many awesome gifts during the shower. This particular one is from my mom and dad. They packed the baby bathtub full of goodies for Baby Girl!

Just one more present-opening picture. We received a lot of pink that day (thank goodness I love pink! The hubby is still getting used to it all), but this little bath towel was so cute and the perfect gift from our friends, Kari and Dale. It's bright and happy like they are!

21 weeks 2 days (June 17, 2009)

I know this is way late, as I am now 23 weeks 6 days, but I had forgotten I had taken this. And it’s kind of a cute picture. I look smaller in this pic than I do at 19 weeks 6 days, and I think that’s because I was turned differently in the earlier photo. Nonetheless, I hope you like this new photo! I’ll try to get one from 24 weeks uploaded once we hit that milestone.

21 wks 2 days (June 17, 2009)

Master’s Degree = Done.

I just have to send in my portfolios to my reader, Ann, but other than that, I’m all done! There are a few pages that keep getting cut off on my typeset version, so I have to wait for the little sister to get back from partyin’ hardy in Duluth (she’s at a wedding) this weekend to get them fixed, but other than that, it’s all set. Everything has been printed and assembled. I just have to put in the cover for the project and the porfolio and about 5 pages worth of project, and I’m set! Yay!

It felt weird this morning, when I started to plan my day, and it didn’t involve sitting at my computer to write. I’ve been MIA from everything else for a while, and that’s because every spare minute at work and at home was spent writing and revising–over and over again. It was worth it, though. I’m really proud of how it turned out.

Both grades (my independent study class and my master’s project) were submitted well before the deadline of May 29th, so now it’s just a matter of a couple of months, and I’ll have my diploma in hand!

Now I can get back to “normal” life–whatever that is. I’m getting caught up on my freelance editing (a big thank you to all of you who have been so patient while I finished this up), and I can start sewing and crafting again. I have lots of blankets, quilts, toys, etc., to make for a couple friends’ babies and for my own little girl.

I even got a chance to bake this afternoon–Blueberry-Yogurt Muffins.

Blueberry-Yogurt Muffins

They’re delicious. And so is having time to be.

Baby V at 18 wks 4 days

Here are the photos from our ultrasound today. The baby is growing well, is healthy, and everything looks normal. Good news all around!

And we’re having a girl. We’re so excited!!

Profile

Profile 2

Face, belly, and arms/hands

Feet (she has them stacked.)

Preggers

I am 15 weeks pregnant. We’re thrilled. Absolutely and completely. Baby is doing great. Heartbeat clocked in at 150 bpm today at our monthly appointment. We find out the sex of the baby in a month (or three weeks, depending upon when I can get in for an appointment). I’ve gained 1 lb. since my first appointment at 8 weeks, and the doctors are really pleased with the progression. I was worried I wasn’t gaining enough weight, but they said no worries! Baby is healthy and so am I. That’s what matters to them. They’d be concerned if I was gaining weight too rapidly.

Our due date is October 24th.

According to the old wives’ tale, the heartbeats are indicating that we’re having a girl. I’m not sure. No feelings either way right now. We’re just so excited to be pregnant.

I’ll post pictures soon enough. I’m not big into naked pregnant belly pictures. More power to women who are, but I just can’t do it. But you can see the baby belly through my clothes, that’s for sure.

I felt the baby move early this morning–I was still in bed, laying on my left side. That or it was gas. It felt like someone ran their finger very lightly and briefly across the inside of my uterus. Crazy weird. Could’ve been gas, but I hope it was Bean (that’s our baby nickname).

That’s all for now.

16 down, 14 to go

The PCOS caused me to gain around 20 lbs. (or so–it might have been more) last year. Despite exercising regularly, I couldn’t lose it.

I decided to go on the Weight Watchers program about two months ago. I had heard amazing things about it, and some of my family members have used the program with great success. I didn’t sign up for the meetings because I don’t have the time, and, frankly, they’re really expensive. So, I used the online functions to track my eating habits.

I started cutting back and stayed at or under my allotted points, and low and behold, I lost 2 pounds the first week. And then another two the next week. And then 3 more. And then another, and another, and another. And, two months later, I’ve lost 16 pounds.

16 pounds!

I feel amazing. My old clothes don’t fit anymore, and even my “skinny clothes” (pre-PCOS clothes) are starting to get baggy. My goal is still another 14 pounds away, and, if I’m feeling ambitious, I may even go for another 10 after that, but I would be pleased as can be if I can get back to 145 lbs. That will put my squarely in the healthy weight range for my height (120-150 lbs. for 5′5″). I may be shorter, but I am bustier, so getting back to 135 lbs. (what I was when I graduated from high school) would probably be a bit on the unrealistic side. And staying realistic is what has helped me to get to this point.

This also means I’m more than halfway to my goal.

Another (happy) dilemma–I need to find a dress for an upcoming wedding! This is where I’m going to debut my new body. Well, it’s a work in progress, but that’s OK–aren’t we all?

And with my heart palpitations, losing weight was recommended. I know it’s been easier on my heart, and the rest of my body. My cardiologist was/is so proud of me when I saw her back in October. And I’m proud of me, too.

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas

My older sis and I decided this summer that we were going to do a “green” Christmas. We are purchasing gifts that are made in the USA, are organic, are used, or are handmade (even by us). We also decided that if we came across something that we know the person we’re buying for needs, we can break the rules just a smidge to get them that necessity.

I started off by purchasing a few used books for my niece (Fraggle Rock) and for my little sister and her husband (vegetarian cookbooks) from the Canton Public Library’s Secondhand Prose bookstore.

I purchased something useful for my brother-in-law, Reid: woodworking tools and patterns. Though only a few things are made in the USA, these are things he will be able to use in the future for his woodworking hobby.

The hubby and I purchased spinners, a double shepherd’s hook, and a napkin holder from a Hudderite colony in southern Minnesota. I can talk about these because we weren’t willing to drag them all the way back to Michigan, so the family got them while we were there.

Now we get to the fun part. I went shopping on Etsy, and I was able to score the following awesome stuff:

For my nephew and niece.

For my little sister.

For my brother-in-law (the lil sis’s man).

For my friend, Brooke.

For our friend, Trevor.

And even though my older sister reads my blog, I love this so much, I have to show it off. So, Rachel, don’t click on this link! For my darling older sister.

And this, this is for me (fifth picture down, Autumn Floral). For my new business cards. I have actual business cards for my work. Wow. I think I have a real job. Crazy.

I am making a scarf for my goddaughter, Emily (I have two Emilies in my life–two different spellings and two very different and lovely girls), and I am purchasing something useful for my husband. He reads this blog occasionally, so I won’t say anything more about that.

I’m going to upcycle old cards for my Christmas correspondence, or I will be using recycled paper and envelopes for a Christmas letter. I haven’t decided which yet.

I will also be making the gift bags for each present. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make all of them in time for my family’s presents, but I’ll definitely be making them for the hubby’s side of the family.

I don’t want this post to sound all preachy, but this is something we chose together. I just thought I would share what we were up to.

Confession #3

Oh, and I’m also the new Web editor for St. Paul Media, Jonathan Hatch’s super successful and ever-growing business.

So far, it has been nothing but a good time, and I’m sure that will continue as his business grows. He hires great people, like old colleagues from BSU. You can’t go wrong with Beavers!

One more awesome thing to balance out the suckiness of the PCOS.

When God closes a door, He opens a window. (That’s as religious as I’ll get on this here blog, I promise.)

Confession #2

So, you remember that job I declared I wanted but then assumed I had jinxed myself and I wouldn’t get?

I got it.

I’m the new Journals Production Editor for Wayne State University Press.

This is my second week on the job, and I’m loving every minute of it. The learned curve is set incredibly high, but I’m excited about the challenges it holds for me. I actually had to bring home a page proof today because I’m under a deadline, but that’s still OK with me.

There’s a lot of great stuff in the Press’ journals department, and I’m excited to be spearheading it. I probably won’t talk about it much, but I may mention events we’re doing and such.

One of the many amazing things going on in my life right now.