Decisions Decisions

I've been thinking about the nursery a lot lately. Because, as a pregnant woman (17 wks today!) all I can think about is baby stuff!

I am torn between modern and old fashioned. I am really leaning towards the modern. Something about modern nurseries just appeals to me. I know my Mom won't agree (sorry Mummy!) but they just seem so sleek, stylish and more functional for our small space. The nursery is only 8 1/2 x 10 1/2. Not much room. I found some software to design the nursery on a great website. It lets you choose the size of the room, and then insert all the standard items and choose the sizes of everything (crib, changing table, rocker, nightstand, doors, windows, etc). It's awesome and has helped me so much with deciding what should go where.

We're thinking of painting the room a light, cool blue. Possibly doing a sort of Block Island theme. White furniture. Some pics of Block Island on the walls. I always gotta include our favorite place. And hopefully it will be our baby's favorite place one day too : )

So these two cribs are in the running right now. One modern, one not so modern. The top one is way more expensive but oh so sleek. And I really love the fact that you don't have to raise and lower the side as it's a very low crib. I don't like cribs that overwhelm you when you walk in to such a small room either. If we had a bigger room then maybe things would be different. I know it's early and everything, but it's just so much fun doing this and I've waited so long.


<== Oeuf Crib

<== DaVinci Roxanne Crib

Four month belly shot

YEY! My first ever belly shot. This was taken this morning. I am 4 mths 4 days now. Everything went smashingly well at the doctor yesterday. We got to hear the heartbeat which was oh so wonderful, and I've gained 10 pounds! In three weeks I go for the anatomic survey ultrasound. I still can't believe it's really happening for us.

Oh! and notice the new bookcase and bench in the picture. We got our furniture delivered yesterday and we LOVE it all.

Oprah

While at the gym today I caught a few minutes of Oprah. Knowing that it is replayed at 7pm I was sure to catch it tonight. Today's show was about Mothers around the world and the struggles they face to take care of their families. She interviewed a Mother in a small town in Alaska, where the Winter lasts 6 months and can get as cold as 100 below zero. Where they have two months of no sunlight every year. The woman is still living in the two room house she and her 10 family members were raised in.

Next was a story on a Mother in India, who works at a call center all night and lives in a one room aparment with her husband and son, whom she rarely sees. Then on to Africa-Darfur, Congo, Uganda. There we saw Mothers who survive in the worst conditions imaginable. Husbands and children killed in front of their eyes by the Janjaweed, themselves raped numerous times, and now living in refugee camps in the middle of nowhere. Another Mother in Congo has 10 children to raise on her own, being a porter who carries ridiculously heavy items for miles on her back up and down the hillside for under 50 cents a day. Only to come home to a hut to cook what she can to feed everyone.

There were uplifting stories like the one of a Minnesota Mother who founded the International Breast Milk Project, which ships pasteurized breast milk to babies dying of AIDS and malnutrition in Africa.

I found this show incredibly humbling. It's just unbelievable the conditions people face trying to survive in different parts of the world, just to keep themselves and their families alive. We all have heard stories of poor areas where people break their backs for a few cents a day, but to hear these stories from the people themselves was very moving and heartbreaking.

And here I am, sitting on my comfy couch, in my nice apartment, with a full belly of food, complaining that I'm tired from my (easy) office job.

Kinda makes you think that we have it good here. Real good. It's amazing how much we take for granted. And how very lucky we are.

16 weeks!

Tomorrow I am finally 16 weeks. I must admit I'm still a little nervous for my next Dr appointment on Tuesday. I think once we (hopefully) hear the heartbeat I will feel a lot more confident about the pregnancy. I'm feeling good lately. Not tired. Not nauseous. Getting more and more hungry, and, in turn, bigger! I think I must've gained 3 or 4 pounds (at least) since my last appointment a month ago. We will see. I've bought some maternity clothes. I realize that The Gap is so far the best for pants. Still having trouble finding tops I like. But for now I'm fine with large/xtra-large sizes. Still, buying all these clothes is expensive! I'm not big enough for real maternity wear, so I'm buying 'barely showing' stuff. In a couple months I'm sure I'll grow out of these and then have to shop for the real stuff. Babies are expensive-and I haven't even had mine yet! Oh, and I added a baby progress bar at the bottom of my blog. I love reading about the daily progress, so amazing.

We bought a few pieces of furniture for us, not the baby, that is to be delivered next Tuesday. Can't wait. Finally we will have a dresser, a bookcase and a nice comfy bench for the living room.

This is all very exciting. But it is also making me very broke : (

Greenpoint

Yesterday while walking in Central Park on a most beautiful Fall day with David, we got hankering for some borscht and kielbasa. We've had Polish food once in Williamsburg and decided it was worth the trek over to warm our bellies. Called up Jenny & Erik, Henry and Matthew and we all headed out to meet up in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Although we walked more than I would've liked (damn Puma's have NO support!) we finally arrived at a great place that was warm, cozy and inviting. I got some yummy Ukranian borscht, and a Polish plate that had some potato pancakes, kielbasa, pierogies and stuffed cabbage. So damn tasty. Those Poles sure know how to warm the belly on a chilly Fall day!

Afterwards we got some desserts (yummy apple cake and poppy cake) and we hung out at Jenny & Erik's watching the sorry ass Met's lose (again). Their place is great, and best of all they have a deck with a view of the Manhattan skyline. So cool! That's one thing that kinda stinks about living in Manhattan, I never get to see the skyline!

Happy Fall everyone!

PB & J

Yesterday was a momentous day for me, I had my first peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I know, I know. How could it be my first time? Well it all goes back to when I was six years old and first arrived here from Australia. When I started first grade in Miami I noticed all the kids in the lunchroom with their "American" food. Putting ketchup on fries, unheard of in Australia. And jelly with your peanut butter sandwich? Are these people crazy? Also, for whatever reason, in my mind I was NOT going to be an American no matter what. I was an Aussie and I will defend my country and it's eating habits forever! I can't say I feel that way now, but for a long time I just never wanted to try the PB & J for this reason. I ate peanut butter toast daily but would never even consider putting that vile jelly on it!

Yesterday I worked from home and decided to make some peanut butter on an english muffin. Recently I bought some great jams from Sarabeth's. We've been eating it nightly on crackers so I thought, dammit, I'm gonna give this a try and put some on my toast. And it was good! Who knew? I can't say I'll do it everytime I have peanut butter toast (which is often) but at least I finally gave it a go.


As far as my pregnancy is concerned, things seem to be going well. I'm over my tiredness for the most part and have a bit more energy than before. Saturday will be 15 weeks. I still feel like time is dragging but I'm sure things will get moving as the holidays move closer. And Irene you were right, now I only get up once or twice a night to use the bathroom, which definitely makes me feel well rested in the morning.

SEX

No, not that kind of sex. The sex of the baby, sex. We have decided not to find out until the birth. I know lots of people aren't happy about this, and personally, since I don't care at all either way, I kinda wish I could know. But David doesn't want to know so we will keep it as a surprise to everyone until the big day. So the nursery will most likely be yellow. Maybe a splash of purple or green thrown in. I like purple : )

It's all very exciting. I still can't believe that things are working out for us. It's kind of strange to be thinking so far ahead and to feel so positive. It's wonderful! I just want the baby to be here already. Time is moving so ridiculously slow. But good things come to those who wait, right?

Oh, and I'd like to give a shout out to Rachelpink for sending me all those awesome pregnancy and baby books. You ROCK!

(P.S.-I think it's a girl)

Happy October!

I LOVE October. I LOVE Fall. And I love finally getting the the 13th week mark and beyond!

We're headed out to Long Island today to see Shaina's apartment then to the parents for Yom Kippur dinner and services. Ugh, I hate tomorrow. The longest day of the year in my mind. Sitting in temple for hours upon hours, not eating (well, this year I WILL eat!). Personally, it is a day of reflection, but how do you have time to think about who you've wronged and how to better yourself when all you do is repeat what's in a book aloud in temple? I think more time should be spent in silence thinking than reading aloud. But that's just me.

But, 'tis October so it's A-OK!