Pregnancy Week-by-Week
How Far Along: 31 weeks and 3 days! Where in the world has time gone??
Size of baby: Huge. I mean a squash. I'm getting ginormous over here, people.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: 11 pounds gained total. And I swear to you, it's all in my stomach. Trace is like a watermelon shoved up my shirt where as Rory was more round all over.
Maternity Clothes: You better believe it.
Gender: Trace Joseph. :)
Movement: He's apparently prepping for his first soccer season in there, kicking and diving all over the place!
Food Cravings: Hmmm...today I am hungry for Tositos and cheese dip. I would also like a tuna melt, but I don't want to make the tuna myself because I will gag.
What I miss: We are going to my dad's company picnic at a water/amusement park this weekend and I just lately realized I can't really any rides! That will be weird! haha
Sleep: What's that?
Symptoms: I've been having sciatica issues lately. Yuck.
Best Moment this week: One of my students said "What if Trace turns out to be a girl?" We all just got dead silent. I mean...it could happen! Hopefully it won't!
What I am looking forward to: Rory's room is done!! We are starting on Trace's the weekend after this one. Yay!!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Rory Update
Rory is growing up in monster steps lately. I'm appreciating it, because we are getting a lot of stuff out of the way before Trace arrives, but I also do not like this idea of a little big girl running around my house! Where did time go!? :)
Yesterday, while I was at work, Dave was moving her furniture in to her new big girl room. (Yep, big girl room!) Rory was "helping" by watching and staying out of the way. He had fed her carrots and pizza for dinner and she still had a little pizza left. He put her plate on the coffee table and told her that was her snack for the night. (What a great Dad! I'm so thankful!) After a few minutes watching Dave, Rory went out to the living room. Dave spied on her, like a good parent. :) She rummaged through her tea set and found a purple plastic fork. She carried her fork in one hand and her plate, nice and flat, in the other back into her new room, perched it on the bed, climbed up and tried to eat with a fork! Dave showed her on a piece how to "stab" her food. Rory then proceeded to sit on the bed and eat every piece with her fork like it was no big thing and she'd been doing it for years.
What a woman.
Rory tells us when she has pooped, points to her diaper and tries to take it off after she has peed...Potty Training is on our horizon! She is fascinated with the toilet and always wants to "try to pee!" like a big kid.
She is growing up in leaps and bounds. I couldn't be prouder. :)
Yesterday, while I was at work, Dave was moving her furniture in to her new big girl room. (Yep, big girl room!) Rory was "helping" by watching and staying out of the way. He had fed her carrots and pizza for dinner and she still had a little pizza left. He put her plate on the coffee table and told her that was her snack for the night. (What a great Dad! I'm so thankful!) After a few minutes watching Dave, Rory went out to the living room. Dave spied on her, like a good parent. :) She rummaged through her tea set and found a purple plastic fork. She carried her fork in one hand and her plate, nice and flat, in the other back into her new room, perched it on the bed, climbed up and tried to eat with a fork! Dave showed her on a piece how to "stab" her food. Rory then proceeded to sit on the bed and eat every piece with her fork like it was no big thing and she'd been doing it for years.
What a woman.
Rory tells us when she has pooped, points to her diaper and tries to take it off after she has peed...Potty Training is on our horizon! She is fascinated with the toilet and always wants to "try to pee!" like a big kid.
She is growing up in leaps and bounds. I couldn't be prouder. :)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Girl Talk Hop: Shoes! (Brought to you by Rory :o))
My s-i-l Laura writes for a blog called "Girl Talk" and this week they are hosting their very first blog hop! This week's theme is shoes. Go join in!
(All my images are taken from Google Image Search. I own all the shoes pictured, I just don't have pictures of them. :))
I myself like shoes. I especially enjoy a good pair of black heels, the taller the better. I attribute this to my since birth desire to be a Rockette and never making it to the required height. I'm 5'5, which is certainly not short but it's not the towering goddess a Rockette is required to be! :) I like comfy sneakers and oh goodness. These bad boys...
My Nike Comfort Sole sandals. I got them for the beach because I figured my sore pregnant lady feet would need a little extra comfort. Now it's a rare day when I don't have them on my feet! They are like walking on a cloud. I paid $18 for mine at a beginning of summer sale, but next year I'll pay whatever price they currently are because they are awesome.
But there's where my shoe love ends. I'm not really very picky.
Rory on the other hand...
See that sandal? Imagine it in LIME GREEN and you've got the love of Rory's life. She has two pairs, due to a day when I thought I lost one and she was heartbroken, and wears them at least 6 days a week. They are really nice shoes, good soles and tread so Rory maneuvers nicely in them. But they are *GREEN*. I can't find a picture online of the actual shade of green they are but...imagine lime green and yellow sandals got married and had a baby. That's the color of Rory's shoes. Stylin'. I don't care. I let her wear them with everything because she never ever even tries to take them off, doesn't fuss when it's time to put them on and walks like a dream in them.
She also loves...
Her pink glitter sneakers! New to our shoe collection, these little darlings are making an appearance for fall. Rory's are velcro because she likes to "put them on herself" once I get the shoe on her foot.
And let's not forget the real star of the show!
Her tap shoes! She wears them around the studio all afternoon like she's a hot tamale. Yesterday I was teaching a beginners' class (kdg-second grade age) and she heard them tapping. Rory came FLYING in from the lobby to join in. She's pretty proud of her taps, let me just tell you. :)
Saturday, August 21, 2010
A Single Mom with a Husband...?
I was watching the Today Show the other morning, as I do every morning before Rory wakes up. There was a woman on there talking about gender roles changing lately. (And rightfully so!) She was talking about how a woman she knew described her life as being a "full time working single mom with a husband." What she meant was she worked full time and still did 90% of the housework, child rearing, meals, disicpline, bed time, baths, etc.
And that got me thinking.
There was definitely a time, at the beginning of Rory's life, where I felt that way. I was exhausted, resentful and not at all satisfied with the division of labor around this household.
Want to guess who's fault it really was? I'll give you a hint. Not Dave.
I wasn't asking him to help. I was just taking charge because I was way more comfortable around babies than he was. Why did I view that as a bad thing? It's certainly not! I just happened to have 2 cousins born when I was 12 and 15 so I had the opportunity to take care of babies. Of course I'd be more comfortable. I was assuming all the duties because it was easier to do it myself than to a) teach Dave b) watch him get frustrated and c) deal with his nerves. None of those things are bad. I don't know why I ultimately decided that I would be "in charge" during that portion of Rory's life.
It took me a good 2 months to realize if I was going to ever have a "normal" life, I needed to relinquish control and share Rory's needs with Dave. And guess what! She lived!! :) He learned that it was okay to guess your way through some things, like when to nap or if it's snacktime and I learned that Dave really desired to be an involved, active Dad. When I let him take control, he took to it like a fish to water. It was ME that was putting the pressure on myself to be the "super mom," not Dave. I backed off, he stepped in and now Rory has 2 parents who make joint decisions on her upbringing.
I wouldn't say our division of labor is 50-50, I don't think anyone's ever is. I do tend to do a little more, only because it comes naturally to me. I also don't have a lot of friends, so there's not much for me to do other than work and be with Rory. Dave is a big time golfer so in the summer, we work that in to our schedule. We aren't perfect yet and I'm sure there will be another period of unharmonious living when Trace arrives. But you better believe it won't be because I'm doing it all myself and over exerting myself.
One area we are working on lately is the fact that I do need some time to myself. We both work full time and we both need time, every few weeks, for ourselves. In the summer, he works WAY harder than I do, 10 hours days at least. It's only fair then that he gets a little down time when he gets home. That's just obvious. Around the recital and registration, I'm the one working the most so I get to pass off a bed time or meal time every once in a while to regroup. It works for us and that's what matters.
I had lots of people ask me when Rory was born if I was going to close the studio to stay at home with her.
Um. No.
Let me explain why I could never be a stay at home mom. First off, my mom worked my entire life growing up and loved it. She was an elementary teacher until I was 10, then started her own ministry business. I really valued her role as a working mom in mine and my sister's life. She demonstrated to us that women can be 100% responsible for their own financial needs, set and achieve lofty goals and still be a fantastic mom to their kids. (Not to say stay at home moms don't make the same contributions, of course!) Every woman in my family works while raising kids. I can't really see any of us giving up our careers for our family OR giving up our families for our careers. We make it work.
I crave creative outlets. I am incapable of scrapbooking (it's true! omg it's so true!) and I don't play an instrument anymore. I dance. I need to be creating dance, creating art in the form of dance, every day. Music comes on and my toes get to tapping without me even realizing it. I am at my happiest when I am dancing and creating dance for my students. I thrive on the adrenaline that comes from performance, even that of others, and would never be a happy version of myself without dance.
I also crave the challenges of owning a business. I enjoy the thrill of conquering challenges and problems. I enjoy putting the pieces together to make a recital happen. I admit that I am addicted to the "stress" of running a business. I need that challenge in my life.
Could I find creative outlets at home and challenges at home? Of course I could. Do I want to? Nope. I want to be a working mom because it's what works for me. I'll continue doing it until it doesn't work anymore. At that time, both Dave and I will reasses our situations and figure it out TOGETHER. You never know...he might become a stay at home Dad someday! :)
And that got me thinking.
There was definitely a time, at the beginning of Rory's life, where I felt that way. I was exhausted, resentful and not at all satisfied with the division of labor around this household.
Want to guess who's fault it really was? I'll give you a hint. Not Dave.
I wasn't asking him to help. I was just taking charge because I was way more comfortable around babies than he was. Why did I view that as a bad thing? It's certainly not! I just happened to have 2 cousins born when I was 12 and 15 so I had the opportunity to take care of babies. Of course I'd be more comfortable. I was assuming all the duties because it was easier to do it myself than to a) teach Dave b) watch him get frustrated and c) deal with his nerves. None of those things are bad. I don't know why I ultimately decided that I would be "in charge" during that portion of Rory's life.
It took me a good 2 months to realize if I was going to ever have a "normal" life, I needed to relinquish control and share Rory's needs with Dave. And guess what! She lived!! :) He learned that it was okay to guess your way through some things, like when to nap or if it's snacktime and I learned that Dave really desired to be an involved, active Dad. When I let him take control, he took to it like a fish to water. It was ME that was putting the pressure on myself to be the "super mom," not Dave. I backed off, he stepped in and now Rory has 2 parents who make joint decisions on her upbringing.
I wouldn't say our division of labor is 50-50, I don't think anyone's ever is. I do tend to do a little more, only because it comes naturally to me. I also don't have a lot of friends, so there's not much for me to do other than work and be with Rory. Dave is a big time golfer so in the summer, we work that in to our schedule. We aren't perfect yet and I'm sure there will be another period of unharmonious living when Trace arrives. But you better believe it won't be because I'm doing it all myself and over exerting myself.
One area we are working on lately is the fact that I do need some time to myself. We both work full time and we both need time, every few weeks, for ourselves. In the summer, he works WAY harder than I do, 10 hours days at least. It's only fair then that he gets a little down time when he gets home. That's just obvious. Around the recital and registration, I'm the one working the most so I get to pass off a bed time or meal time every once in a while to regroup. It works for us and that's what matters.
I had lots of people ask me when Rory was born if I was going to close the studio to stay at home with her.
Um. No.
Let me explain why I could never be a stay at home mom. First off, my mom worked my entire life growing up and loved it. She was an elementary teacher until I was 10, then started her own ministry business. I really valued her role as a working mom in mine and my sister's life. She demonstrated to us that women can be 100% responsible for their own financial needs, set and achieve lofty goals and still be a fantastic mom to their kids. (Not to say stay at home moms don't make the same contributions, of course!) Every woman in my family works while raising kids. I can't really see any of us giving up our careers for our family OR giving up our families for our careers. We make it work.
I crave creative outlets. I am incapable of scrapbooking (it's true! omg it's so true!) and I don't play an instrument anymore. I dance. I need to be creating dance, creating art in the form of dance, every day. Music comes on and my toes get to tapping without me even realizing it. I am at my happiest when I am dancing and creating dance for my students. I thrive on the adrenaline that comes from performance, even that of others, and would never be a happy version of myself without dance.
I also crave the challenges of owning a business. I enjoy the thrill of conquering challenges and problems. I enjoy putting the pieces together to make a recital happen. I admit that I am addicted to the "stress" of running a business. I need that challenge in my life.
Could I find creative outlets at home and challenges at home? Of course I could. Do I want to? Nope. I want to be a working mom because it's what works for me. I'll continue doing it until it doesn't work anymore. At that time, both Dave and I will reasses our situations and figure it out TOGETHER. You never know...he might become a stay at home Dad someday! :)
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Dopplegangers
Want to see what my husband would look like if he was blonde?
That, right there, is Charles Howell III. Also known as Dave's Doppleganger. I mean HELLO.
This is Dave...
I don't have any golfing pictures of Dave on this computer for some reason. But imagine he was golfing.
This is Charles Howell III with Tiger Woods!
Now Charles has a pointier smile (weird smile, actually) but other than that...badabing!
I also have a Doppleganger...just about as good as Dave's!
That's Lucy Camden from 7th Heaven. Prettttty much my twin!
We're a little bored tonight, can you tell? :)
That, right there, is Charles Howell III. Also known as Dave's Doppleganger. I mean HELLO.
This is Dave...
I don't have any golfing pictures of Dave on this computer for some reason. But imagine he was golfing.
This is Charles Howell III with Tiger Woods!
Now Charles has a pointier smile (weird smile, actually) but other than that...badabing!
I also have a Doppleganger...just about as good as Dave's!
That's Lucy Camden from 7th Heaven. Prettttty much my twin!
We're a little bored tonight, can you tell? :)
Friday, August 13, 2010
Me and my girl.
Dear Rory,
You're 15 months old. Where in the world did time go? It seems like just yesterday I was staring at you through hazy eyes and not believing the fact that I had a daughter. I have big dreams for you, little Rosie, but I know your dreams for yourself will be even bigger!
Tonight you and I had the best time outside. It was so simple. We drove your car around for a while then you explored the back yard, talking to yourself and touching everything in sight. You are so curious, wanting to feel all the textures and smell each blade of grass and flower petal. You are a science girl, that's for sure. I hope that love always stays with you. It's not from your mom, it's definitely your dad's influence.
You remind me every day that the simple things in life are the most magical. Today you discovered that you can get up and down the two stairs to the deck by yourself. You squealed with delight and performed your trick 15 times. I forgot how hard it is to learn to go up and down stairs. You reminded me tonight, Ro, that being able to walk easily and quickly is a skill, a privilege, not a right. It is earned and some people never have that freedom. You amaze me!
You have started singing to me every morning over the monitor. It's one of the greatest joys in my life to wake up to a chorus of "Ma ma ma ma...dad dad dad dad..." Then when I open your door and Millie bounds in to the room, a resounding DOG!! fills the air. You are so simple, so sweet, so precious to me.
Your eyes are the most beautiful shade of green. (Again, that's all your dad!) Our darling Physician Assistant Jan remarked this morning that she's never seen a little girl with eyes that color. I agreed but silently my heart was exploding with pride. You are one in a million in so many ways. You have no idea the potential you have for greatness. When I say greatness, Rory Beth, what I mean is you will be great at whatever you choose to love. I hope you love to dance, but that's merely a hope. I hope you love to learn and read and gather knowledge the way I do. I hope you enjoy hard work and realize the value of physical labor the way your dad does. I hope you inherited from him honesty and integrity at work as well as respect for your superiors. See Mommy is her own boss, so you need to follow Dad's example there. Remember always that a job is, just like walking, a privilege, not a right and it can be taken away. You must choose each morning to work harder than the day before. You need to wake up with determination for the task at hand, be it walking around the house three times without falling, passing a math test or putting in a long 8 hour day at the office. You my girl are an untapped resource of potential and it is up to you to become the best version of yourself.
Lots of mommys write their little ones letters every month. I didn't. To be honest, Rosie Roo, I wanted to but I forgot. I get so caught up in our daily life, our routine that I forget sometimes how fast you are growing and changing. I look back at pictures from this time last year and you don't match the baby in those pictures at all! You are so tall, so pretty with your sandy hair and green glass eyes. Your dimples crack me up, but not as much as your "fake out kisses" and strong desire to sit on your couch whenever Daddy or Mommy sits on the big people couches. Please realize that just because you don't have a completed baby book (oops!) or love notes every month (again, oops!), I still cherish each day with you. I know, baby girl, I know that too soon I will blink and you will be headed off to school.
If there's one thing I can tell you that I hope you will remember it's this. "NO ONE can make you feel inferior without your consent." A really great woman named Eleanor Roosevelt said that once a long time ago and my favorite history teacher, Mr. Sirianni, repeated it to me when I was in high school. (I'll tell you all about both these great people someday, chicken.) It's the truth. My life philosophy, really. Remember, you are not alone in any situation. Daddy and I are here for you and more importantly, your Heavenly Father is with you, too. NO ONE has the right to make you feel bad about yourself. Don't ever allow someone to do that to you. It will happen too often, you're a girl. What I want you to do is choose to be strong and courageous and realize that you are fantastic, no matter what anyone else says. If you don't believe "them" when they tell you how inferior you are, then eventually "they" will have to be quiet because no one is listening! Try it, baby, it works. I promise.
Rory, you are named after three incredible women and I want you to learn the best all three have to offer. Kindness and humility from Grandma Ann, creativity and fairness from Grammie Beth, knowledge and courage from Rory on TV. You are the best of your dad and I combined and don't ever forget that. God made you special and it's my greatest joy to hear you call me Mom.
I love you, sweet girl.
Mom
You're 15 months old. Where in the world did time go? It seems like just yesterday I was staring at you through hazy eyes and not believing the fact that I had a daughter. I have big dreams for you, little Rosie, but I know your dreams for yourself will be even bigger!
Tonight you and I had the best time outside. It was so simple. We drove your car around for a while then you explored the back yard, talking to yourself and touching everything in sight. You are so curious, wanting to feel all the textures and smell each blade of grass and flower petal. You are a science girl, that's for sure. I hope that love always stays with you. It's not from your mom, it's definitely your dad's influence.
You remind me every day that the simple things in life are the most magical. Today you discovered that you can get up and down the two stairs to the deck by yourself. You squealed with delight and performed your trick 15 times. I forgot how hard it is to learn to go up and down stairs. You reminded me tonight, Ro, that being able to walk easily and quickly is a skill, a privilege, not a right. It is earned and some people never have that freedom. You amaze me!
You have started singing to me every morning over the monitor. It's one of the greatest joys in my life to wake up to a chorus of "Ma ma ma ma...dad dad dad dad..." Then when I open your door and Millie bounds in to the room, a resounding DOG!! fills the air. You are so simple, so sweet, so precious to me.
Your eyes are the most beautiful shade of green. (Again, that's all your dad!) Our darling Physician Assistant Jan remarked this morning that she's never seen a little girl with eyes that color. I agreed but silently my heart was exploding with pride. You are one in a million in so many ways. You have no idea the potential you have for greatness. When I say greatness, Rory Beth, what I mean is you will be great at whatever you choose to love. I hope you love to dance, but that's merely a hope. I hope you love to learn and read and gather knowledge the way I do. I hope you enjoy hard work and realize the value of physical labor the way your dad does. I hope you inherited from him honesty and integrity at work as well as respect for your superiors. See Mommy is her own boss, so you need to follow Dad's example there. Remember always that a job is, just like walking, a privilege, not a right and it can be taken away. You must choose each morning to work harder than the day before. You need to wake up with determination for the task at hand, be it walking around the house three times without falling, passing a math test or putting in a long 8 hour day at the office. You my girl are an untapped resource of potential and it is up to you to become the best version of yourself.
Lots of mommys write their little ones letters every month. I didn't. To be honest, Rosie Roo, I wanted to but I forgot. I get so caught up in our daily life, our routine that I forget sometimes how fast you are growing and changing. I look back at pictures from this time last year and you don't match the baby in those pictures at all! You are so tall, so pretty with your sandy hair and green glass eyes. Your dimples crack me up, but not as much as your "fake out kisses" and strong desire to sit on your couch whenever Daddy or Mommy sits on the big people couches. Please realize that just because you don't have a completed baby book (oops!) or love notes every month (again, oops!), I still cherish each day with you. I know, baby girl, I know that too soon I will blink and you will be headed off to school.
If there's one thing I can tell you that I hope you will remember it's this. "NO ONE can make you feel inferior without your consent." A really great woman named Eleanor Roosevelt said that once a long time ago and my favorite history teacher, Mr. Sirianni, repeated it to me when I was in high school. (I'll tell you all about both these great people someday, chicken.) It's the truth. My life philosophy, really. Remember, you are not alone in any situation. Daddy and I are here for you and more importantly, your Heavenly Father is with you, too. NO ONE has the right to make you feel bad about yourself. Don't ever allow someone to do that to you. It will happen too often, you're a girl. What I want you to do is choose to be strong and courageous and realize that you are fantastic, no matter what anyone else says. If you don't believe "them" when they tell you how inferior you are, then eventually "they" will have to be quiet because no one is listening! Try it, baby, it works. I promise.
Rory, you are named after three incredible women and I want you to learn the best all three have to offer. Kindness and humility from Grandma Ann, creativity and fairness from Grammie Beth, knowledge and courage from Rory on TV. You are the best of your dad and I combined and don't ever forget that. God made you special and it's my greatest joy to hear you call me Mom.
I love you, sweet girl.
Mom
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Baby Update!
Pregnancy Week-by-Week
How Far Along: 29 weeks and 3 days
Size of baby: They tell me he's the size of a gourd.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Maybe 10 pounds? I haven't been gaining nearly as much this time around, but the big gain is about to happen here in the last 10 weeks. Always does!
Maternity Clothes: Of course! Lately, it's been so stinking hot and humid, I've been wearing comfy maternity shorts and a tank top every day. Ugh. THE HEAT is unbearable here!
Gender: Trace Joseph. :)
Movement: Oh goodness alllllll the time. Yesterday he was sticking his booty out and it was hurting me so bad.
Food Cravings: Baked. Goods. 24. 7. All I can think about is brownies, doughnuts, cookies, cake, ugh. It's a problem! Luckily, it's way too hot to turn on the oven so I have to go GET baked goods and I never feel up to it. Phew. haha
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach. I am a habitual stomach sleeper and it drives me bonkers at this stage in the game to have to sleep on my side. I also have hip problems and Ciatica so the side sleeping is painful. But I will endure and persevere! Mr. T is totally worth it. :)
Sleep: Oh. See above! :) I also get up to pee at least one time a night.
Symptoms: Just your general it looks like I shoved a large watermelon up my shirt and someone stuck an air pump in my "girls." You know, the usual. :)
Best Moment this week: We're scheduling our 3d Ultrasound for next week! That's exciting!! We didn't have one with Rory, because there wasn't anywhere around here that did it but now there is!
What I am looking forward to: getting Rory into her "big girl" room this weekend and starting to get Trace's nursery changed around. It's about time!!
How Far Along: 29 weeks and 3 days
Size of baby: They tell me he's the size of a gourd.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Maybe 10 pounds? I haven't been gaining nearly as much this time around, but the big gain is about to happen here in the last 10 weeks. Always does!
Maternity Clothes: Of course! Lately, it's been so stinking hot and humid, I've been wearing comfy maternity shorts and a tank top every day. Ugh. THE HEAT is unbearable here!
Gender: Trace Joseph. :)
Movement: Oh goodness alllllll the time. Yesterday he was sticking his booty out and it was hurting me so bad.
Food Cravings: Baked. Goods. 24. 7. All I can think about is brownies, doughnuts, cookies, cake, ugh. It's a problem! Luckily, it's way too hot to turn on the oven so I have to go GET baked goods and I never feel up to it. Phew. haha
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach. I am a habitual stomach sleeper and it drives me bonkers at this stage in the game to have to sleep on my side. I also have hip problems and Ciatica so the side sleeping is painful. But I will endure and persevere! Mr. T is totally worth it. :)
Sleep: Oh. See above! :) I also get up to pee at least one time a night.
Symptoms: Just your general it looks like I shoved a large watermelon up my shirt and someone stuck an air pump in my "girls." You know, the usual. :)
Best Moment this week: We're scheduling our 3d Ultrasound for next week! That's exciting!! We didn't have one with Rory, because there wasn't anywhere around here that did it but now there is!
What I am looking forward to: getting Rory into her "big girl" room this weekend and starting to get Trace's nursery changed around. It's about time!!