A little of our summer awesomeness (Part 1),

I am currently being chaperoned by Mr. Awesome who has made it his mission in life to keep me off my incredibly swollen feet (Dr's orders). But I'm 39 weeks pregnant, I have things to do, one of which is going head to head with gravity (daily) in order to make sure this little one knows which direction she needs to be heading. However, while he currently has a watchful eye over me I thought I'd post some of our summer madness. 

I have been so thankful that Mr. Awesome and I have been able to spend so much uninterrupted time together before the munchkin gets here (perks of being a teacher) and even more thankful and blessed that neither of us has to rush back to work once she arrives so we can all get our bearings:) 

So here's to a wonderful summer thus far and our impending cherry on top!!

Our makeshift spa at the hotel complete with lovely finds from LUSH!!

Yeah for Canada Day!!! We headed to Victoria with friends without even knowing that it was a National Holiday...we were treated to an awesome fireworks display, live music and lots of food:)

Uhhh...Yeah, that's an Elk tongue. It was given to us by accident, but being the adventurous people we are we smoked the heck out of that sucker and it ended up looking and smelling delicious...it was a tad chewy though and we had a very dramatic countdown to our first bite.

Registering awesomeness, we pretty much just scanned everything...Well, Mr. Awesome scanned everything, complete with sound effects:)

Overdue Baby Update

How far along? 37 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain/loss: 29 pounds

Stretch marks? Nope, hopefully she beats them here...I'm feeling a little stretch

Sleep: Not too miserable, I think I've just gotten used to it though

Best moment this week: the "Whoa, wasn't expecting that," comment from the Dr. at my 37 week check-up. It was a good "whoa" apparently my cervix is a bit of an overachiever.

Movement: Lots and she's getting pretty pushy in there, she's immediately going on a time-out upon arrival

Food cravings: Tostino's Pizza rolls most recently, watermelon, unwashed blueberries (sorry Mr. Awesome)

Labor Signs: Contractions and 80% effaced

Belly Button in or out? neither, it's practically flat

What I miss: not having to be super strict with our budget...amazing how planning for a baby changes that

What I am looking forward to: seeing our baby, sleeping on my stomach, my skinny face, and being unencumbered by the belly. Oh and I kind of miss my ankles.

Weekly Wisdom: She won't even notice if the crib skirt I made is perfect or not...RELAX!!

Milestones: Officially full term

Oh Yeah!!

So with summer moving in this has caused what I like to refer to as the "Fred Flintstone" phenomenon. At this point my hands, my feet, and (most devastatingly) my ankles look as if they've been stung by a swarm of hornets. My toes refuse to touch the ground and my legs appear to be trying to swallow my feet out of their misery. Notice how I didn't reference my ankles in that last sentence? It's because my legs have already swallowed my ankles!!! 

With these new developments in mind I have made my return to the cool waters of the lap pool at the gym. However, this seemingly small act brings on a whole other set of issues. I am at the point in my pregnancy where the one piece I would normally resort to looks absolutely horrifying, almost as if my belly extends from my roos to my neck. Mr. Awesome and I just looked and laughed as I shimmied my way both in and out of it cutting off blood flow to various extremities in the process. Thank you Speedo. Next option is to get a new "maternity" suit...but I'm not exactly sold on their matronly look and while they may offer more comfort they do nothing for my sense of vanity (I know!! Priorities). 

So what do I do? Rock the two piece? You know it. Now let me say that pre-pregnancy I wore this very same suit with little apprehension other than having always been a little soft in the middle. But the awesome thing about being pregnant is the fact that this is probably the hardest my abs are ever gonna get!!! Imagine my surprise when the two piece turned out to actually be flattering. I even got compliments at the gym and let's face it that would never have happened before. I was a hot "almost" mom. It's only a shame that come August I'm gonna have to work my butt, ankles, and hands off to get back in that thing but for now it's nice to feel at least quasi-comfortable in my own skin.

peace out, 

Kimiko

Dear Nursery,

You are in absolute disarray, which is actually in keeping with the rest of our place. Having combined our belongings and moving three times in the the little over a year we've been married, I'd have to say that our current style could be summed up as "transitory." So unfortunately you, sad little nursery, have suffered the most. That will be changing very soon (hopefully), due to the fact that your complete lack of personality and function is making me anxious. I had to have Mr. Awesome put together the crib just to impart a sense of purpose, there are also several hideous paint options on the wall and a mishmash of baby stuff thrown around with no particular method to the madness. However, we have a plan: 

THE CURRENT SAD STATE:

Royce is the elephants name and the crib was an awesome gift from my mom

THE INSPIRATION:

With Two Cats

Me and Wee

Young House Love

 

These inspirational photos along with an ambitious list of DIY projects should make for an eventful few weeks and hopefully a room that looks less like a self-storage facility.  Finally here is a picture of Mr. Awesome gathering up his energy and dreaming of all the awesome projects we get to do:)

Bye for now little nursery, 

Kimiko

Friday Baby Update

How far along? 30 weeks 4 days

Total weight gain/loss: 22 pounds

Stretch marks? nada...however there are strange little bruises, I think from being kicked or the awkward positions I nap in.

Sleep: Ha!! I've given up on that and started just getting out of bed and trying to at least be productive.

Best moment this week: Watching my belly go nuts in the Borders Cafe...the guy sitting across from me was kind of freaked out. I just laughed and poked her:)

Movement: All the time but never on demand...when I try to get her to move more for Mr. Awesome she gets stubborn (definitely a trait she gets from her mother).

Food cravings: Diet Dr. Pepper, carbs (all of them, no discriminating) 

Labor Signs: No, no, no...thank the Lord

Belly Button in or out? in, in, in and staying that way

What I miss: Late nights hanging out with my Mr. I'm pretty much passed out at 8ish and not exactly a lot of fun any time immediately before or after that.

What I am looking forward to: seven more weeks and our little girl will officially be full term!

Weekly Wisdom: I love Mr. Awesome, pregnancy is hard on guys and he is absolutely the bestest ever!!

Milestones: My stack of appointment reminders, biweekly and thenweekly...means we're getting closer.

TUESDAY UPDATE!!

borrowed from: www.withtwocats.com

How far along? 29 weeks and 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: 21 pounds

Stretch marks? Nope and still crossing my fingers

Sleep: Absolutely not...If you are a stomach sleeper I'm sorry to say that you are pretty much screwed. I've tried pillow forts and even contorted myself around Mr. Awesome (He doesn't put up a fuss at all. Actually he rarely even wakes up which makes me really jealous)

Best moment this week: Being done flying!! Super excited to not have to get sick on the plane, haul around my bags, or strap into my uniform:)

Movement: She is all over the place...I think she's doing laps

Food cravings: Watermelon, steak, Diet Dr. Pepper, potatoes (I love potatoes!!), corn

Labor Signs: Nurse said I was probably experiencing some Braxton Hicks contractions from doing too much...they've stopped though...Thankfully!

Belly Button in or out? This belly button isn't going anywhere...Plus Mr. Awesome thinks it's his own personal telephone to the baby, he's constantly talking into it. It tickles.

What I miss: Sleeping (which isn't coming back) and not having to take a deep breath before tying my shoes or getting out of a chair.

What I am looking forward to: Checking some things off our baby to do list and getting a BBQ...Mmmm steak and corn and potatoes OH MY!!!

Weekly Wisdom: No one says you have to stand up in the shower...I hate baths so this is a welcome revelation.

Milestones: 7 months and counting:)

Mmmmm...Alicious (which means Delicious in my nephews language)

Letter to Everyone,

I kid you not when I say that what I'm about to tell you could possibly save your life...DO NOT!!! mess with a pregnant woman when it comes to food! At this point nothing has more bearing on my current state of mind or on your safety as whether or not I am well fed. Just last night the fact that I couldn't figure out what to eat reduced me to tears. There was also the time my head was actually spinning as I bullied Mr. Awesome, "No, I need to eat now. Not when we get home, NOW!" 

The worst is that when I need to eat, it is an urgent top priority and if not addressed...well, I have gotten sick in the parking lot and in an airplane galley.  It is all consuming and a constant thought...what will I eat next and who do I have to take out just to get it? Thankfully all I had to do was head to my mom's house for all the ingredients for my latest venture. Oh she had everything there: leftover meatloaf, cornbread, glazed carrots, mashed potatoes, chicken soup made from scratch, a freezer bursting with delectable icy treats. I bet you're wondering what I went for, well after surveying my options I decided on a banana and mayo sandwich on soft white bread. MMMmmmm!!!!

Happy Monday,

Kimiko

Dear Glucose Drink,

Tricky, tricky glucose drink...who knew? You weigh in at a mere 10oz and I...well, let's just say I currently weigh in at 10oz plus. You come in three enticing (at least for Kool Aid) flavors: lemon-lime, orange, and tropical punch. You are handed to me slightly chilled from the fridge. You aren't even incredibly offensive...that is until the first sip has settled.

Now I have to say I chose lemon-lime, taking into consideration that even sick people drink lemon-lime due to the slim chance that it will induce vomiting. But typically people don't leave a bottle of lemon-lime awesomeness in the the glove box of a black Suburban in an Arizona summer. That my friend is you dear Glucose Drink. You are incredibly deceiving and I don't appreciate the false sense of confidence you promoted in me. I also don't appreciate a five minute time limit to down your sugary venom, or the fact that when I handed your empty bottle back to the nurse (consciously holding back bile) she looked and said, "oh, looks like you left just a little bit left in there." SERIOUSLY!!! and then I get the opportunity to get my blood drawn...YIPPEEE!!

I know that pregnancy has made me just a tad bit more dramatic but I'm pretty sure that they do endless rounds of Glucose Tests and blood work in the the third rung of hell. 

I'm just saying,

Kimiko  

Six Months!!

You will never find me butt naked and wrapped in tulle in order to commemorate the blessing that is pregnancy. However, being that our little girl is six months I thought maybe....I should have just a little documentation of the belly. Plus, as opposed to feeling like a linebacker lately, I'm actually feeling pretty good and comfortable considering my new favorite outfit is extra long tank tops (usually Mr. Awesome's), boy short underoos, and cute slippers. That's it. Obviously, this is strictly in my own home.

Holy Smokes!!

It has been quite the few weeks, the events include but are not limited to: 

*Finding out we are having a girl!! (let's remember how absolutely convinced we were that it was a boy).

*Getting excited because the girls clothes section is about ten times bigger than the boys

*Our dear Mayapolis Papaya needing an emergency trip to the Vet, and it's no surprise,   because she eats absolutely everything (I'm convinced that if she actually does get ahold of her tail for long enough she'd eat that too)

*Writing like mad on my first YA novel, titled Swept

*Mr. Awesome being super sick 

*In the midst of Mr. Awesome being super sick making him get out of the house for a little bit to get some fresh air, which may not sound like it should be on the list, until...

*While out "getting fresh air" our house is broken into

*Thanking God for fresh air, amazing neighbors,  and the fact that everything important to me was with me while someone broke down our door and stalked around our house

*After less than two months in our new place, beginning to pack and move again at the end of this month

*Realizing that while moving may suck the place we're moving to, in the long run, is pretty friggin' sweet

Whew!!! 

Kimiko

Dear Mr. Awesome,

How can I say thank you for such an awesome first year of marriage!! How about...thank you for putting up with me and my many little quirks. Thank you for being a budgetter, a planner and a thinker. Thank you for being the perfect height so you can put your arm around me and we can walk without that awkward three-legged race issue. Thank you for saying "I love you," "you're amazing," and "you are beautiful" so often that I catch myself believing it. Thank you for being my best friend and my favorite person to be around. Thank you for being there to let me cry on your shoulder and actually letting me know that it is a requirement. Thank you for being honest and good and not afraid to make a fool of yourself. Thank you for just being awesome and proposing to me and marrying me and making this year one of the best years ever. Here's to our future.

I love you Mr.

Kimiko

Dear Second Trimester,

So far everything people have told me about you, everything I've read...is a complete lie!! A couple weeks in and I still have major nausea and am still getting sick just as much if not more than the first trimester and (overshare alert) Mr. Awesome is still waiting for that second trimester libido boost while I'm passed out in bed by seven. I'm going to give you a little bit more time but after that I'm going to find out if I have a "false advertisement" case against you. Feel free to stop sucking any day now. 

Kimiko

p.s.

in more promising news today is the first day in three months that eggs have not offended me. So thanks mom for making me one:)

Dear Ultrasound Technician,

You have one of the neatest jobs! Not only do you get to play with goo but you also get to be there for all those first glimpses of baby in utero. If that weren't enough for me to think you were cool you go and give me this..."Look's like we have a head stand" you said. But here's what I think...our little breakdancer was just caught mid windmill! I also forgive you Ultrasound Tech for not getting the little wave, obviously the breakdancing was more than enough. I should also say thanks for holding up our appointment so Mr. Awesome could make it...he was being extra cautious on the moped due to the rain.

You're neat...but not as neat as the baby:)

Kimiko

Dear Baby,

You had your first appointment a few days ago and it was super...well mostly super. I thought that we were just going in to check your heartbeat and unfortunately wasn't aware that Dr. Hitchcock (cool...I know:) and her sidekick were gonna be all up in my Business. Oh Yes!! I did capitalize Business which I feel eliminates the need to elaborate, but I will! These appointments are something we need to know about in advance, so we can mentally prepare ourselves. I myself like to wear knee high socks so that I can retain some semblance of modesty. Which, as many of you may know, is incredibly difficult while in stirrups. There's also the added bonus of being told to relax but honestly who can relax when they're spread eagle, bare butt hanging off the edge of a table. Maybe it's just me but that's not how I sit around and watch TV. Ummmm, so apparently I got off track. I forgot I was writing to you Baby:) And since I'm almost positive you're not a girl you can be thankful that you will never have to deal with the aforementioned right of passage. You can also be assured that your mother is an oversharer...but not half as bad as your dad (seriously, it's legend). Just know that while we will embarass you we still love you very much.

Mom

p.s.

Your heartbeat is super fast and strong and probably the most amazing thing I have ever heard in my life. 

Dear Saturday,

You are the loveliest of all the days of the week!! Mr. Awesome and I get to sleep in together and then I get to watch Super Nanny in my under-roos while simultaneously drinking tea and eating nachos* for breakfast (yeah...still pregnant:). As if all of that wasn't awesome enough we also get to go pick up a moped for Mr. Awesome to go with his new super cool Speed Racer helmet and I officially get to pick up some maternity clothes because while I like hanging out in my roos,  I don't like when it's because the only pair of pants that still fit are in the dryer. Because, Saturday, you are so awesome we may or may not get to any of these things but we will surely make time for a nap and to be thankful for making it through another week. 

happy day, 

Kimiko

*if you think about it nachos are a spectacular breakfast food: carbs (chips, good ones), dairy (low-moisture part skim mozzarella and sour cream), protein (from my black beans), and fruits and veggies (avocado and corn). That's What's Up:)

Dear Internet,

It has been a little while and I sincerely apologize. In an effort to grow up a little Mr. Awesome and I decided that maybe Him, Me, Baby and Puppy should have a little bit more space than what was afforded by are wonderful little studio. That and our building was slowly but surely being turned into a dorm (seriously, UW owns the building) and I didn't feel that the smell of weed and hot pockets wafting through the halls was conducive to raising our little family. That being said we found a wonderful new space with triple the square footage and (wait for it...) a garage which for anyone who has lived in a city can attest...is pretty friggin' sweet:) Sooooo, long story short, we moved into said New Place and were without internet for like a whole week which really backlogged my blog stalking and writing. But have no fear we are back in action we may be surrounded by boxes and stacks of who knows what that need to find a home but Mr. Awesome and I are able to ignore it all in order to watch Modern Family on Hulu and...well...update the blog. Priorities, right?  

I love you internet,

Kimiko

Dear Mr. Awesome,

Thanks for carrying me to bed last night. I didn't mean to pass out right in the middle of our packing extravaganza. Apparently it didn't phase you one bit; not the fact that I was partially comatose...while sort of attempting to have a conversation...in the midst of having you help me wrangle my way out of my suffocating cardigan. You're the greatest!!

Kimiko 

p.s.

I sincerely apologize that the seven boxes that were allotted for my books were only able to house half of them...I forgot that some of those shelves were three rows deep:) My Bad.

Dear Best Friend,

Oh yeah you know who you are. Have you gone completely bonkers? So just a couple days ago you call to tell me you're going to be gone for a couple days. Cool. Maybe we'll hang out this weekend. That is a kind, considerate friend thing to do. You didn't have to...but you're just awesome like that. BUT!!!! You don't think to call and double check the date for the birth of my first child before you schedule your month long trip to another country? "Oh yeah!! When are you due again?" You say, "Four days before we get back? Well we'll be sure to be here for the next one then." Well thank you for the consolation prize.

Don't fret, you're not blacklisted because I know you'll make it up and I'm clinging to the idea that you didn't blatantly do it to be away from my whining. Or did you? 

Nonetheless I still love you and I want New Zealand-y stuff,

Kimiko

p.s.

Best friend's husband, like I said, you are not allowed to make excuses or allowances until you have an equally painful, scary and life-altering experience for which your best friend is traipsing around New Zealand.

Dear Baby,

Just wanted to give you a heads up that you are no longer an embryo but officially a baby (even if you do look a little alien-ish).  I appreciate the fact that in honor of your new title you wanted to assert some power by giving me back that whole glass of orange juice I had for breakfast. Yeah, they were kind of concerned at work when I went a little Exorcist in the back room. Apparently orange juice does not constitute breakfast, point taken. It seems you enjoyed the ham and cheese a bit more, noted. But just you wait because payback is imminent. It's gonna be orange juice and scrambled eggs all the time once you get here. Just. You. Wait!

Mom

***WARNING: OVERSHARING LIKE NOBODIES BUSINESS***

So last night I experienced one of the unfortunate side effects of my prenatal vitamins. Apparently the iron in those vitamins combined with the minimal amount of  water I consumed yesterday set me up for a very uncomfortable evening...and morning. 

HOLY CRAP!!! No pun...well maybe a little pun intended. 

I was in the restroom on two separate occasions for 30-45 minutes each time praying and wondering how many nurses I would have laughing at me for going to the hospital for constipation. Seriously though I felt like I was going to die and each time I left the restroom with absolutely no relief and minimal support from Mr. Awesome whose frequent bowel movements are legend. He did offer to come hold my hand but I make constant denial that I even go number two and sometimes even wait until he leaves the house to do so...so clearly that was not going to happen. 

And what exactly is going to happen when I go into labor and an eight pound baby is trying to make its way out of a hole much much smaller!!

Anyway, so on my third set of rounds at 4:30 this morning I had the most horrific experience and then finally relief. I was so excited I woke Mr. Awesome up and he was incredibly excited as well. I couldn't contain my enthusiasm. I will be drinking liter after liter of water today...maybe a gallon of prune juice but I will not be doing that again. Not.

Kimiko

So maybe the "warning" wasn't super necessary but I don't make a point to talk about these kinds of things regularly so I felt it might be necessary.