little.missing.ness.

i really love being pregnant.
i do.

ok at least the II trimester and a portion of the first...

i wonder if the III will be ok too.

it started a few days ago and uh, i took a nap 2 days in a row.

i wonder if the napping trend will come back to haunt me.

i may as well take advantage though as i will be haunted by lack of sleep soon enough.

even tho i love being pregnant i still miss certain things.

not a lot, just a little.

i was talking to sis.in.law (also pregs)

and we were discussing the things we miss.

i mentioned to her that

i am now far enough along to not remember what it feels like to be unpregnant.

what it feels like to move normal.

run normal.

dress normal.

not have a baby move in my belly.

right now it just would feel weird not to have these things, but i have a part of me

that longs for feeling "normal" just for a day.

just to remember what that feels like.

i miss:

1. laying on my tummy.

2. beer and wine- 

not the act of drinking, but a nice cold beer or a hearty glass of cab.

3. coordination.

4. running longer than 2 miles without feeling winded.

5. i do love the way the little looks in my belly, but i miss my old tummy sometimes.

will i ever see this body again?

6. fitting into normal fall clothes.

7. being able to paint my toe nails with ease and dry in between my toes.

8. mochas or lattes more regularly.

9. spicy tuna sushi.

10. sleeping through the night.

(i guess i should just kiss this one goodbye for a while ...)

im sure i'll miss being pregnant.

and i'm sure i'll post about what i miss.

up to this pt - since i am past the pt of remembering naus - 

i truly am enjoying pregnancy and will continue to savor it.

the little just hanging out.

up to this.

life's going quickly.

but i've managed to capture little bits along the way.

here's what has been up lately.

1. we had an ink explosion in the dryer. ruined clothes. called for a gift card splurge.

2. yoga on ludlow. such a treat on saturday morn. outside.

3. grandma turned 82. so young. she made her yummy peach pie.

4. pockets went on a sticker binge during the bday party.

5. i am attempting to edge. not well. not consistently. but learning.

6. park. jog. perspective. snapshot.

7. a big red balloon. where's my tummy?

8. a lovely tuesday evening for a jog and walk.

9. garbage can art. i like it.

10. on the porch with my little after i successfully self-pedicured my toes.

1. celebrated F.I.L. bob's bday and hazel enjoyed opening his presents.

2. lunch with "my kids" - - great to catch up with these guys.

3. dad's been busy working on our master closet...

4. i've been busy trying to ignore all the pumpkin gear that i want.

i may have a pumpkin fetish.

5. nesting in my head. closet first. baby room second. so many optimal choices.

6. hazel VS sugar. the eyes say it all.

7. watched some preseason football. yes, it is a life size lion.

Lion L. lives in our friend's living room and he welcomed us to the Bengals/Lions game.

8. wy-guy and his dimples turned 1! we got him some tinyTOMS. 

...

*pumpkin picture via*

Things I Like [Lauren]

I have dabbled in numerous blogs.

Some I follow religiously, others here and there and others for a day and then I forget.

Somewhere along the way I know I read a blog with a similar posting section such as this.

I am not sure what blog it's from, when I read it or what the exact categories are, 

but I wanted to note that I was inspired by whatever blog that was...

imitation is a form of flattery and in the blogosphere it is so easy to become inspired.

I wanted to have some guests post on the blog to change it up.

I like sharing my simple 'likes' and 'dislikes' 

but thought it would be nice to add some spice from others - 

adding a collection of likes (or dislikes...)

This particular 'Things I Like' post comes to us from Lauren.

Lauren has a little blog she calls Batman Martin

(better known as her son, see pic below)

She may not post super frequently, but when she does prepare to be entertained-

as she writes with quite the witty tone.

Lauren is so stinking organized and on her game. She makes me look bad.

It's no surprise she was the first person to submit her 'likes'!!

Thanks for sharing your Likes, Lauren!

Dimples. Especially this guy's.

My coupon organizer. It makes life easy.

And yes, it is organized to the store we frequent most.

SUMMER OLYMPICS.

Love. love.

Like-I-wanted-to-use-this-theme-song-as-my-wedding-processional-Love.

I am counting down the days until London 2012 

and I am seriously trying to get to Rio de Janerio for 2016.

In fact, I should probably mark myself absent on my work calendar now.

My nursing cover.

I bought this thing as an act of desperation. I cannot believe that I paid $35 for it when the majority of my mama friends got theirs for free or less than $10.

Now, as my nursing days are drawing to a close, 

I cannot bring myself to remove this from my purse.

It's my security blanket. A reminder of the special bond I have with my son.

And it protected all of me from the rest of the world's eyes for a year.

*If you'd like to submit your own 'Things I Like' or 'Things I Dont Like' 

please contact hello@seeuinnovember.com

...and you don't have to know me or have a blog to contribute...

all are welcome*

hello on a thursday.

happy thursday from little pocket snickerdoodle.

- - - 

don't forget to stop and smell the flowers.

check and check mark.

well, we hired a doula.
and hired a birth educator.
and she happens to be the same person!


not sure if you remember me mentioning that i attended a doula training 
back in June.
feels like eons ago...
i feel very lucky to have attended this training 
and even more lucky to have attended while pregnant!
while i choose to educate myself on aspects of birth, labor 
and the current, never ending interventions and rise in abdominal surgeries for birth,
it was such a blessing to have almost my own birth class workshop.
a lot of it was review for me, but i took in plenty of new in addition.


the experience was empowering, enlightening and exciting!
i wish every moma-(and popa)-to-be could take a workshop like this-
covering such important material on birth decisions in our society today.
i started an entry on this a long time ago, but i am choosing my posts
carefully until after my own experience.
it was very hard to describe the experience in full, but i may touch on the topics as time goes on.
...
so
 when it came to interview a doula, well, i didn't really have a lot of questions.
it was more important to choose someone that john and i both 
feel comfortable with to support us through, what may be,
 a long (or short, but probably long) adventure of meeting our little.


we interviewed a few ladies, but when we met with melanie 
i think we both knew we needed to make this work.
despite me knowing who i wanted, i let it soak in and didn't make any comments 
as i didn't want to influence john. 
turns out later that evening he mentioned clicking with her as well.
check and check mark.
that was easy.
we really do have similar taste after all.


it also is in our favor that she teaches natural child birth classes - 
so what better way to get more acquainted with your doula than to take her birth classes?!
there are so many options these days for types of classes and methods...
lamaze, hypnobirthing, bradley...
i didn't have any interest in taking a hospital course 
as it doesn't have a high success rate for natural childbirth
and
 i didn't feel right about going in with just one method since, 
as a first time moma it is all going to feel new 
and i won't know exactly what to expect 
no matter how much i read and no matter how much prepare. 
melanie teaches a mixed method class covering a little bit of everything 
which seemed like a perfect fit for the 2 of us.

i couldn't be more pleased with our care providers and doula 
and know the 3 of us will be in good hands with all our advocates.

if you are unfamiliar with doula-dom 
check out my guest post on bnature.
every moma deserves a doula.
treat yourself.

7 tips for jogging preggos.

1. depends are not a bad plan

or look into running routes with a lot of bushes.

2. growing hips + silk underbottoms do not mix.

3. don't be alarmed if people stare at you ... a lot.

sometimes even point and laugh.

make them the spectacle by shooting them 2 birds.

4. you will be slower in pace...

and your husband or significant other may finish long before you.
when previously that wasn't the case.

5. depends are not a bad plan.

did i mention that already?

6. crotch wedgies are more common than before.

7. you may want to compose letters to your thighs to stop touching.

or at least consider gold bond?




...feel free to add on...

STOP DOING THAT!

that is what i picture you saying when we prod on you for a heart beat.

you certainly don't like to be messed with.

although i do hope you snuggle with me.

but, if you like to be independent than so be it.

sora checked you out today and we are measuring 27.5 cm 

right on par.

(so my last 29 cm reading i must have mis-read a number b/c 

i KNOW you aren't decreasing in size. this i know.)

forgive me.

it took a while to get your heartbeat little stubborn soul.

we tried the fetoscope and well, your position wasn't making listening easy.

then even with the doppler, handheld you would squirm away telling us to mind our bizz.

sora got easy, quick reads from your cord beat, but we both wanted to hear your heart.

can you blame us?

we are going to be checking your rhythm every other week now so hopefully you 

cooperate a little better and we can just do it quick and not bother you too long.

you are right about 144 bpm. 

i asked sora about your rate decreasing in steady increments 

(not out of concern, but curiosity) 

and the bigger you get it's normal to have a slower beat -

more blood to move or something like that...

i had my first cramp while running yesterday.

i ran at a different time and i think i was less hydrated than after 

a full day of drinking 100 oz of h20.

it was a little irritating.

normally i would have ran through it, but since i know you are in there

i stopped.

did a flat footed squat stretch 

and sort of speed - walked the rest of the way home since crampie would 

return every time i tried to jog.

you are still loving yoga with me.

thanks.

we go every tuesday evening and you get to see melanie's (my photographer) son 

who we lovingly call "turtle"

mel and i usually are next to each other and chat/giggle about what we can't do

or our latest increase in underwear size 

or make sure we are doing the alternate poses correctly.

if it doesn't rain we will go to the last outdoor clifton class this weekend.

and i *might* treat myself to my 6th latte in pregnancy after.

aquarious star makes a killer mocha om.

what an appropriate drink to go with our yoga.

pawpaw is working on our master bedroom closet 

(will post the progress on that as we get closer.)

to make room for your items so i won't have to wake you or go to another room to dress.

i'm sure we will be in your room enough.

you don't need me dressing in there!

time is going so fast for me.

there's still a little under 3.5m or so, 

but seriously i feel like there is always something to do.

lessons in heart ache.

my job has certainly taught me about perspective.

today was a simple lesson in practicing calm.

i was interviewing a 12 year old boy with CP.

he was adorable, cognitively age appropriate, but had lots of mobility issues.

he was in today for a follow up and to receive botox injections.


since CP has such a range in severity 
I never truly can predict my clinic days and time lines. 
this guy was polite and seemed to be giving honest answers 
and was fun to work with.
we weren't able to finish all the questions due to the botox procedure.


typically unless both parent and patient are finished with their surveys 
i remain in the room-
since mom wasn't completed, i was there for the procedure.
i've seen this done many times, on many kids with varying reactions and severity's.
i work with a superb team of doctors and nurses 
and witness some A+ bedside manner weekly.


this particular procedure today struck me.
i don't know why this one more than any other.
here is a 12 year old - knowing he will receive his injections today 
and was a little teary before they started.
he just wailed during the process and i found myself close to tearing up.


i'm not sure why this kid struck this cord 
or if it was just the feeling of being so helpless.
or if i imagined myself in that mom's shoes 
with her screaming child in fear and in pain.
i once again am in awe over some parents A-game.

even though this boy was fine afterwards (and i knew he would be) 

it was still difficult to hear heart-wrenching screaming,

knowing there is not a whole lot you can do, 

but calmly wait and comfort the best you can.

perhaps it's pregnancy hormone's, but it felt real.
i didn't cry as i knew it wouldn't help,
but my heart felt weighted during the whole process


reality sets in little by little knowing i will too feel helpless at times with our child;
cries at night.
transitions to a crib.
stuffy noses.
scrapes and falls.
being teased.
struggling in school.
broken hearts.
...


it is only the beginning of a long road to humble-dom.


sigh.

uninvited guests.

i'd be pretty naive to think my pregnancy and body would just be the way 

i wanted the whole way through.

all and all it's been a smooth ride.

all the normal stuff in the beginning and now we've been in a groove for some time and we are getting into the getting even larger stage for Tri III-

and that is all fine and good.

i am satisfied with where i am at - where we are going and how we are getting there.

i do have to say over the last week or so i have noticed some uninvited guests.

i am pretty in tune with my body and 

i tend to inspect it a lot more now that i am ever changing.

not in a vain way, but in a curious, what is going on and what is new today sort of way.

lately i have noticed a little of this on my thighs

and a little extra of this on my arms

not to be misunderstood.

im not complaining-

just voicing and documenting things in pregnancy and when they happen for me.

ive been very lucky so far.

i exercise regularly

i still eat healthy

minus a few minis of dark chocolate from my bosses office

 or occasional summer ice cream

so uh, my body just needs to do what it needs to do & 

i must surrender as i am doing all i can on my end.

john's great at being honest and supportive through all the bodily changes.

i think he knows that sometimes i need to just speak about them and say things out loud.

we were sitting at a wedding reception last week and it was in a dance studio

(aka mirrors everywhere) and so i caught glimpses of myself all over the place. 

i asked him if my arms increased in size (bc well, to my eyes they have a little)

and he tells me honestly, but gently.

i appreciate that. 

i'd rather have him let me know i'm not seeing things and making things up.

he encourages me to keep doing what i am doing as long as i want to 

and reminds me it may be more harmful 

to try to lose certain areas than let it be for the time being.

he is also good at reminding me that i can lose the uninvited guests later bc exercise is a part of our lives and we both want it to continue to be even with a new addition.

just the words i need.

so although the guests are uninvited, i am going to let them stay around until the 

end of 2011.

then i shall kick them to the curb as they will have overstayed their welcome.


photos via google

Paisley Says

remember Paisely?
I got to see my little Paisley Grace today - such a treat!
She, like usual, graced me with some funny comments.


1.  Her mom was on a conference call so we were practicing our whispering.
I was sitting next to her working on a puzzle and she said
"It pells like Miss Taren in here"
I snicker and say "really, and what does Miss Taren smell like?"
Paisley replies with a pleased smile with a simple "you."


2.  While looking at my tummy she says
"Is that what I think it is in there?
a baby?"
"Why is your tummy getting so big?"
I tell her the baby is growing and that makes my belly grow.
She replies "How is the baby going to get out?"
I throw it back at her and say "How do you think the baby will exit?"
She comes up with "the baby probably will slip right out your belly button.
You don't have any other holes big enough"


3.  I also learned that little miss P told her new nanny that

her friend "Miss Taren is growing me a little sister in her tummy."

perhaps it is a little miss in there.

after all, Paisley has been right before.

but, 50/50 we shall see.

excited either way.


hope you enjoyed my newest excerpts. 
i only saw her for an hour, but an hour i will take!
coordinating schedules has become harder...

a letter to the sweetest nugget of all.

my dear little nugget,

you are growing growing growing.

well, i hope you are as i feel like i am.

you are also moving so much. i just love it.

your heart rate is a consistent 145 bpm again.

and you are head down. you go kid! stay there.

i also think your head is just left of my bellie button.

it seems to look a little bigger there and sometimes i think 

you are head-balling me there. 

or punching? hmmmmmmmm.

that's the latest and the greatest.

dr B said you are excite-able ha!

not sure what it means, but it sounded fun.

we finally nailed down your "due" date.

again, not that i choose to advertise it and not that i think you will arrive on 

or

bank on you coming even the norm of near it, but it's nice, after 20-something weeks,

to agree on the stupid old date.

daddy and i are getting more and more excited.

the more you grow and move the more real it gets.

auntie jess and kate were able to see your progress and gave you a few love pats.

funny to see how people react to your size. 

you are right on target according to sora and dr. b.

dr b. said i looked great again at the visit.

not sure if he says that to everyone, BUT

i will add it sure makes a preggo lady feel good.

i still am so not sure whether you are boy or girl.

sometimes i think i am "supposed" to have a boy.

we all get what we are supposed to have, but sometimes i think that 

because i have such strong convictions about women's equality and strong girls that maybe 

i'm supposed to have a boy to teach me the other side of things.

not sure.

but i still could have a boy to teach me that later.

other times i think you are a girl.
i see how daddy is with his nieces and i can see him with a little gal of his own.

i imagine our top girl name and sometimes it just feels right to imagine myself saying

"is ______ ok" or "this is ______"

BUT

that also could be bc we haven't honed in on a boy name Quite yet.

when i think about the way you may look

i imagine a boy looking like me and a girl looking like daddy.

i think A LOT of little girls favor daddies and A LOT of little boys favor mommas.

so it will be interesting to see if i'm right.

it's so weird to think of daddy and my genes all mixed up to come up with you.

i do love the suspense and i can't imagine knowing what you are right now.

it wouldn't feel right to have that revealed until we meet.

and although you have plenty more time to cook still 

we just can't wait.

but we will.

bc there is also so much i'd like to do before you arrive.

but i did make some head way on that Laundry List!

xox

momma bird.

ps this is how i look with you now.