Christmas Tiiiiiiiime.

Little things keep happening that make it more and more real that Baby will be here sooner than later.

For example: This is the last Christmas, ever, that J and I won't have him or her spending it with us, at least until he or she has their own family or whatever...But you get what I mean!

Every little thing from here on out will be that way, time will be judged soon by what age Baby was, and before the arrival it will be sorted out by saying, only Blank amount of weeks, or days until Baby is here.

The bigger I am getting, the more and more I am reminded by everyone how close it is, and the more questions about the preparations or plans after birth I have for the little bambino. "Where are you delivering?" "Boy or Girl?" "Who's the doctor?" "How did you get pregnant?" "Pre-School?" "Where are you registered?" "Have you considered the whooping cough vaccine?" "Will you breastfeed? How long?" "Can I rub your belly?" "Do you and J still have sex?" SERIOUSLY?!

These are the questions that I get at least 3 of every day I walk out of the house. Fun, Right? And I know only more are to come once Baby is actually here.

Either way, it's a constant reminder that I am WITH CHILD. So with Christmas quickly approaching, all I can say when asked what we want or need are THINGS FOR BABY! Diapers, onesies, carseats, blankets, wipes, anything Baby! I have a very loving, and giving group of family and friends around me, who, I love them, but are NOT listening...

I swear that is what we want and need.

But we will see... I am just excited, because after Christmas comes New Years, then a week later my first shower, a week after that, my second, and then a week or two after THAT I will be on leave, then Valentines Day, then two weeks later is the big due date!! :)

We have a TON to look forward to, and Chrsitmas is just the beginning.

Registry Blues

Oh, woe is me, who has the task of going to stores with a scanner and selecting every little thing I could want for my child and waiting for them to magically appear at little-to-no cost to me! What a terrible life I have....

Okay, so it's amazing, we live in a world of so many conveniences and I personally live a life with so many loving, and giving people that want to help and welcome Baby. But, being a person that has trouble asking someone for a glass of water, and add in that I have absolutely NO idea what is really necessary, or unnecessary at that, this task of registering for the baby is pretty hard. Sure it's easy to go through and pick out the cute-est prints, the most eco-friendly options, or things that I know we will need like diapers... but what about all of those little wash cloths? How many? What size? Or don't even get me started on breast pumps and even scarier...the bottles and accessories. YIKES!

Being someone who plans on solely breastfeeding, and pumping only when I absolutely have to, for a long while, it seems strange to ask for a $200 pump, or very many bottles at that. But then, what if something changes, what if I can't breastfeed? What if I can't do it? What if, what if, what IF?!

So then I tried to focus on all of the easier, or at least seemingly-easier, options, like diapers. Easy-peezy, right? Nope. Which of the billion + brands is best? I am told nobody uses newborn sizes for long at all, give it a week, maybe... But, what about preemies? Then that's an ADDITIONAL size to add to the list, plus the newborn sizes will probably last a bit longer if that case becomes a reality... Right?

Needless to say, going through and registering, then editing, then re-registering... Was not the easiest of tasks when you break it down. Every baby is different, and every mother is different. So going to Babies R Us and following their (obviously sponsored by formula companies and intended to get you to buy way more than necessary) guidelines isn't going to work for every one of us who gets instantly excited to be able to park in the V.I.P. "Stork Parking" spaces.

I guess we will just have to see.. I will surely post updates after the showers, and I know it will be a continuing process after, and once I get into the hang of things with Baby.

Wish us luck!

Love & Happiness.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2505326230371&set=vb.1169487064&type=2&theater

I am now officially waiting to spend the rest of my life with an amazing man. He did it perfectly, perfectly embarrassing, and as sweet as I could imagine.

Waiting to ask me on my favorite holiday, appropriately dressed as a bride and groom, he took my breath away and almost made me cry.

I am so happy to share my love with such a special, loving person. I can't wait for all the things to come. :)

Falling Back In Love With Fall

In California we get our cooler seasons a little later than most, usually. This year, like the past few, have been pretty wishy-washy as far as Mother Nature has been concerned. In the middle to end of September we suddenly had cold, rainy days with no sunshine in site, this however, only lasted about 4 days. Now, for the first time since, after waiting all October, throughout Halloween, we finally got our cold weather back. I am a happy camper.

Fall has always pretty much been my favorite time of year, but after a beautiful Summer, filled with a lot of me staying out of the sun and heat due to my pregnancy, I was a pretty sad hot-weather-hermit for a few months. So now, to finally have some weather that my body can be comfortable in and my clothes can be a little more comfy without me sweating my ass off, I am ecstatic!

Musical Womb

Who decides the music you love? You.

Easy answer, but I know it has a lot to do with the music you are raised on, or around. For me, I was lucky, I had my parents listening to BB King and Led Zeppelin, and my brothers listening to Nirvana and Wu-tang.

I don't remember a single weekend growing up whether it was at my family home, or a single parent home where, when cleaning, or showering, or driving into the city there wasn't music being blasted at the highest volume point on the stereo or record player. And forget about the countless times I tried stealing my brothers walkman to listen to the new Talib Kweli or Busta Rhymes Single. I would later lock myself in my room and either listen to an old cassette I found in my dad's case or record songs I liked off of the radio while I pretended to do homework in Jr. High.

Music is what single-hand-idly brought John and I together, liking each others Erykah Badu posts on Facebook or playing some Jimi Hendricks on our way to a date.

I can say, without a doubt, music is my greatest influence when it comes to fashion, political ideals, love-interests, and even friendships I have. With the importance music has on our lives I find that figuring out what to play and what not to play in the delivery room, and what will be playing next to my tummy for the next 4-5 months not to mention all of the mornings getting ready or car rides taking Baby to Preschool or the grocery store are some of the easiest, yet most important choices I am already considering.

My laptops speakers sit directing in front of my belly, and my list for birth music is growing everyday.

I hope that when my Baby isn't such a baby anymore, they can say, undoubtedly, like myself, that my parents shaped their musical taste for the better, and along with that, a ton of other decisions they are proud of.

So, for now... I will let the Black Keys lullaby Baby away in there. :)

"You're Really Going To Eat That?"

Yes, actually, now suck it!

That's the response I usually want to give to the person asking that question, you know, the same person who makes sure you are working out regularly, and know what's best for you and your unborn child? Yeah, that Bi#ch.

The funniest thing is that, the person on the other side of this is usually the same one who doesn't think I can lift a piece of tissue paper, and I should find out the gender of my child, and that I should get an epidural and do things as unnatural, medicated, (and potentially harmful and selfish) as possible when it comes to birth. But God forbid I even pick up a box of hair dye. Gasp! I am not smoking, doing drugs, or drinking, and I am not even eating deli meats or soft cheeses, so lay off!

I started this pregnancy at a higher weight than I wish I was, but other than a few minor injury-related health problems, (back issues pretty much) I have been told that I am as healthy as an ox, or rather a woman you would want having a baby. And in my 5 months of pregnancy I have only gained a mere 2 pounds, despite my ever growing baby. My heart rate, blood pressure, and over all health is great, so if I want to pick up a god-damned french fry, I will.

We all have that one person on a regular basis who loooooves to throw their opinion in there and make sure you know, that they know, what is best for you, even if they don't follow their own advice, but when you become pregnant, you suddenly have every one of those people who exists in this world finding you.

So, until my doctor or my health tells me otherwise, I will eat a few french fries, I will dye my hair every other month in a well ventilated area, and I will continue to tell you to "suck it" under my breath as you walk away.

Proud (baby) Mama!

As much as I am bummed that I will soon be seeing a lot less of J, I am very proud of him. He got a second job yesterday! So until he hears back from the full-timers we are crossing our fingers for, he will be an even harder-working daddy-to-be soon.

I am very proud of all the hard work he puts in just to try to make things easier on me and my pregnant ass. Also, this week we are finally doing the big, pride-killing, yet very important move. We will be living with his family until baby is here all to save for the next place and car. I am so thankful for all of the help we are getting from all ends. I am feeling like a very lucky lady right now.

:)