Welcome to the World......

Serious love arrived on 6/23/13.  I can't explain it articulately enough right now in order to give the moment the justice it deserves. We just got home last night so I'll be off for a few more days getting used to new feelings, faces and routines.......

Creative Baby Gifts!

Having an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts for me personally means two things: the first is that attending graduate school to pursue an education in something else was mandatory. I didn't have the talent, drive, ambition etc. in order to make it on fine arts schooling alone. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. Studying photography at Arizona State for four years shaped me into a young adult ready to embrace other professions with a creative edge. Even more importantly, my most meaningful friendships were formed and cultivated during this time. That leads me into the second aspect of being a fine arts alumni: I am ever surrounded by a pool of creative and talented individuals.

The creativity came out in full force when I was the lucky recipient of a number of homemade/crafted baby gifts around the time of the shower. My friend Amy threw the most beautiful shower under her Moon Canyon styling company.  Cindy, AKA Fashion Serial Killer adorned some adorable onesies with leather appliques and my friend Genia crocheted a gorgeous quilt. 

About two weeks ago, I was fortunate to have lunch with my good friend Chela who was in town with her band, The She-Riffs.  I wanted to watch the girls play at the Echo, but at that point, I was on the verge of being 9 months and rock shows weren't really recommended as part of routine pre-natal care! So we met instead for brunch at Canter's Deli which is always a good time.  During lunch, she presented with with some adorable baby gifts. One in particular stood out:

                             

You see, Chela has a pet portraiture business, Pet Portraits by Chela. (If you ever need a painting of a furry friend, she is the person to see!) She was able to combine her love for all things four legged and create an adorable applique onto a toddler shirt for little girl! I saw this and fell in love! I am so excited for the little one to don this shirt when she gets to be 12 mos! 

The creative gift never ceases to amaze and inspire.......

Oh and PS....mad props to the staff at Canter's who hooked me up with some complimentary cookies after purchasing their delicious hamantaschen...."For the baby," said the clerk. Nice way of stating that clearly a pregnant lady is craving some cookies. But you know what? He was spot on......

Deli counter full of delights: A pregnant girl's dream!

                         

Past Due

Well, the date has come and gone and is now officially in the past. Not that I truly expected anything different. Yesterday and the day before, I just did not have the gut feeling that it was going to be "the day". I tend to trust my instincts on much milder things so having a firm feeling that my body was not going to pushing out a small human on June 13th seemed a fair and accurate assessment. That all being said, this notion of a due date is a bit unnerving. Now that I am officially 'past due', there is a nagging feeling accumulating. Past due. As if there is something I need to do to rectify the situation akin to paying a 25 cent fine to make everything all better.


I know that is all crazy talk. Common knowledge (and medical reassurance) reminds us all that first time mothers tend to deliver after the anticipated delivery date. However, that is not doing much for the anxiety breeding while waiting to enter this strange new experience called labor and delivery. I have found myself more reluctant to leave the house for extended periods of time. I know that in most cases the baby's arrival is nothing like the movies and there will be plenty of time to collect my things and get over to Kaiser, but the I think the familiarity of our home and routine is what is keeping me grounded at this point in time.

With all that in mind, yesterday was a very good day. We had some friends come by to visit. One for lunch (we went to Guisado's....a restaurant in Echo Park deserving of a post all on it's own) and then a visit for dinner as well. It was fantastic to have some visitors and our dinner guests came equipped with homemade cookies and one of my favorite board games, Ticket to Ride.


(Don't mind the Game of Thronesy looking logo to the video channel......the game is not fantasy oriented at all......more historically based!)


So here I am beginning my time in the post due world. Hanging out. Reading. Cooking. Chilling. Waiting. Watching television. Waiting. Blogging. Waiting...............

Occupy: The Wait

Things that were accomplished two days before due date:

1) Researched EDD benefits. Still doesn't make too much sense although I think I have my first steps figured out.

2) Read more of "Out". About 3/4 of the way through at this point. Glad that I chose this one the other day.

3) Dropped things off to the safety deposit box.

4) Ate a cheeseburger at Pie and Burger.

5) Picked up rolls of film that I dropped off at Samy's and uploaded, organized all and blogged a choice few of them.

6) Now sitting down to watch Premium Rush.

Mildly productive day when it comes to checking things off my mental to-do list...........

9 Months, Ready and Reading.........

I did indeed check off a couple things on my list generated this morning at 11:34 AM: a car wash and a trip to the Pasadena Library. Until now, I had only visited the Hastings Branch located down the street. I decided to take the opportunity to check out the main branch in Old Town. While not as impressive as the central library in DTLA, the Pasadena main branch outshines my little local chapter! Housed in a beautiful older building, the branch had 5 books that were on my list so that was AWESOME! And plus they have a coffee cart outside in a patio area that served up some pretty decent passion fruit ice tea. My first book to delve into is "Out" by Natsuo Kirino. Pegged as a psych/thriller/mystery, the novel is about four women working at a factory who get wrapped up in a gruesome crime and eventually end up in a web of blackmail. It won a mystery writers award in Japan and more importantly, seemed to be well received by many who have read and reviewed on line.

I will keep you posted. I started the book at the car wash while waiting and will get deeper into the plot as the week progresses......

Waiting for Baby: What to do at 9 Months Pregnant.......

Oh wow. I finished my last day of work on Tuesday. For real. I am now entering the world of the temporarily unemployed for the next 8 months to a year. And yes, I know that entering motherhood will be a full time job all on its own but there are mixed feelings of fear/loss/confusion that coincide with willingly leaving a job in this economy. I am technically on leave for 6 months and will still have access to insurance as well as the opportunity to return part time in the future if I choose to. However, for those that are familiar, I work very far....or more accurately shall I say, I have a horrendous commute. 20 miles isn't too bad some cities, but try that in Los Angeles during rush hour..........this is pushing me to look for work in the Pasadena area and SGV. Also complicating matters is my Board of Behavioral Sciences status. I've finished my 3,000 post grad hours and am now at a point where I need to study, take classes and pass the state board exams so that I can remove that dreaded "I"* off of my M.F.T. suffix. Studying, working full time, commuting 2.5 to 3 hours a day and caring for a newborn aren't going to mesh well together. Hence slashing the job and commute for a while. This way, I don't have to pay for child care (which I realized I'd have to work more to afford), I can study and hopefully pass the exams on the first try and most importantly be there for my little girl the first year. But now I am getting away from the title of this post.

So with all that said, here I am Thursday at 11:34 AM with NO obligations at the moment. It is weird. Somewhat unenjoyable due to all of the odd feelings running through my head. I have a list of things that I'd LOVE to be doing but they require one of two things that I currently dont have.....money and an active body. So scratch all things running and all things shopping!

So here goes. List time. Feasible things I can do:

1.) Walk. Solo or with the dog......although our roles have reversed. I am the one now being pulled behind an 8 lb chihuahua. And yes. I definitely will be doing this later today.

The dog who steals a snooze on the Boppy any chance he can get is now more active than I......

2.) Read. I've been reading a bit more these days and think that a trip to the library is in order today or tomorrow. It has been great to check out the programs at the local branch that are available to kids and families. Last library book I finished? We Need to Talk About Kevin. Loved it. Wouldn't recommend it to an expecting mom though but my fascination with all things mental health had me plowing through it.

3.) Laundry. More laundry.

4.) Cleaning. More cleaning.

5.) Make a hospital playlist on the iPod. Maybe a couple depending on my mood the day of.

6.) Researching and setting fitness goals. I am already eyeing when I can join a local running group, the Pasadena Pacers and it looks like August may be a realistic goal to begin training for another half....at the beginners rate of course with this new body of mine!

7.) Paint. I did splurge and pick up a Moleskine watercolor journal yesterday. I brought home some of my nicer art supplies from my office at work and have been eyeing the Pelikan Box of Watercolors.

8). Organize my art studio in the garage. It is a disaster.

9.) Look for some recipes to make.

10.) Car wash.

11.) Try and nap although sleep is something that is not coming easily at the moment.

12.) I will go get my nails done maybe tomorrow.

13.) Visit the Children's Center at Caltech. I have an appointment on Monday to tour the facility. Yes. I am still pregnant but I am dying to have her attend this program at some point.....be it daycare in a year or two or preschool at 3 or 4. Wait lists for these programs are insane!

14.) Be ready to go into the hospital at a moment's notice in the next couple weeks. Due date is next Thursday but I know that the little one is going to choose her day of arrival..........

This was a long one....thanks for reading!

*intern

Baby Shower...Presented by Moon Canyon Design Co.

Two weeks ago, my dear friend Amy came out to throw the most beautiful and amazing baby shower along with my other dear friend Nick. Amy, for those that remember, works as part of Moon Canyon Design Co. and did and equally impressive number on our wedding. 

So what were the details? Well, guests arrived around 1:30 and we had a delicious spread that Nick brought up from Open Sesame, a Mediterranean grill in Long Beach. Falafel, Kebabs, Hummus, the works! Amy had a champagne punch as well as sparkling lemonades. Both drinks were much welcomed as the Pasadena heat that Sunday was brutal! 

There were activities such as painting blocks for the baby as well as a celebrity baby naming quiz which David's Mom and Nick both tied for top prize! You go, you two! Mostly though, the afternoon was spent drinking and chatting over food, cakes from Lark Bakery and opening some amazing gifts!

   

                                       

                                         

40 Lbs Later: On Running, Pregnancy Weight Gain and Accepting Limitations..........

Ohhhhhh......The befores and afters of pregnancy weight gain. The bodily changes are really such a strange thing. Seriously. Up until October, I was training with the LA Roadrunners for the Marathon and I obviously did not run this past March. For various reasons (which I will not get into detail in this post) I did not realize I was pregnant until about 8 weeks into the game. Around what I now estimate to be about 5 weeks into the pregnancy, I was still running a considerable amount. The second week of October I vividly remember a 10 miler through the streets of Santa Monica and Venice in a soft drizzle. It is funny to think back and realize that I was running the little one around unknowingly. Shortly after that, my energy went from good to slim to absolutely none which was a huge red flag that something was amiss. Once I found out that it was pregnancy and not anemia, chronic fatigue or some other energy sucking illness I made the decision to stop training based on some suggestions from the doctor. It wasn't too difficult a decision as I got very sick soon after with a respiratory infection and then really had zero energy. 

Here begins the weight shifts. I started off the pregnancy at around 144. I assume some of that was muscle from running pretty consistently all year. I had a couple half marathons under my belt as well as a handful of 5 and 10ks. When the running stopped in the first trimester (combined with the illness and lack of food intake) I dropped down to 135.  

In a matter of 5 months, I am now up to 174. It is strange to have gained so much even though I know it is pretty par for the course. It is not so much the number of pounds that I am preoccupied with but rather how much physically my body has changed and the limitations that coincide. It is hard to think back to being able to breeze through 13 miles enjoyably when today I struggled to make it across one side of my work building to the other. I cringe when I have to leave the office and waddle my way to do one of my many daily responsibilities. And dont get me started about taking off my boots, picking up a dropped pencil or getting into the boxes under my office desk! 

I know that many runners continue throughout pregnancy but this wasn't the case for me. When I finally got some energy back to be able to run (probably around the 5 month mark), I found that each step I took while running made me one step closer to needing a restroom! It just was not comfortable. I did a couple 2 milers, and then my body just said "no more!" I had to listen to my body and agree to this running hiatus. 

At my work shower in the beginning of May. 8 months and a week or so. 

December 2012 in AZ with my friends. Holding my Frito! A little over 3 months pregnant. 

If all goes well, I will be delivering a healthy baby girl in 2 weeks. I am thrilled and excited to meet her and begin this new journey. I would be lying if I said I was not also looking forward to gaining a bit more control of this strange new body of mine as well.......

Girly (yet not too girly) Nursery Decor

It was a challenge......design the baby's room in a way that said "Welcome Home, Little Girl!" sans pastel pink, Disney Princess and ruffles galore. After a good 3 1/2 months of work, I think we may have succeeded.  Let's get into the nitty gritty..........

Frito checking out the lay of the land.

First off: The quilt. This as you know for those of you following my instagram/facebook was my first quilting project ever. The fabrics were collected from various places with Etsy being the main supplier. Echino was definitely a favorite for patterns. In fact, the underside of the quilt (which is obviously not pictured) features a black Echino animal print that will make another appearance as the chair upholstery. I probably spent about 70 dollars total on fabric (the Echino prints took up about $35 of that cost), thread, trim and batting. The hours that I put into this puppy though....I can't even begin to count up. 

Luckily from this angle, the flaws aren't visible 

The seating area! We decided to go with a futon in lieu of a rocker or nursing chair. One, I love sitting cross legged. Futons are glorious for this! Two, the futon gives us the ability to host an overnight guest during these early years. We don't have a dedicated guest room in a two bedroom home so this is it. I scored the side table at Goodwill for 9 dollars. Bam! Perfect! The lamp was something we had and ended up a perfect match. Our friend Paul made the beautiful wood shelf and when he moved, had no space to accomodate. He came by and installed it and I used the space to display some of my favorite toys from my childhood. The rug? We got a gift card for FAB.com from David's uncle and aunt. When we realized the color scheme of the room, we selected this beauty.

Cozy!

One thing I wanted to put into the baby's room was a small workspace for myself. A place to charge the laptop, store some writing materials and personal things. A desk was going to be just the addition I needed. After searching Craigslist for a few weeks, I came across this guy locally. I painted the knobs to match the walls and placed my supplies inside. The chair was a Pasadena flea market find which I recovered in the Echino animal print (a laminated version) I mentioned earlier. Somewhere on the blog there is a post about the chair but at the moment I am too lazy to link it up. The mirror was picked up down the street at a neighbors yard sale. The bookshelves...or shall I say spice racks.....are from IKEA. 4 bucks a piece. They are great as they promote literacy with the covers facing out. As a preschool teacher, I used to use rain gutters in the classroom to achieve this concept but they weren't too aesthetically pleasing. This spice rack idea was floating around some design blogs and I jumped on it!

Cute and colorful workspace for me!

We ordered the crib with some gift cards from JCP. The Jenny Lind style seemed to fit the look we were aiming for. The sombreros? I always needed a place to display part of my collection!

We ended up hitting Amazon for the matching changing table. Baskets were all found at Marshall's with the exception of one we had lying around the house. The ice cream print came from Shine Gallery at the Farmer's Market. It used to reside in the kitchen but it seemed appropriate to move to this new location. 

This beauty was a shower gift from my friend Genia. The colors are gorgeous. The yarn is amazingly soft. And most importantly....it is homemade. One of the most precious gifts received. I paired it up with a previous handmade blanket for the time being.

Some details: A little bit of family! The orange planter came from my grandparents' home. The little car toy is a hand me down from David's sister and niece.

All in all, I am really jazzed about the room thus far. We are still waiting for the mattress to arrive but for the most part we are finished. It took a lot of time, love and not as much money as I had anticipated with the hand me downs, garage sales and flea market finds. We had to go full price on the futon, crib and changer, but that is about it. I am finding myself sitting on the couch and just taking it all in waiting for the room to take on a life of its own once little girl arrives.........

DIY Nursery Projects

With the initial hullabaloo of moving subsided, I have been able to focus on getting some baby projects started. For awhile, the designated baby room has been the moving catch-all with boxes and miscellaneous crap all over the floor. Just this past weekend, most of what shouldn't be in there is finally out. The sorting and decorating is moving forward. We have been fortunate in receiving some key pieces of baby gear from David's sister including a Bugaboo Stroller, a Pack N Play, an Ergo as well as a box of clothes and toys! Amazing! Thanks Jennifer (and lil' Aya!)

Wanting to keep budget conscious, we did our research and made the following decisions: a crib from JCP.com using some gift cards accumulated from the holiday time, a desk to be dazzled up from Craigslist.com (40 bucks!), Echino Fabrics off of Etsy to create the baby quilt and matching laminate to upholster the desk chair, wooden chair from the PCC swap meet and the one full price item, a Jenny Lind changing table off of Amazon. The two big pieces left are going to be a futon...to both sit with lil' girl and accomodate family when they come and a rug of sorts for the floor.

The only project that got started this weekend was redoing the knobs for the desk. I really wish that I had taken a before, but I got so into the hands on that snapping pics just wasn't on my mind. I was fortunate enough to have some baby blue spray paint from one of my work projects and lo and behold....it matched the wall color perfectly!

Up next on my list is to re-cover the chair. In all honesty, this chair does not need to be recovered but I have a vision of matching prints and seeing as how I now have the laminate in hand, it is a go. I am going to leave the original on and just use the staple gun to adhere around the existing vinyl. We shall see how it goes. 

Adorable chair from the Pasadena City College Flea Market

This laminate will be the new seat cover!

I will keep you posted on how the project unfolds. Oh! And my other budget find of the weekend was a nice board book copy of Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see? for 2 bucks at a little antique shop yesterday. Score!