This year we are spending Thanksgiving with Michael's family. His entire family will be together for the holiday, which will be a nice treat. This will be the first year that I'm not with my family for at least part of the day, but we will be spending Christmas with my family this year. We are traveling to Bullhead City to visit my grandma Pat for Christmas and then spending time with my mom, dad and brother when we get back.
Thanksgiving is one of my least favorite holidays. My grandpa Frank died suddenly the night before Thanksgiving, 10 years ago today. It always brings back sad memories for me. I know I have a lot to be thankful for and I try to concentrate on that. I got to spend 19 years with him but I do still miss him a lot and it's especially hard around this time of year. He was a wonderful grandpa and a wonderful man overall. He really took good care of my grandma.
This will be our first Thanksgiving as a married couple and our last Thanksgiving as a family of 2.
I will be making a pumpkin cream pie (recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman - if you haven't checked out her blog, you must!). I'm also in charge of the rolls and deviled eggs. Michael also has requested that I make guacamole; even though I argued that it doesn't exactly fit in with the Thanksgiving dinner, he insists that Thanksgiving is not only about the traditional dinner but it's also about having snacks to eat while you watch football.
We have our next doctor's appointment on the Monday after Thanksgiving and I'm hoping Dr. Simms will feel generous and do an ultrasound for Michael to see!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Twelve Weeks!
Today marks the beginning of the 12th week of my pregnancy! Twelve weeks is an important milestone because risk of miscarriage goes down and the 2nd trimester starts in 1 week. (Some doctors mark the end of the 1st trimester at 12 weeks but most mark it at 13 weeks.) I don't look pregnant yet, only like I eat too many donuts for breakfast each morning (although 1 donut per morning is probably too many). I'm hoping to start showing here soon.
Our next doctor's appointment is the Monday after Thanksgiving and Michael will be coming with for the first time. My doctor said that we will be able to hear the heartbeat with the doppler. I'm anxious to see Michael's reaction because he is so very excited to become a dad. I'm hoping that we can also schedule the appointment for our next ultrasound, when we can find out the sex!
I also have an appointment on Friday evening with a doula that we are considering hiring. A doula is a birth expert (although not considered medical personnel) who helps make a birth plan and assists through the labor and delivery process. Since neither Michael or I have ever been through this experience before, I think a doula would be helpful. There are a couple of big reasons (other than never doing this before) for considering a doula. First, doulas support and help assist a woman through a natural childbirth experience. Although I'm not going to get too attached to one idea about giving birth, I would like the process to be as natural and drug free as possible. I believe our bodies are designed to give birth and that it's most beneficial to do so without medical intervention if possible. I think about my grandma Pat, who gave birth 5 times with no pain medication and I know it can be done. And frankly, the idea of having a large needle inserted in my back and not feeling my legs creeps me out. I imagine things get pretty intense during the labor process, and the doula (Sara) will be there to remind me that I can do this and to provide a calming influence. Second, many of you know that Michael works in the natural gas fields of the Piceance Basin. He leaves the house at about 3:30am and doesn't get home until about 6:30pm. He will most likely be working when I go into labor and best case scenario, it will take him at least an hour to get home. Most likely, it will take much longer depending on who is on his location at the time. Sara would be on call for us starting 2 weeks before my due date and she would come to my house and help me through the laboring process until we have to leave for the hospital. Even if Michael is with me at this point, having Sara with us will increase the amount of time we (I) feel comfortable laboring at home and decrease the time spent at the hospital (decreasing the need for labor-quickening drugs like Pitocin). Anyway, I am anxious to meet Sara on Friday and see if we "mesh."
Here are some websites for more information on doulas and specifically Sara.
DONA International
Gentle Spirit Doula
Our next doctor's appointment is the Monday after Thanksgiving and Michael will be coming with for the first time. My doctor said that we will be able to hear the heartbeat with the doppler. I'm anxious to see Michael's reaction because he is so very excited to become a dad. I'm hoping that we can also schedule the appointment for our next ultrasound, when we can find out the sex!
I also have an appointment on Friday evening with a doula that we are considering hiring. A doula is a birth expert (although not considered medical personnel) who helps make a birth plan and assists through the labor and delivery process. Since neither Michael or I have ever been through this experience before, I think a doula would be helpful. There are a couple of big reasons (other than never doing this before) for considering a doula. First, doulas support and help assist a woman through a natural childbirth experience. Although I'm not going to get too attached to one idea about giving birth, I would like the process to be as natural and drug free as possible. I believe our bodies are designed to give birth and that it's most beneficial to do so without medical intervention if possible. I think about my grandma Pat, who gave birth 5 times with no pain medication and I know it can be done. And frankly, the idea of having a large needle inserted in my back and not feeling my legs creeps me out. I imagine things get pretty intense during the labor process, and the doula (Sara) will be there to remind me that I can do this and to provide a calming influence. Second, many of you know that Michael works in the natural gas fields of the Piceance Basin. He leaves the house at about 3:30am and doesn't get home until about 6:30pm. He will most likely be working when I go into labor and best case scenario, it will take him at least an hour to get home. Most likely, it will take much longer depending on who is on his location at the time. Sara would be on call for us starting 2 weeks before my due date and she would come to my house and help me through the laboring process until we have to leave for the hospital. Even if Michael is with me at this point, having Sara with us will increase the amount of time we (I) feel comfortable laboring at home and decrease the time spent at the hospital (decreasing the need for labor-quickening drugs like Pitocin). Anyway, I am anxious to meet Sara on Friday and see if we "mesh."
Here are some websites for more information on doulas and specifically Sara.
DONA International
Gentle Spirit Doula
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Out with the Old, In with the New
Our wedding present from my parents is a bathroom remodel. We have picked out the tile, cabinets and counter tops and the bathroom is now ready to be demolished. As many of you know, we have been working for the past 2 years to remodel a circa 1930 orchard home. We have always regretted not taking "before" pictures of the kitchen area since we completely remodeled that area (took out walls and a chimney, put up new drywall including the ceiling, put in all new floors and new appliances). So, here are "before" pictures of our spare bathroom that will soon be brand-spanking-new, thanks to my talented dad.
Notice the lovely and flattering florescent light:
And the attractive jagged edge on the counter top:
The green splatter paint tile is outdated:
The hardwood floor must've been beautiful at some point, but now it's ruined:
And speaking of bringing in the new, here are a couple pictures of our new baby gear. Michael already has the crib set up and I've been busy purchasing bug accessories. I found rattles, teethers and other fun little baby items on sale at Kohl's this week. I even bought some Winnie the Pooh outfits for our little June Bug. I think they'll look perfect on either a girl or a boy.
Stay tuned for "after" pictures of our bathroom - soon to come!!!
Notice the lovely and flattering florescent light:
And the attractive jagged edge on the counter top:
The green splatter paint tile is outdated:
The hardwood floor must've been beautiful at some point, but now it's ruined:
And speaking of bringing in the new, here are a couple pictures of our new baby gear. Michael already has the crib set up and I've been busy purchasing bug accessories. I found rattles, teethers and other fun little baby items on sale at Kohl's this week. I even bought some Winnie the Pooh outfits for our little June Bug. I think they'll look perfect on either a girl or a boy.
Stay tuned for "after" pictures of our bathroom - soon to come!!!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Bun in the Oven!
Michael and I are expecting our first baby, due June 1st, 2011!!!! I will be 11 weeks along on November 10th. We were both surprised that it happened this fast; when I told Michael that I was pregnant, he said, "That was easy!" We are both very excited to be parents and looking forward to a new chapter in our lives. It's also a special time for my family, as this will be my parents' first grandchild. (That's not to say that Michael's family is not excited; this will be his parents' fifth grandchild.) I am very anxious to see my parents as grandparents. I have so many great memories of both sets of grandparents growing up and am still very close to my dad's mom, my grandma Pat.
We have already been busy preparing. Our "office" will become a nursery. I painted it yellow, green and blue last year and so we've decided to do a bug-themed nursery. Michael is going to put his artistic talents to use and paint caterpillars, grasshoppers, bees, butterflies, etc. on our walls. We have some crafty ideas for painting an old dresser once we find one at Habitat or Goodwill, and we're going to ask my grandma Pat to make the bedding for us once we find fabric we like. We already found a crib at the used baby goods store in town; a solid wood beauty for less than $200! What a steal!
Our first ultrasound was around 8 weeks and we'll get another one around 20 weeks to find out the sex of baby Withouse. Here is the first picture of our bundle of joy!
We have already been busy preparing. Our "office" will become a nursery. I painted it yellow, green and blue last year and so we've decided to do a bug-themed nursery. Michael is going to put his artistic talents to use and paint caterpillars, grasshoppers, bees, butterflies, etc. on our walls. We have some crafty ideas for painting an old dresser once we find one at Habitat or Goodwill, and we're going to ask my grandma Pat to make the bedding for us once we find fabric we like. We already found a crib at the used baby goods store in town; a solid wood beauty for less than $200! What a steal!
Our first ultrasound was around 8 weeks and we'll get another one around 20 weeks to find out the sex of baby Withouse. Here is the first picture of our bundle of joy!
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