Ooh!

This afternoon, I was spending some quality time bouncing Miss Emma on my lap when she looked at me and said "Ooh!" clear as day. Then she looked surprised as all get out for a moment. Up until now, her only noises have been varying volumes of cries, hiccups, and an occasional "pip" in her sleep. It was such a touching moment!

Here's a photo of her today in her monkey jumper:

Emma Update

The past 2.5 weeks have been busy ones. My mom came for a week and helped a tremendous amount while we were first getting settled. JMT had to work like a fiend that week, and having mom here was so helpful--both for me and for John's peace of mind.

This last week, JMT's family was here for Thanksgiving. It was great seeing the whole family, and they all loved seeing Miss Emma.

Here are some photo highlights...

Our first walk in the park


Daddy's Lap


Mom never wanted to let her go

Before and After

I am a little late in posting a final "holy cow, you are ROUND" photo, but here goes anyhow:



And here is the end result:



Our Miss Emma was born a week ago today, on November 11 at 9:44 pm. She was 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20.5 inches long. One of these days, I'll write down the whole story of her birth (14 hours of labor, and then a C-section) but I'll save that for another day.

In case you had forgotten that I'm round...

John took this photo of me this weekend when we were on our way home from Vail.  We would have liked to take more photos there, but unfortunately between the weather (cold rains) and having to get an early start home due to highway closures, we didn’t spend much time exploring.  We did get to see the last of the gorgeous Aspens in their golden splendor, the first snow of the fall, and spend some great time together.  It may well have been our last trip to the mountains without a mountain of baby gear in the trunk, so we did our best to enjoy it.

 

Baby Shower Photos

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to post these, but a few weeks back, my friends threw me the best baby shower!  It was a gorgeous day, gorgeous setting, and so many lovely gifts.  Thank you all.

 

 

It's a....

Nursery!

With some help from Patty this weekend, I finished assembling the crib and moving furniture around in the guest room this weekend.  It’s now officially a nursery!  I keep finding myself sitting aimlessly in the easy chair we put in there and staring at the peaceful, uncluttered room.

A true mark of adulthood--this room is the first I’ve put together where all of the furniture matches!  Now that the room is all put together and organized, I’m starting to feel like this is all so much more real.  And like I might actually be approaching “ready”.  We’ll see!

 

I don't think that was very nice

The last week or so has been a little dramatic on the baby front. Last week, I had my first trip to the hospital after my routine OB visit revealed that all of the Braxton-Hicks I've been having had led me to be about 50% effaced. JMT and I went up to the fanciest of the hospitals here in town--it just opened last month--and I had a fetal fibronectin test, a non-stress test, and an ultrasound. All three showed that I'm not progressing into "real" labor yet, but in the mean time I'm taking it very easy and taking procardia to limit the impact of my contractions.

Last week also marked the first of our birthing classes at the public hospital near our house. The first week was fine. We practiced relaxation exercises and JMT fell asleep. Last night we had our second class, which led me to the title of this post. After we watched a video on relaxation techniques, we spent a half hour with the mamas doing relaxation exercises while our partners gave us shoulder and neck massages. It was heaven! Then the nurse who runs the class had all the partners go get bags of ice. I figured we were all goign to practice sucking on ice chips or placing the ice bags in the various places demonstrated in the video.

No.

The masochistic nurse lady had the mamas simulate contractions by immersing our hands in the bags of ice for 60-90 seconds so we could "practice our relaxation techniques in a stressful situation." It was torture! I swear my hand is still tender this morning. All told, we did about 10 "contractions" that way. I don't think this was very nice. At all. I had been stress-free for the first time in days in my blissful, massaged, happy place after the first 30 minutes of the exercises, and then I Had My Hand Submerged In A Bag Of Freezing Cold Ice. No. Not very nice at all.

The upside of the whole ice experiment is that JMT got a good chuckle. He's been having one of those super stressed-out weeks where he could work 100 hours a week and still not be done, worries about me having the kid early, and a variety of house projects that aren't finished. Watching me squirm and curse over the ice business drew him out of that for a little while. Now he's on a plane to DC for the rest of the week, and I'm going to try to finagle it so that some of his house worries are taken care of when he gets home.

29 weeks--in Portland

Home and settled from our last pre-baby vacation.  JMT and I had a great weekend away, but we could have used an extra day or two to really see everything we wanted to see.  As it was, we focused on some of the funky neighborhoods in and around downtown.  Downtown Portland reminded both JMT and I of an exceptionally walkable Boulder/Denver hybrid.  If we’d had another day, we would have driven out to the coast.  Next time!

Since it was only a three day trip, we still had Sunday and Monday to do work at the house.  Work on the nursery has begun!  Someone hauled off the guest bed on Sunday, and I did a major downstairs reorganization on Monday.  I probably overdid it a little, but I have a prenatal massage scheduled for tonight after work, so the timing was just right.

 

I can't help myself

 

For Mom

More photos for mom.  The one of JMT and I together is from Glenwood Springs in mid-June.  I’m 17 weeks there.

The one of me by myself is from this morning—27 weeks.

I’m happy to report that almost 100% of my rib pain is gone.  My final physical therapy appointment is tomorrow, and I have two more “maintenance” visits with the acupuncturist.  I can’t believe what a dramatic difference this treatment has made!  I was very skeptical of the whole concept of acupuncture before, but I’m a believer now!

No real news for JMT and me these days.  He is going to go speak at a conference in Portland, OR next week, and I’m going to come up for a long weekend over Labor Day.  This will probably be our last baby-less trip together for a long time.  I hope the weather is nice and that we find some neat places to explore. 

So much good baby info

After my last plea for baby gear advice, two fabulous ladies have chimed in.  As a public service, I thought I’d post Angie’s comments here (Kirstin’s are in the comments of the original post).

 

Thanks, Ladies!

 

+++++++++++++++++++

 

BabyBjorn Original Carrier - Chocolate Brown

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2608235&cp=2256186

 

*I loved this baby carrier, and I can still use it now.  It's up to 25 lbs and Gianna was 22.5 at one year (8.12 when she was born).  It was really nice for getting things done around the house because she just wanted to be close to me and I needed my arms free.  I also liked it because it reminded me of being pregnant again.  They have many different options on this one.  You can get a mesh material that breathes easier or I think a stronger fabric.  We just got the cheapest one, and it works great.  I HIGHLY recommend staying with the BabyBjorn brand though.  Some of the others just didn't feel as sturdy or safe.  We also went to the store after she was born and I tried them on with her in it, so this is something that can wait until after the baby is born if you don't want to add it to the registry.

 

 

Baby Trend Playard

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2966845

 

*There are many different options on this.  This is the brand we have (although I didn't see our pattern) and I loved it.  The key things about this is to get one with a changing table that flips down and out of the way.  I didn't think I would use this that much, but we had a two-story home, so I had this set up in the corner of the living room and I would set her in there to sleep.  It was really nice to have a separate place to change her so that I didn't have to get on the floor (I'd had a c-section) or walk the stairs every time she needed changed.  She also loved the little animals that hung over it and it would keep her occupied.  Before you register, I would play with the store models and make sure that it's easy enough to break down and put away and not too heavy to carry around.  This will also be nice when you come back to visit to have all your essentials in one place at the grandparents houses. 

  

 

Fisher-Price Rainforest Deluxe Mobile Mirror

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2585673

 

*You'll want one of these for the car.  Make sure that it will hook to the head rest and be easily movable so that you can always view it from your mirror without adjusting it.  Also, get one that doesn't make noise.  Trust me, the last thing you want when you're driving is even MORE noise!! =)

  

 

Fisher-Price Rainforest Bouncer

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2508008

 

*Gianna didn't like this until she was a little older and she outgrew it really fast.  I didn't register for one, but a friend got it for me anyway.  It was nice when she liked it, but she LOVED her swing, so we used that instead. 

 

  

Fisher-Price Butterfly Garden Papasan Cradle Swing

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2674706&isTopSellingItem=true

 

*AWESOME swing.  It turns so it will either swing from side-to-side or front-to-back.  The chair tilts so that the baby can either lay down or sit up.  It also plays music and has little animals that rotate around for her to look at and a mirror that she can see herself in.  Also, there is a little bar that has toys as well.  The biggest part of all is that it's battery operated and you can use it anywhere.  (Most swings are that way now.)  I think I only replaced batteries once the whole time we used it.  This was the best thing we had because it was the only thing that she would sleep in when she was fussy. 

 

  

Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2508003

 

*This one was great.  She didn't use it until she was about 4 months old, but it gave her something to do and she was able to get her energy out in a safe place.  We liked it better than the stationary ones, and better than a jumper that hung in a doorway.  Plus, it comes apart easily and you can transport it.

 

 

Playtex VentAire Narrow Reusable Bottles

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2408953

 

*These are the bottles that we used.  I had heard that other people had problems with them, but I never did and I am still using them once a day.  I did nurse for the first 6 months, but you'll still use bottles every now and again even if you do.  I love these because they come completely apart and you don't have to use a bottle brush to clean them out.  They are completely dishwasher safe.  I never really had a problem with colic.  They say that they are supposed to help, but I'm not sure if they did or not.

 

 

Organic Cotton Burp Cloths

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267606

 

*OK, so you don't have to get these exact burp cloths, but I did want to say that I went through a lot of trial and error trying to find some that I like a lot.  I hated the "old diapers" that you could use, and the really nice ones just didn't absorb anything.  So what I advise is that you find something that feels like a really thin bath towel.  Also, make sure that they are wide.  The really skinny/long ones are never in the right place at the right time.  I got mine at Target, they came in a pack of three, but I can't find them on their website.

 

  

Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2735035

 

*A MUST-HAVE!!!  These are awesome, especially when travelling.  Each bag will steam clean (in the microwave) either a bottle, breast-pump items, or pacifiers.  I nursed and pumped a lot and it was nice to have the ability to clean the pump parts without having to wait for the dishwasher to run.  Each bag can be re-used up to 20 times.  I still use them when we're travelling to see Tony's family in Cleveland!  They are great!!

 

  

Boppy

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2507965

 

*This was great for nursing.  I used it like crazy.  I think that my mom also used it for giving her bottles.  It was even nice just when I was rocking her to sleep.   I had one at home and one at my mom's house.  (She found the second one at a garage sale for $1.00)  They can be pretty pricey, but I would suggest getting an extra slipcover for it so that you can change it if anything gets on it.  You can use a regular pillow, but these really are great and fit around you in a rocking chair. 

 

  

Pampers 92Ct Swaddlers Diaper

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2593094&cp=2918979

 

*I tried a lot of different brands of diapers, and this is my favorite.  I went from Pampers Swaddlers to Pampers Cruisers (when she was big enough).  The tags stretch to fit around the baby, and they had the best leak protection that I found.  You will always have blow-outs (as Tony calls them) but usually that just means it's time to up the size!! =)

 

  

Huggies Gentle Care Sensitive Baby Wipes

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2961743

 

*Again, I tried a lot of different wipes and these are my favorite.  They are much thicker than the pampers wipes and seem to clean much better.  You get fewer in a box, but I find that I use a lot less since they work so much better.  Also, I had a wipe warmer for the house, but I really didn't like it.  The wipes were cold by the time they got to the babies bottom anyway, and I always had to throw out the last 15 or so because they dried out. 

 

  

Playtex Diaper Genie II

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2437622

 

*This is great!!  It's MUCH easier to use than the first edition.  You just pop open the top and push the diaper in and it has a little clamp that keeps the diapers down, and the lid shuts and all the odor is contained.  It's easy to change, the top pops off and you just cut the bag (cutter is inside) and tie the end and carry it out to the trash.  I've used some of the different brands inside the stores and I still can't figure out what you're supposed to do with it.... 

 

  

Baby Aquaphor

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2329500

 

*This stuff is AMAZING!!  I didn't know about it until the doctor told me.  You can literally use it anywhere.  If she has dry skin, you can use it as a lotion.  If she has diaper rash, you can use it as diaper ointment.  Chapped lips - chapstick....  It's similar to Vaseline, but not as greasy.  For really bad diaper rash you just mix it with a little bit of Maalox and make a paste that will get rid of anything!!   This stuff is a must-have!

 

  

Newborn-to-Toddler Tub

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403667

 

*This is great for the first 6 months, until she can sit up on her own.  It has a little built in chair that will hold her upright so your hands can me a little more free.  Any tub with a little seat in it is fine, but don't spend too much, because you won't use it for too long.  They outgrow it very fast!

 

  

Inflatable Tub

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2627247

 

*This is the tub that I still use.  I love it.  You can easily travel with it.  It's cheap.  And if she falls over, you don't have to worry about her hitting her head on a hard surface.  It fits inside a regular tub but won't slide around.  And it will save you water since you won't have to fill a whole bath tub to use it. 

  

 

Tub Side Seat

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403658

 

*I love this.  My mom doesn't like to use it, but I think it saves my back while giving her a bath.  And, it has storage inside for all her toys so they are out of the tub.  When she's old enough, she can use it as a stepping stool for the sink.  (This also works great when we're giving our dogs a bath, too!)

 

  

Spout Cover

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2919694

 

*You pretty much need a spout cover.  I like the inflatable ones because I think they are a bit softer.  Just make sure that if you have a bath spout with a knob that you pull up to start your shower that you find a spout cover that won't block it.  (I did that at my mom's house!)

 

  

Handheld Color Video Monitor

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265802

 

*Another MUST HAVE.  I didn't think that I would like having a video monitor that much, but I don't think I could live without it.  There are several different versions, but we have the portable one.  I like it because I can take it with me anywhere so if I go outside to play with the dogs or work in the yard, I can still watch her.  They are expensive, but having the ability to actually see what is going on is worth every penny!!

  

 

Pacifier

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2738079

 

*I really liked these the best.  They are flat and won't rub the baby's face.  Also, it doesn't matter what direction they are so when you're driving and trying to find the baby's face to stick a pacifier in it, it won't matter if it's upside down.  Most importantly, they come with a cap.  It turned out that all my friends babies use the same brand as well.

 

  

Pacifier Keeper

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2784438

 

*These are hard to find.  I wanted to invent my own because I wasn't happy with any of the ones I could find.  However, this is what I finally went with.  It comes with the round rubber piece that will fit around a pacifier that doesn't have a handle.  Also, the rubber piece is detachable and you can velcro on a pacifier that does have a handle. 

 

  

Pacifier Pod

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3152533

 

*Everyone thought I was crazy because I wanted this so bad, but it is so nice to have.  It saves from having to dig through your purse or diaper bag to find a pacifier.  I can fit 3 of the pacifiers that I use (with a cap) in it.

  

 

Disposable Dry Washcloths

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2401403

 

*I know that Huggies or something makes a brand of this and it is much cheaper.  Anyway, these are great for travelling.  They have the soap in them and you just throw them away when you're done.  it saves from having a bottle of soap spill in your luggage.....

 

  

Receiving Blankets

 

*I can't find the ones I like online, however, the only important thing is that they be 40" X 40".   Most are 30" X 40".  I found some big ones and I LOVED them.  They are so much easier to swaddle the baby in.  I thought I got mine at Target, but I can't find them online. 

 

  

Gowns

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2333854

 

*I actually liked the ones from Baby Gap, but there was an outlet by my house, so I could get them for pretty cheap.  These were great while she was still getting up in the middle of the night.  (Once she started sleeping through the night I put her in footed jammies.)  These are very easy to change in the middle of the night when you're extremely exhuasted!!  You don't have to worry about getting buttons right, or zipping skin.  I just lifted it up, changed her, pulled it down, swaddled her up and nursed her back to sleep.  I LOVED them!!

 

24.5 weeks

It’s a little blurry, but here I am.  Better pics to follow after Sis’s visit this weekend.

Rib update

I’ve gotten a couple of questions about this, so I thought it good to share publicly.  I’ve been going to my physical therapy and acupuncture appointments for my costochondritis twice a week for the past two weeks.  While I’m not “cured,” I am feeling a fair amount better.  The pain had gotten a lot worse in intensity and duration over the month preceding the beginning of treatment, and I feel like I’m back to where I was pain-wise in early June.  I always feel the worst the day of physical therapy, though, because the manipulation and massage is really deep.  It takes about a day to bounce back from.  Moving forward, I’ll be going to physical therapy once a week now, and continuing with acupuncture twice a week for the next two weeks.  Hopefully we’ll just continue to make progress!

 

Good news all around

I had my 24 week check-up yesterday, and everything is going well.  My disbelief that this would all go off without a hitch was apparently quite obvious, though.  The doctor had to give me a pep talk—the crux of which is my new mantra.  “You are having a healthy, normal pregnancy.  You are having a healthy, normal pregnancy.”

 

In other news, Dan is coming home to the States next week.  We are all thrilled that this deployment was short and safe.  I’m not sure when I’ll get to see the kid—if/when he gets vacation, I’d assume he’ll go visit mom & dad.  But hopefully we won’t have to wait too long.

 

And finally, JMT had a terrific weekend of racing at the velodrome this weekend.  He qualified for Elite Nationals in two events.  Last year we had a blast trekking out to LA for Nationals.  This year, he’ll likely be on his own since my vacation balance is in jeopardy as baby hatchin’ time comes closer.  In any event, I’m very proud of him.

Ma'am, Your registration please...

No, I haven't been pulled over (lately). The other day I experienced a fit of panic when I realized that the baby is coming in 3 1/2 months, and the only baby gear I owned was a fleece blanket, one bib, and one burp cloth. Oh, and the free spoon and deadly plastic-containing bottle that came in the gift bag from Motherhood.

I'd begun researching baby essentials and compiling a mental wish-list of items that baby and mama will need. I also figured that the best way to keep track of what I need (and want) compared to what I have in-hand would be to register somewheres.

I'm still clueless in the baby-clothes and itty-bitty accesories departments, but I've at least identified the majority of the big items that we'll need before November. No, this isn't a plea for y'all to start shopping, but if anyone does happen to ask, "Where is Jen registered," you'll be able to answer.

Target

Amazon

The cool thing about the Amazon registry, is that if we manage to spend at least $750 on registered items before September 30, we will receive 6 months of free diapers from Seventh Generation (greener, environmentally friendly, hippy diapers).

And one final plea... if you think of things I should add to the lists, either from your own mama experiences or from other mamas you know, please let me know! I'm still trying to figure out all this tiny, tiny stuff.

At first I was afraid, I was petrified...

I had my first acupuncture appointment today, and it wasn't scary. My ribs were a little tender to start with after PT the day before (physical manipulation and ice). Putting the needles in didn't hurt--except for two that pinched a little extra. I didn't even mind the ones he put in my ears. My ears! The weirdest part was when the doctor hooked what looked like a miniature car battery up to little leads that connected to some of the needles. The sensation of the electricity was odd, but not uncomfortable.

My pain is returning this afternoon, but so far I haven't had any extreme episodes. I'll be going to PT and acupuncture both two times a week (4 appointments per week is going to suck down my leave balance quickly!) so I'll be interested to observe if and how the pain diminishes over the next few weeks.

On an unrelated, but very happy note, I heard this week that Dan's deployment will be coming to an end soon and he'll be returning to Gulfport within the month! I'm hoping he'll have an opportunity to swing by Colorado if he gets any post-deployment leave. I'd love to see him!

Misery, thy name is Costochondritis

Since I was about 12 weeks pregnant, I’ve been experiencing an unpleasant pain in my ribcage intermittently. For those of you who are googling “pregnancy, rib pain” the pain is located in the front, on my right side, just under the bra line, and occasionally radiates around my rib cage to my spine. I have long periods of the day where there’s a dull ache or tingly feeling, and then episodic bouts of stabbing pains. Sudden movements (like coughing, or throwing a ball to my dog) can exacerbate it, and as the day progresses, the pain gets worse and worse. As the weeks have gone by, the pain has become more frequent and more severe, to the point now that I’m occasionally driven to tears and have a hard time sleeping at night.

At first I thought this was all digestive in nature—as it hurt the most after eating a large meal. When it started flaring up when I had an empty stomach, I ruled that out. Then my OB started testing me for all types of internal possibilities—liver failure, gall stones, kidney issues—but everything came up clean (thank goodness!). This last appointment, she diagnosed the problem as Costochondritis. From MayoClinic.com, “Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.” In the last 24 hours, I’ve learned that this can affect either your right or left ribcage, but usually not both. Also, it’s not uncommon in pregnancy.

My OB and I talked about treatment options, and if I weren’t pregnant, the easy solution would be anti-inflammatories. Since these are a big no-no during pregnancy, however, we have to develop a Plan B. In my case, Plan B will include regular physical therapy and acupuncture sessions in an attempt to manage the pain and inflammation. If these fail me, I could end up in a Vicodin haze on bed-rest. Let’s hope for success!

I thought I’d post this info for those, like me, who’ve spent hours googling “pregnancy, rib pain” and haven’t gotten good information. My first PT and acupuncture visits are this week, so I’ll keep y’all posted.

And by the way, are there any readers out there who have received acupuncture before? I’m a little nervous at the prospect, but I figure it can’t be any worse than the pain I’m already in!

**Edited to Add:

It turns out this post is one of the most visited sites online about having costochondritis when you're pregnant! Who knew?

It's a shame that there isn't a better source of information out there on this disorder for pregnant ladies. But since there isn't, let's create one. If you came to this blog by searching for information about treating your costochondritis during pregnancy, would you please fill out this questionnaire in the comments? I'll compile any answers I receive and work on creating a post that summarizes our different experiences.

1-During your pregnancy, did you ever have pain in your ribcage? (If no, you’re done. If yes, please continue on.)
2-On a scale of 1-10 (1 being barely noticeable, 10 being hysterical emergency room craziness) rate the worst the pain ever felt.
3-How often did you feel this pain?
4-Did you seek treatment?
5-If yes to #4, from whom (OB, regular doctor, naturopath, etc)?
6-What was their diagnosis?
7-What was your treatment plan?
8-Did it help?
9-What was the approximate reduction in pain? You can answer numerically—for example 9-2 would mean: my pain was originally a 9, after treatment I’d rate it as a 2.
10-Did the pain continue after you delivered?
Bonus-Anything else you’d like to share about your rib pain?

How is it possible?

That this little guy is such a terrorist?

 

It's a...

girl!

Me at 18 Weeks

For those of you who haven’t seen me in a while… I’m growing!

 

Happy Anniversary, JMT

You're my favorite.

Car Fixing---You're Doing it Wrong

more cat pictures

Maternity Clothes

The last week has led to a major shift in my wardrobe. I'm no longer able to squeeze into even my biggest pants without some discomfort as the day wears on. So I did it. I bought a pair of maternity pants. And then another, and another.

At first it felt like a tiny defeat. I've spent my whole life trying to fit into tiny clothes. Concerned at the slightest gain or bulge. And now I can't even zip my jeans!

But then I got through my first full day of work in a pair of cute maternity pants (the kind with the tiny elastic band waist not the huge mama-jama panel) and I was so comfy! Like wearing my PJs to work!

I'm trying not to go off the deep end as I know I'll continue to grow and don't want a second wardrobe full of completely useless clothes in a couple of weeks. So I've kept the shopping to a minimum and have looked for deals where I can. I also won the maternity clothes lottery when a girlfriend from Temple gave me a giant bag full of her recent maternity gear. A lot of it is too big for now, but there are shorts and jeans and a couple of tops that fit nicely (and so comfortably) now.

So if you see any deals on maternity basics or know anyone cleaning out their closet, point me to 'em.

Overdue updates

Wow! It's been over a month. So much has happened.

JMT and I went on our much anticipated trip to Hawaii. This is my favorite photo. John took it at the beginning of an epic hike down to the bottom of the Wai'ipo valley, where we froliced on a black sand beach and climbed over boulders to get to the bottom of a 1200 foot waterfall. Unbelievable!

The week after we got back to Colorado, I had my 30th birthday. The day of my birthday was quiet and nice. I worked all day and then we went to my favorite local restaurant for dinner. That weekend, though, we had a big bbq at the house, and 40+ people came around. It was a great night.

The big news this month, though, is that I'm now publicly sharing the fact that I'm pregnant. Many of you readers know this by now, but now that we're out of the first trimester, it feels safe to put in print. We're due this November. I'm blessedly getting over the morning sickness, and hopefully the demise of the fatigue will be soon to follow.

So, stay tuned for baby updates.

-J

Vegas Synopsis

Had a lovely time in Vegas this weekend with Rachel. I also had the opportunity to meet some of her Vanderpeople, whom I enjoyed immensely.

What fun! My plane was delayed a little getting into town. Once I landed and hauled butt over to Planet Hollywood, I did a quick change and we went to the Daniel Boulud Brasserie. Daniel Boulud was the guest judge on Top Chef last week, and the food was divine. I had a delicious pumpkin soup with savory marshmallows and huckleberry coulis, and a terrific steak. After dinner, we met up with Rachel's Vanderposse, and went to Tryst at the Wynn. I was wowed by the screening process for letting people in--and happy that we were eventually deemed cute and young enough to go in. After about an hour or so there, we retired to a more civilized lounge (read: one with chairs) to chat and relax.

The next day was relaxing with some spa time, pool time, and shopping time, followed by dinner at the hotel's buffet and a hypnosis show. A pretty low-key day, but still a lot of fun.

When I arrived home on Sunday, dogs and JMT were happy to see me, and JMT took me out for an excellent dinner at the local Italian place.

All in all, a great weekend!

Thanks Julie, err I mean Rachel, for planning such a terrific getaway!

Writer's Block

This one's for Kirstin... I'll keep working on it, but in the meantime...

All of a sudden
It's become difficult to
write a new haiku

Soldier Mail

We got Dan's mailing address this week, and I sent it out to some of you. I know he'd love to get some contact from friends and family and friends of family. A few of you have had good ideas like cleaning house and sending him all of your boy-interest related magazines, or hitting the toiletry samples section of Target to send him necessities. Anyhow, if you'd like to drop him a line or send him anything, let me know and I'll email you his address right away.

I'm not gonna let no stinkin' volcano get me down

So part of the reason that JMT and I are so enthralled with the idea of visiting the Big Island of HI is the active volcano on the island. We've had romantic notions of sunset hikes along the coast to see the red lava oozing into the ocean, the unbelievable looking B&B in the rainforest near the volcano that we've booked at the Volcano Village Lodge. Check out this room:

http://www.volcanovillagelodge.com/mauna_kea.shtml

Anyhow, the news has been carrying stories lately about new activity on Kilauea. It's been spewing thousand foot high plumes of ash and smoke at times. So far, the winds have kept the situation safe, but that could change at any time and screw with our trip. Here's the latest CNN story I've seen on the drama:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/getaways/03/28/kilauea.eruption.ap/index.html

So for those of you who are Hawaii locals (and I have two readers in HI now!), can you keep me posted? Is this really the big deal that the national media is making it into?

Sage

I read this this morning in a daily email I receive from the Union for Reform Judaism. I thought it was interesting and beautiful.

*************

Galilee Diary
by Marc Rosenstein

Sage

It used to be that the burial of the dead was harder for the family than the actual death [because of the cost]; it reached the point where they would put down the body and run away – but then Rabban Gamaliel came and set an example by having himself buried in a linen garment, and all the people followed him and were buried in linen garments.
-Babylonian Talmud, Mo’ed Katan 27b

The other day I was walking the dog early in the morning, when I encountered a pickup truck parked on the shoulder of the road up to our new neighborhood. The road runs past a patch of rocky hillside covered with wild flowers, wild herbs, and thistles. An Arab man and a teenage boy were wading through the greenery, bringing to the truck armloads of wild sage plants they had pulled out. Trifoliate sage is one of the most common wild herbs in this area – it grows everywhere, sturdy, fragrant, waist-high evergreen bushes which at this season are covered with stalks of little pink-to-white flowers. It is used not only as a seasoning and as a tea herb, but has a long list of reputed medicinal uses, from settling an upset stomach to soothing mouth sores, lowering blood sugar, and improving memory.

The villagers around us often go out to collect rarer herbs at this season – and their uprooting of marjoram (za'atar) plants is an issue, as it is a protected species and is highly valued, like sage, as a seasoning and as a medicine. Sometimes the conflict even escalates to shouting matches or a call to the police by a zealous citizen. But I'd never seen anyone collecting sage here before, and right there along the main road at a busy time of day. So I asked. "Oh," the man answered, "We have a funeral. We need this for a funeral." "Ah, I see," I said, and kept walking. And hurried home to look it up…

Sure enough, trifoliate sage is an important element in Moslem funeral ceremonies. (I have visited a mourning tent, and seen a funeral from the distance, but never actually participated in one close up). Sometimes the body is laid on a bed of it; it is also used to make garlands and to strew over the grave. Its main appeal is its fragrance, which simply makes the funeral and the cemetery more esthetic, but also is believed to attract angels and repel demons. Moreover, since sage is also used in ceremonies at the birth of a baby, it is seen as symbolizing the whole life cycle. As it happened, the next day was a meeting the study group of imams that I help facilitate, and they confirmed exactly what I had learned from the internet. Who knew?

Having been brought up knowing that Jews don't use flowers at funerals, I was quite taken aback at my first Jewish funeral here to discover that it is customary to bring wreathes and bouquets and pile them on the newly filled-in grave before leaving the cemetery. Later I found out that what I thought I knew was indeed correct, and at strictly Orthodox funerals, flowers are not brought. Most funerals in Israel are conducted under the supervision of the local religious council and presided over by the local Orthodox rabbi, but attended by people who assume that piling flowers on the grave is normative. And no one tells them it is not. So I guess that means that it is.

Whether beautified by sage from the neighbors' field, or by expensive wreathes from the florist shop, or none of the above, one thing common to Jewish and Moslem funerals in all communities here is the fundamental simplicity. The infamous funeral "industry" of North America has not yet found its way here. Most people in Israel, Jewish and Moslem, are buried as soon as possible after death (sometimes the same day) in a white shroud (no coffin); or if in a coffin, then in a plain wooden box.

And afterwards, I guess, we all go to the same place.

I can't resist

Black Guy Asks Nation For Change

CHICAGO—Some residents reported seeing the black guy waving wildly and quoting from the Bible, while others said they spotted him shouting about global warming.

Updates

I’m *finally* starting to feel human again after three weeks with the flu and residual cough. Unfortunately, I passed it along to JMT, and he spent some time suffering as well. Overall though, we’re starting to get better. With the illness and the weather, not much has been going on lately. JMT's gala a few weekends back was nice, but the coughing and laryngitis put a damper on the evening. JMT and I forgot to have someone take a couple photo while we were there, so we took these of each other when we got home. Isn’t he so handsome in his tux?!?

Now that it’s spring break here for our teacher friends, I’m counting down the days till my Vegas weekend with Rachel (11 days) and our trip to Hawaii (24 days). Just enough time before them both to start looking for a new bathing suit and some breezy sundresses.

I heard from Dan through Mom & Dad the other day. He’d been working on a joint project with a British unit and says it’s the most important and rewarding work he’s ever done. He was also named Sailor of the Quarter for the winter quarter, and he’s hopeful this will translate into a promotion next go around.

Queen Esther for President

Yesterday was the Purim celebration at my Temple, and a few weeks ago, the Rabbi called me and asked if I'd like to participate in the purim spiel. Purim is an annual celebration of salvation of the Jews from the wicked Haman, through the leadership of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai in ancient Persia. Most congregations celebrate Purim raucously, and include play (or spiel) that touches on some of the highlights of the holiday and a tradition of getting so schnockered that one can't differentiate between the good guy and the bad guy.

This year's play was to be a candidate's debate, with Queen Esther, Haman and Mordecai all running for President of Shushan. We were each to prepare a stump speech, and be prepared for debate and questions. Unfortunately, the moderator led the group down a different path, so I never got to give my speech. So, here it is for posterity.

*******

When I was first nominated to run for President of Shushan, I’ll admit that I was rather taken aback. Similar to when I was chosen to be a candidate for becoming the new Queen, I originally hoped that if I didn’t call much attention to myself, that this might go away, and I could go back to my normal life.

But since the recent events that have transpired in Shushan, I realize that there is a need for a person like me, someone who is honest and modest and willing to make sacrifices for what is right, to step up and work to improve our community.
I believe that my track record in saving my people from destruction should speak for itself, but let me outline a few facets of that story that demonstrate the type of President that I will be.

For starters, when the King began to search for a new queen, and brought forward maidens from all over his lands, finery and cosmetics were offered to each of us to make ourselves over before meeting the King. I was the only lady to refuse these items, and met the King with no adornments. Instead of being seduced by the material wealth and glory associated with becoming queen, I focused on my spiritual heritage. As President of Shushan, I will not be swayed by riches, power and glory, and instead, will focus on what is right for the people.

When I learned about Haman’s plot to kill the Jews, I realized that outing myself as a Jew may well put my life in peril. However, my commitment to my people, and desire to do what is right overruled those fears—and I did step forward. As President of Shushan, this ability and willingness to understand when it is important to make sacrifices for a greater cause will help me to make measured and meaningful decisions for our community.

Finally, when I did devise a plan for alerting the King to Haman’s plot against the Jews, I took a very measured approach to telling him. I understood the King’s whims and devices, and slowly warmed him up to the issue by holding sumptuous banquets in his honor. What this should show you is that I am no newcomer to Shushan politics. I understand the power structure in this community, and how to work within it to accomplish all manner of objectives.

To close, you have a varied slate of candidates in front of you tonight. As you are casting your vote for President, think about what you are looking for in a leader. If you are looking for an individual with a track record of positive change, someone who will not be swayed by pride or riches, someone who understands the nature of sacrifice for a greater good, and someone who has the experience to understand Shushan politics, then cast your vote for me.

Haiku for an Old Friend

As requested...

same birthday, same horn
it was fate that we'd be friends
then you moved away

I will live to fight another day

I'm feeling a lot better today, though when I cough it still sounds like I'm about to kick it. My sunday-schoolers are participating in the service tonight, so I have to rally in a few hours here, get dressed in something other than sweats for the first time since Tuesday, and go to Temple. We have a potluck Shabbat dinner before services and I made some butternut squash and pear puree. Its so good! I can barely stop myself from devouring it before dinner tonight.

We had some excitement this afternoon. I went to open up the storage shed under the house, and a big raccoon was sitting there on top of the camping supplies. This means two things: 1)HOLY CRAP! and 2) THERE IS A RACCOON LIVING IN MY HOUSE! I know it's not technically in my house, but there are openings between the storage area and the bike room, so if he were wiley enough, that raccoon could be in my bedroom if he wanted to.

Enough of that. Hope all (two) of you readers have a lovely weekend. Tomorrow night is JMT's corporate gala. I have a super posh dress. If any of the photos are tolerable, I'll post them next week.

Oh No!

This is the evil monster that is living in my throat!

On Monday I felt pretty icky, but I didn't think much of it until this morning. I had a sore throat and other assorted symptoms. I don't know what prompted me to look at my throat in the mirror with a flashlight, but when I did I got concerned about the weird inflammation. Anyhow, I went to the doctor today and tested positive for the flu. Ironic, since I'm a stickler for flu shots, but the doc thinks that the mono likely lowered my resistance, and they've been having problems with the flu shot not being as effective this year.

So, if I've coughed near you in the past few days, I'm sorry! The doc prescribed the rest of the week at home so I don't infect anyone else. Here's hoping that JMT doesn't get it!

When I was looking for weekend ideas, Rachel suggested watching Weeds. Any other ideas? It's going to be a loooong week!