Opal Mae Ball.

Whenever I think of my dad's mom, I think of Opal Mae Ball. This was her maiden name and as a kid it cracked me up. Who names their kid "Opal Mae Ball" as in "Opal may ball," sure- why not? Ball away. Anyway, it always made me laugh and I'm not sure if this was just an internal joke I had with myself or if any other members of my family found this humorous but it's something that I always think of when I think of my grandma, even though she changed her name when she married my grandpa to Baker. Opal Mae Baker just didn't have quite the luster in my childhood mind.

I don't believe I was ever as close to to my grandma as some of my cousins probably were, or maybe even as close to her as my brother was, but I do have fond memories of her. I remember her house and the smells of her house- grandma's infamous rolls that still make my mouth water to this day, the way she'd make me scrambled eggs and an orange at her house in Denison, Iowa when my mom would sleep in and my dad was out golfing, the way her basement that was full of knicks and knacks that I could browse through for hours, pictures galore that she'd explain of "who was who",  playing cards with her, golfing with her from the time I was old enough to hold a club to the time I was in college..and even later than that as she played golf until the very end. I remember that she was always very witty and had something funny to say. She was, in the simplest way I can describe it, someone who lived life the way she wanted to and certainly a firecracker of a lady. She was no nonsense and had a sense of humor about her which are two valuable lessons that I will remember about her.

My grandma was the most healthy, really, out of my three remaining living grandparents. She was a little forgetful (and apparently becoming more and more forgetful) but a week before she died, she was out on the golf course with my dad. Playing. At 93 years old. Then, abruptly, true to form almost, she decided that was that. Despite appearing as healthy and as trim as ever, with just a few memory lapses, she had a stroke followed by a heart attack. She battled the repercussions for a week and again, true to form, was as feisty as ever fighting the doctors and nurses all the way until she succumbed to this world on April 12, 2012 in her sleep. She was 93 years old. I'm surprised that she passed. I'm not particularly overcome with sadness, as I do have fond memories of her and she lived a long, good and full life. I believe that her passing was just another essence of how she lived her life- it was time to die, so she died. She made up her mind to do it, and done (perhaps this is where I inherited some of my stubbornness- some traits are truly nurture, not nature).

I do know this: there will be a space missing where she once was in family gatherings. It simply won't quite be the same family. The circle of life continues to amaze and enthrall me. A life passes quietly and peacefully and another is about to be born. I would hope that we could all live a long and full life like my grandmother did. At the end of it all as we slip out, I would hope that we have the knowledge and peace that things will carry on without us...in a way that honors our memory and respects who we once were and everything we did in the life that we lived. That despite our absence, our loved ones lives move on with all of the fond memories at the core that make us who we are.   I think my grandma had accepted that and so, her duty was done. I'm sure she is in a much better place now- probably with a golf club in hand. And all of us? We are better in one way or another for having known her.

Soccer in Seattle

On Thursday, Bailey had a rare soccer game on this side of the mountains (meaning our side, the Seattle side...aka the rainy side). This would have been awesome if the game had been a few days BEFORE Thursday but the weather Thursday was schizophrenic. When we first got to the game? Sunny. About 3.5 seconds later? We were running for our lives as apparently the Phoenix monsoons visited for about 20 minutes. DUMPING rain, hail, wind. Insanity. Luckily, it didn't last long and the sun came out again just in time for the game. Regardless, we were still pretty cold by the end of it all. BUT! Bailey's team won and we got to see him play so all around, it was a pretty cool evening. A few pictures:

Bailey is #16, leading the pack at halftime.

IT'S A.....

CUTE BABY! SEE!  

Yes, we had our big ultrasound yesterday... who's dying to know to see if I caved? Who bet on it like my husband did? Should I just go ahead and tell you he's a richer man today?

Which also means that I know something that you don't know! (I'm such a tease). In all reality, all of my grand plans to find out on my birthday in Hawaii flew out the window the second I walked in the door. I couldn't wait. I have no resolve. I'm weak. Whatever. I justified it 400 different ways (IE: I'll STILL be in Hawaii on my birthday, which is STILL special, I will be thrilled no matter what, etc). Truth of the matter? It was special. It was everything. I cried and it was perfect and it still would have been perfect whether we found out in 2 days, 2 weeks, or 5 more months.

In all seriousness? The little turtle WANTED us to know. Seriously, SO ACTIVE... It would have been impossible not to see unless I had walked in blindfolded. Oh, what? You want to know?

BOY!! (As I've thought all along- maybe I do have some motherly instinct!) We caught this shot about 500 times throughout the ultrasound. As the tech said, "Wow, that is quite the boy part and he is definitely a proud little man..." He was displaying it quite frequently and quite prominently. To which my husband joked, well, he is a Valente man. Ha!

We couldn't be happier about this new little guy. And in all honesty, the best news we got of the day was that all organs and bones were there and in place and everything about him looks perfect. Now we wait... for 5 more months or so to meet him.

20 weeks (aka 5 months...how is this possible?!)

Halfway there. Halfway there. Halfway there. (Trying to let this sink in...so far, no dice).

Perhaps this week was the pop out week. WOAH. I really look pregnant.

And again. Yikes. I did take the 20 week pictures at the end of the day (usually it's in the morning) so perhaps that was the more popped out look. Who knows.

19 weeks for comparison.

And just for fun I thought it would be interesting to revisit 14 weeks. WOW. I can't believe I thought I was big then (I'm probably going to be saying that about 5 months soon enough...)

How I'm feeling?

I said it last week and I'll say it again- still feeling pretty awesome. Like my old self plus 15ish pounds (aka HUGE). I have decided that I really don't know what is good about being pregnant. You start off feeling sick, then you never shit, then you have terrible headaches, then you just feel "off", you can barely touch your boobs even with your shirts, then you grow and grow and grow and you are just HUGE and can't do half of the things you used to be able to. Oh yeah, and your poor husband is subject to much of the crazy emotions (understatement) added to all of the physical symptoms. I guess at the end of it all you do have a precious baby BUT I really don't know that there is much positive in the whole pregnancy thing. I know some of you ladies out there love it and for that, you have all of the respect in the world from me. If there is anything I can say about all of this right now at this point in time: I can finally see a GLIMPSE of why people might enjoy being pregnant. You are just mildly huge but you feel amazing, like your old self. No hormonal breakdowns, no headaches, no sickness, energy is back- and you are starting to feel the baby. All around the best time in the pregnancy so far, hands down.  

How I'm changing?

Still getting big (see pictures for proof). I discovered this week that putting on socks and shoes is getting to be quite difficult. Pretty soon I might need help here. I'm also sort of wondering if I have some weird pregnancy disorder where my boobs will not stop growing. Like last week, I'm still just baffled by the growth here. Starting to feel the baby move on a more consistent basis, like daily. It's pretty cool.  

Oh, another not cool symptom of pregnancy: backne (is that a word?) It is now. Seriously. I never had it as a teenager, never, never, never. But oh, hi, cool, I'm BREAKING OUT on my shoulders and back. GROSS. I guess it could be worse as it could be on my face. It would be fine if I was going to be in Seattle for the next few months as I can be assured I'll be living in sweaters, BUT I'm going to Hawaii in about 2.5 weeks. So, yeah, problem. Maybe the sun will help? Oh, and pregnancy glow. Haha. That's funny whoever coined that term.

I also woke up once this week in the middle of the night and got sick twice. WHAT was that about? I have no idea if it was pregnancy related or not but either way, not a fan.

Still worked out this week- lifted/ran three times, walked and did yoga. And by walked I mean I walked 8 miles with Justin on Saturday. It was gorgeous out in Seattle (try upper 60s and sunny) so it seemed like a great idea. By about mile 7, my hips were OVER IT. I was over it (thanks to my hips). The last mile was excruciating. It's extremely humbling to think "man, I used to run 8 miles easy"...now I have to really think about what walking 8 miles is going to do to my body.

What I'm eating?

Everything. There were really no trends this week. I did try to eat less sugar, including fruit. This was sort of as a result as some research my husband did on the topic so I can't blame the pregnancy for that. Still eating a lot and eating a lot more like I used to though trying to continue to get the protein my body/the baby needs.

Weight I'm gaining? 

About the same as last week. I weighed 132.something this week (forgot to write it down- stupid pregnancy brain- so, I can't remember where I was but somewhere between 132 and 133).  Not the two pound gain but I think I am definitely on track to gain 40 pounds for the pregnancy. I'm told that's normal for people that start out as what the medical world defines as "underweight" to begin with. The numbers definitely weird me out a bit but I know it will all come off.

How I'm sleeping? 

I slept really terrible this week. Sunday and Monday I barely slept at all, for whatever reason (well, one of those nights was the sick night) and then all week, I'd wake up at around 3am and be wide awake until the alarm went off (I call it "pulling a Justin" as this is Justin's nightly routine). I still had crazy dreams too which I think was part of the issue with waking up mid morning. 

What's the baby doing?

-The baby is about 6.5 inches or the size of a small cantaloupe (also in one report was compared to a butternut squash...take your pick)

-The baby's skin is becoming covered with a waxy-like substance called vernix which protects the skin

-The baby is also starting to produce meconium, the result of digestion which accumulates in the bowels until birth (lovely!)

-Other than that, the baby is just continuing to grow, grow grow (and will from here on out).

What we are doing to prepare for the baby?

-I actually can't say that we did anything this week for the baby. In fact, I'm pretty sure we did nothing. We did talk a bit more about plans for post baby- IE: care, my time off, working with my work to see what's feasible, etc.   

Next week is the big ultrasound! We'll see if I can actually wait until Hawaii to find out the sex. I'm pretty sure I can but Justin has bets against me. If I'm being totally honest, he's probably right. I am not a patient person and I am dying to know!

Random thoughts on pregnancy (pregnancy brain?)

I'm halfway through this thing. HALFWAY. That means that in the amount of time I've been pregnant, which, really, feels like no time at all, we will have a baby. HOLY CRAP.

Easter 2012.

The Easter bunny came to our house today! Crazy as the two "kids" are 17 and 15.... but, hey, I got Easter deliveries from the Easter bunny until I was about 22 so it all works out. We had a great day here in Seattle- Easter brunch with the family, then we played outside in the almost 70 degree sunny day.

Hope everyone out there has a very safe and happy Easter!

April happenings.

April 2012 (ahem, my birthday month) is off to a great start. Here's a couple of random things:

Justin training with gummy bears around his neck (courtesy of one of his clients). Pretty cute.

We made a trip down to Justin's moms' house where Justin and Oliver help move a tree that had fallen into her yard. I took pcictures of them fence hopping.

Oh yeah, and that yellow stuff? Sun? AWESOME.

19 weeks.

I'm a little bit behind this week... work is pretty busy right now (ok, that comment deserves a slap in the face since now my "busy" was "moderately slow" at my old firm. Busy now has a whole new meaning. Who knew you could be busy at work and still have a life? Another post entirely on the night and day aspects of my new firm versus my old firm and the HUGE question of  "why didn't I leave YEARS ago?" but we'll leave that for a rainy day... or come have a glass of wine with me and I'll tell you all about it. Well, after August anyway). Moving on to the weekly update on the turtle in my tummy:

19 weeks (plus Justin's arm in the background. Silly husband... I WISH my arms had that definition...)

19 weeks, angle two.

And 18 weeks for comparison. I seriously feel like I keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger but the pictures don't quite show what is in my head. I just feel like I keep popping and popping though I know I am still considered "small" for almost being 5 months along. STILL. My belly button is pretty much at the edge of my skin ready to go. Boo hoo.

How I'm feeling?

Still feeling pretty amazing... in fact, much more like my old self than I have in oh, five months. My "normal" eating habits are returning, no hormonal meltdowns, feel great working out, have energy, etc. I finally get why they call the 2nd trimester the "honeymoon" trimester. YOU ACTUALLY FEEL NORMAL. Who knew that was considered a honeymoon? But I guess to put it in perspective when you've felt like shit for so long, feeling normal is pretty much euphoric.

My body, however, is still revolting the whole "normal" idea and reminding me that I am indeed 5 months pregnant. I continued my workout regimen this week (lifting, running, yoga). My brain tells me to run and walk and workout and it's AWESOME. Incredible even. And then 5 seconds after I stop, I'm walking around like I am 80 years old and need a cane, as well as some assistance to get off the couch, please.

How I'm changing?

See hip pains, above. Hasn't stopped. Belly hasn't stopped growing either. Neither have my boobs (INCREDIBLE by the way... I am still totally intrigued by this since I have always been a small chested girl. I actually don't LIKE big boobs, I've decided. They get in the way and it's not as comfortable to run with big jugs all over the place. Guess I know now. I swear, they are about triple in size). We saw the midwife this week and she showed me how to feel where my uterus is. Right now it's continuing to rise up and is about even with my belly button (which is also why I'm about to have an outtie). It's crazy to feel where the "hardness" is and to know where the uterus is and she also taught me to feel where the baby is (although I'm starting to feel kicks which I have determined are indeed not gas and can tell mostly where he/she is from that now anyway). The baby is currently sitting more on my right side. Not a square and centered kid, apparently. It's our kid.

What I'm eating?

I'm over the pita and hummus thing. Go figure. This week my normal eating habits returned! HOORAY (and also, weird). I actually ate SALADS three days in a row. I kid you not, I'm pretty sure I haven't eaten a salad in, you guessed it, 5 months. We also made tacos one night and I wanted them spicy! Before pregnancy I was the queen of spicy foods but as soon as pregnancy hit? REVOLTING. Made me sick. I wanted everything bland. Bread and butter bland. See my first salad in months below (and with a hardboiled EGG. Progress!):

Weight I'm gaining? 

I actually didn't gain much weight this week... consistent with last week, I've halted the two pound gains. I was 130.4 last week and 131 this week. My body has apparently decided that it has enough fat on it to be healthy enough to support a baby. From here on out, all weight gain (I'm assuming) is baby growth related.

How I'm sleeping? 

Really no complaints here this week although the DREAMS. HOLY crap, the dreams are out of control. It's like I dream all night and they are so vivid and so bizarre... and like I am dreaming in real time and not, if that makes sense. It's like my dreams are centered around current events that are actually happening but then there's something crazy thrown in. IE: I had a big meeting last week (for real) and I had to be there. In my dream, I went in to labor... with TWIN GIRLS...the night before. So I pushed those babies out (and seriously? Babies?! Please tell me there's only one in there!!) and Justin and I spent the night tag teaming. I'd feed one, he'd change her as I'd feed the other and back and forth. All of a sudden I freaked out because I had to be at my meeting the next morning so I ran to it and my boss was all "What the hell are you doing? Didn't you just give birth to twins?" It was so bizarre and felt so real. Even weirder?? I kid you not at work the next morning, an email came through from one of the partners about how a former co-worker (someone I don't even know) had given birth to twin girls. Um.... what? Am I psychic in my dreams in some weird twisted way?

What's the baby doing?

-The baby is 6.0 inches or the size of a heirloom tomato (I've seen some of these and I'm hoping it's not of the "giant" heirloom tomato sizes...)

-The baby's senses are developing and specialized areas in the brain are being designated for smell, taste, hearing, vision and touch (it continues to hear outside noises as if underwater).

-More controlled/conscious movements are occurring as neurons in the brain continue to develop (IE: kicks. FEELING THAT. It's so weird. Sometimes it feels like gas, sometimes it tickles, sometimes it feels like I'm being poked. One time- funnily enough- I was in my big meeting with my new client (the one I dreamt about) and I got a HUGE kick. Big enough for me to be startled and pause and say "excuse me" because it caught me so off guard).

-The baby's kidneys continue to make urine (which by the way, goes into the amniotic fluid). I started calling it our baby that floats in its own pee. Justin tells me its sterile but this was a very odd realization for me. Guess all of us survived!

-Baby is basically pretty much a baby, just needs to grow and grow and grow...

What we are doing to prepare for the baby?

-We went to hypnobirthing again this week which was, again, awesome. Justin had some bad side effects from the medication they put him on for his atrial fibrillation a few weeks ago (as in dizzy to the point of throwing up and the worst headache he's ever had). Needless to say, I had some doubts we'd be able to make it to hynobirthing but we saw another (way more awesome) cardiologist who promptly cut Justin's medication, Justin felt 1000% better, and we made it to hypnobirthing. I swear, I walk out of there feeling so relaxed it's almost the equivalent of smoking pot. It's just incredible. If this is teaching me how to relax during labor and I'm able to achieve this state, I am ALL FOR IT.

- We also saw the midwife as I mentioned. All looks good, heartbeat is at 150 beats per minute and we are just trucking along.

- We got our crib and Sam the giant moose for the beginnings of the nursery.

Random thoughts on pregnancy (pregnancy brain?)

I still have pregnancy brain. That is all. It is the weirdest thing to totally forget what you are saying midsentence. Multiple times. In ten minutes.

And also: the movement is really cool. It makes the whole thing seem more real and it was my big "WOAH, there actually is something in there" moment this week as feeling the movement got much more consistent.

A baby related weekend.

This weekend kicked off as quite baby related although it wasn't necessarily intended to be. I got home friday evening to Justin assembling the crib we'd gotten that day. It came much earlier than anticipated and when he saw it waiting on the porch, he was inspired to put it together. Awesome!

I got home during the first phase, apparently.

Starting to look more like the baby cage.

And even more so... final pictures will come as soon as we have everything more together up there so it could be a while. I stumbled upon this crib online one day and jumped on it. My parents had wanted to buy a crib for us so they actually bought it but I picked it out. It's 100% sustainable Austrailian pine and the matress is made of completely organic and non toxic materials. Win-win!

In the theme of getting the nursery all set up, though not knowing we were going to be doing this, we found a giant moose when we were out shopping. He is HUGE. Like, almost as big as me. But it's so comfortable to cuddle with and we both think that it's going to be a huge hit for a baby and it will look cute in the nursery. His name is Sam. And perhaps I am a nerd but I like this moose.

A shot of me and Sam the moose. Fabulous! He spent his first night at home in the baby's crib. He barely fit.

Continuing our domestic excitement of the day, we spent the evening watching the NCAA tournament. Kentucky won, as expected, and my home town team KU also managed to win (HOW?!) I think I almost had 4 heart attacks during the game and at one point during the first half I was very distraught with how crappy they were playing. But, somehow they pulled it out and not only do I get to be an annoying KU fan saying Rock Chalk over and over again, but I think that also means I won my bracket at work, regardless of who wins Monday night. Yes! Needless to say I was on an adrenaline high after that game which was great since Justin was drinking wine and I couldn't have any.