A visit from a bestie

My dear friend Cameron visited us last weekend from New Zealand! It was so great to have girl time with her, catch up on life and of course put some womanly touches on the nursery!







Cameron joined us in celebrating St. Patrick's Day at our friends annual party. As you may remember, St. Patrick's Day is a special day for Geoff and I because we met on this day 5 years ago! What a love.




(Side note: These pictures were taken the same day, but either baby had a growth spurt between the afternoon and the evening OR it's the way the tops fit... not sure which one.)

34 weeks!

Last Sunday marked 34 weeks growth for baby girl. Is it totally crazy that I'm PROUD of my unborn child? Shows what's to come, I guess!

Things continue to go great and I'm still feeling really good. My drop in energy (since about 30 weeks or so) continues to haunt me but it's actually quite nice to be taking naps again (like I did at the beginning). Even a 20 minute snooze seems to help a lot. Baby's movements are definitely changing - I can tell that she's starting to get a little tight in there and instead of jabbing movements it's more like stretching or pushing. It is hard to explain... but when she's moving around I get this feeling she's also thinking "give me some room in here!" She's also hiccuping more now. I've never heard anyone complain about the baby hiccups, so maybe I'm the first, but they drive me insane! Could be because she's so low but I like to explain it to Geoff as a heartbeat in my crotch. Odd. And annoying. But still cute, because everything she does is cute. :-)

We're moving along with the nursery and I am loving it. My parents came last weekend for my shower here (pics and post to come soon!) and we spent lots of time putting things together and organizing - it's getting exciting!!

Here's a pic for you all to enjoy. Keep in mind this photo shoot took a good 20 minutes because Geoff and I don't agree on flattering angles. This one will have to do....

Seattle

The mamas to be! So excited that baby girl will have a niece or nephew only 2 months younger than her!




Yummy breakfast with a great friend, Joey D


This was our last trip to Seattle with just the two of us! So exciting to think about all the changes that are about to take place!

We had a great time and were really happy to be able to spend lots of family time, including time with Porter man. He is such an amazing little man.... so much spunk and wise beyond his 22 months if you ask me!

Email from student

hi Deedee how are you and how is your vacation i did find a names but if you didn't like it please lat me know and i will think about another names

Names

Kirsten

Lease

Rose

Elisabeth

Julia

Sara

Chantal

Lie

Sandy

Sophia

Maria

Sonia

Lena

Thanks and have a great day

M

Seattle Baby Shower

A sweet sweater that my mom made for baby!

Last weekend Geoff and I had a short trip to Seattle to spend time with some family and friends and celebrate baby girl's arrival in April!








As you can see, no detail was left behind! My sister-in-law, BF Stacey and mother all went above and beyond and hosted a wonderful shower for me and baby girl. It was SO great to catch up with some very special ladies and celebrate this little one that will be joining us soon!

Baby girl's room

Geoff put together our new dresser last night taking us one step closer to the nursery being completed! The dresser was a bit of a fiasco. We bought another one (that I LOVED) but it ended up being WAY too short to change diapers on. So, we returned that one (not without any hassle, of course) and ordered this one. The height is perfect - well, for Geoff. So, it's actually ideal because I figured when we are in disagreement about who will change baby's diaper I can say "the changing table height is perfect for you, you do it!" :-)







Oh! And if you look closely at the pic you can see our new bedding sitting in our crib (along with other crap - it's kind of our holding place for now!).

Valentine's Day 2011

Geoff and I celebrated Vday last week and had a GREAT date night. We figured it would be the last time to have a quiet one, so we did it up!




A fondue date night!







Good times with a great husband!

30 weeks!

Last Sunday marked 30 weeks for baby girl. She's getting so big & strong... I'm such a proud mommy already!





More stuff seems to be goin' on with my bod, so I guess you could say I'm starting to feel pretty pregnant. By the end of the day I'm totally beat and usually don't feel like doing much more than getting into my PJ's, putting my feet up and watching TV or reading. I am thorough enjoying each moment I do this because I know these opportunities will be far & few between once baby arrives!
My work-outs are getting more difficult and I cannot do what I used to. But it still feels GREAT to go and I'm thankful that I have been able to keep up the routine. Most of my ailments are in my lower back & hips. It feels like I need to get a really good stretch but I just can't seem to get to it. Luckily, I had a gift certificate from my sweet MIL to a fancy spa which does "motherhood massages". The masseuse really got to those trouble spots... It was amazing and I seriously felt like it was needed, not just a splurge. Oh, and I wish I could buy one of those mats that they used - the one with the boobs and belly sections cut out - helllllo, brilliant for us stomach sleepers!

She is moving around a ton in there and Geoff gets to feel her too, which is so fun. Last week when I was taking a bath she was happily squirming around and I could feel her little butt pop up! If was soooo cute! Feeling her body parts?!? It's still crazy to me!

Heading into into my 31st week with a trip to Seattle - can't wait!

Little miss

Enjoying a BBQ at auntie's house!

On the nightstand

Yes, that is a lot of books to be reading at once. I just cannot get enough though - so much to learn, and so little time! And the strong, passionate, raw birth stories are awesome. I'm soakin' it up.

I'm never far....

from the BATHROOM. So I pretty much plan my day around where my next bathroom stop will be able to be. It's kinda out of control. I love water, love being hydrated but do NOT love having to use every bathroom in the bay area. (Did you know Baby Gap has a bathroom? That was one of my best finds thanks to my friend Sara.)




I recently upped my water intake to about 90 ounces of water. That's kinda ridiculous.... but it does make me feel good and I have noticed that awful swelling that was happening to my ankles not occur as often. (Did you know that water helps flush the body and reduce water retention? Seems odd, but it's brilliant really.)

Okay, but let's go back - NINETY OUNCES of water. That's over 2.5 liters. Then, let's remember that my bladder is currently being crushed by a three pound (give or take a bit) princess. No wonder why I pee so much.

My girl

I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted about Kaira! We continue to have play dates and I'm so amazed but how much of a little girl she is now. She is so fun to be with, getting more independent and just LOVES being with me and Geoff!

Today we had some lunch with our friends Trip, Joy and Kieran and after a long walk we hung around the house playing with all the hand-me-down toys that have been given to us! Love her!

3rd trimester!

We're sailing into 3rd trimester and I'm feeling great! Baby girl continues to be doing her somersaults and staying active. As the weeks go on I'm feeling much more pregnant (I guess this is a good thing!) and have to just laugh at myself when I do things like nearly fall over when picking up one foot to put my pants on. Thankfully not much to report - feeling good, healthy and energized.

Here we are; 27 weeks! (Geoff said "give me attitude in this pic". I think I gave him my best creeper look!)

Census

Check it out. Fun to see what's goin' on in your 'hood!

http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer

So impressive

My nephew is amazing! What a little man! Can't WAIT to see him in February.

http://absolutelyabo.blogspot.com/2011/01/porter-skiis-and-loves-it.html

Our crib!

I came home the other day to a wonderful surprise ~ hubby was putting together baby girl's crib! We bought it way back on Cyber Monday because it was on major sale and it ended up being a wonderful Christmas gift from Geoff's mom and step-dad. Sweetest. It had been sitting in the box cluttering the room for almost two months so it was so lovely to come home to this surprise.






It's finished!



And as you can see we have a nice pile of hand-me-downs and gifts awaiting baby girl's arrival. I can't wait to get this room in order and now we are one step closer!

Growing baby

Baby and I are doing great! Feeling really good - infact, I have very minimal to report on. For awhile my hip and back were bothering me and after meeting with my midwife and going over my posture, I'm happy to report that I'm feeling much better. As long as keep focused on good posture and walking correctly I notice that my body feels a TON better.

I can tell baby girl is growing and getting strong everyday! Some days I wonder if she sleeps AT ALL because it feels like she is constantly moving around. I must say I absolutely love it! (Except for what seems like a good elbow to my vagina ~ I could live without those!)

Geoff feels her all the time and we watch her dance around. She especially loves when I talk to her and when her dad tells her secrets. :-)

Here's a shot of me in all my glory - a day at the beach. She LOVED the sun, just like her mama!



A pic before going out last night (25 weeks)

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Sleepy Beckstroms

After getting home around 11pm on Sunday and waking up at 6am on Monday we knew it would be the start of a very long week ~ and we were right! It was busy at work and we just never seemed to catch up on anything. Luckily we had some free time this weekend to pay the bills and get the house organized a bit. I was finally able to go through all of the ADORABLE and sweet Christmas cards from friends and family. Thank you everyone! As you probably figured out, we didn't send a card this year. We figured we'd save a tree or two and wait to send out our well wishes with our baby announcement once our little princess joins us! Anyways, it was nice to have a weekend at home to get our heads back on straight and catch up on some sleep.

Last night we met up with our dear friends who were in town for one short evening. It was great to have dinner together and we really wish Brian and Steph lived here! Great people.



Brian, Geoff & I at dinner

What a vacay...

We had 2 blissful weeks in Mexico and we're happy to be home and back to the grind - well the working part sucks, but being home sure is nice.

We spent the first week exploring inland and REALLY loved soaking up Mexican culture, the people, food and the sights. A beautiful part of the country and a perfect place to explore.





The second week was mostly relaxation - my dear friend gave us a week at her time share and we were living in style in our one bedroom apartment. We did more exploring, beach laying and of course, eating.






All in all it was a GREAT trip and a perfect way to finish our travels with just the two of us. Geoff was making a list of things we want to remember to bring on our next trip and he added "baby". Cute.

I'll post more about how baby and mommy are doing...

Virgin margarita, por favor

I've spent the last 3 hours in my room sorting through borrowed maternity clothes to find some clothes (that fit and flatter the bump) for our VACATION! We're headed to sunny Mexico on Saturday ~ it has been a whole of 5 months since we last left the country so we're both getting the itch. The trip has come at a perfect time! I feel energized and healthy, ready for some sunshine and excited to spend time with my husband, just the two of us with no other responsibility.

I had a self photo shoot the other day. I found my picture quite artistic. Geoff laughed at me.

(A little shout out to my friends who passed on bags of maternity clothes ~ it really helps a lady feel better about herself when she can do a shopping spree without spending a penny.)



Almost 22 weeks

Half way cooked!

Baby girl is half way baked and she's celebrating this morning with lots of kicks! Definitely a party in my belly - how fun!

To celebrate our Baby Is Half Way Cooked Day I put the maternity jeans on for the first time and documented it with a picture ~






So, how DO you stand to take the best belly pic? Hand up? To the side? Hmmmm....

(That really wasn't the best place for a photo for many reasons, including showing the mess. Sorry fans.)

Maternity Jeans

OH MY GOODNESS! Yesterday I spent a good three hours at the mall and it was like learning how to walk again. So many new things to learn!

At nearly 20 weeks my regular jeans are just NOT working for me. The bella band and the rubber band move were cool for awhile (a very short while), but I'm sure my co-worker was sick of looking at my crack so I figured it was time to jump into the maternity jeans world. I had NO idea there were so many options! I walked away with one of everything for a few reasons - 1, it was 50% off at the Gap and 2, I have NO idea what is really going to work for me.

We have three types of panels to choose from ~

No Panel: These are meant to go under the belly. They don't have a visible panel, but the waistband is elastic and will stretch with your growing bump.



Full Panel: One thing I noticed is that Gap's Full Panel is MASSIVE, while Old Navy's Full Panel is not as long.



The Demi-Panel/ Under Belly Panel: Hugs the bottom of your belly. Kind of gives me a case of the muffin-top, but I think it might be nice not to have the big panel on my belly sometimes.



And then there is the CUT of the jean. All ladies know how many options out there for a cut of a jean - almost too many, but of course never the perfect one, right??

The other stress of yesterday's shopping extravaganza is that I really do not know how I'm going to grow from here on out, making it difficult to find just the right size. Obviously I know the belly is going to pop (which there will be plenty of room for with my new pants), but are my hips and butt going to follow suit or stay the size they are now? Hoping for the latter, obviously ;-)

Speaking of which, off to the gym now! Have a great weekend!

Weeks 15 - 18

Not much to report in Prego Land, which I see as a great thing really! The biggest change over the last month has probably been emotional. Each day that passes and as I watch my belly grow I get more excited to hold my little miss. I find myself day dreaming about what she's going to be like, what kind of mom I'll be and what kind of family we'll become.

No Fun: Not fitting into my regular clothes very well, but being too small for maternity clothes. Oh, and the bella band, totally over it. People saying "you don't look pregnant!" Really, well, I've put on weight and it's going somewhere, so I must just look fat. Great. :-)

Loves: Feeling my baby kick/stretch/punch... whatever it is she's doing in there! Now, I must say I'm like 98% sure it's baby girl I've been feeling... but sometimes I wonder if it's just gas or something. Hmmmm.

Aversions: Still not enjoying meat all that much, but it has been a lot better. Chicken is probably the only real no-no at this point. Stinky people is still high on this list as well.

IT'S A....

GIRL! A sweet, precious, healthy baby GIRL!


Let me back up....

A few days ago we had our 18 week Ultrasound and it was AMAZING! We were absolutely in awe of our little baby girl squirming and moving all around! She is perfectly healthy and measuring exactly to date (even her head size, yay!).

When we went in we really did not know if we wanted to find out the gender. We KEPT going back and forth and so we decided to have the tech write it down and seal it in an envelope. Going in we had three options set; 1. Open that evening, just the two of us sharing the moment together. 2. Wait and open on Christmas morning! 3. Keep the envelope sealed.

I am so happy we did it this way. We were on such a high after the ultrasound just for the fact that we could see our little one moving all around and that everything looked just as it should! It was so special and great to ride that out while awaiting another great surprise.

So that evening, after dinner, we looked at each other and decided we REALLY wanted to know! Our ultrasound was all recorded and given to us on a DVD so we decided to find out that way. It was really a great moment. Baby girl was very cooperative and appeared to spread eagle when the tech went down south. Cutest little vagina ever! :-) BTW, I knew it was a girl all along... she let me know early on :-)

(My ultrasound pics are on PDF and I can't figure out how to post them... I'll work on it.)

THE bella band

Today was a big day for this mama-to-be. I wore the BELLA BAND for the first time! It was official this morning when my jeans would not comfortably button (and my student told me that I looked like a football player yesterday...), I knew it was time to put it on.

It's GREAT! It is basically a stretchy band of material that fits around your regular jeans concealing the unbuttoned top button and making an all around better fit. I mean, who wouldn't want a bella band - pregnant or not! Indulged in Halloween candy? Had a few too many servings at Thanksgiving? Can't fit into your wedding summer jeans (yes, this is me.) Try the bella band!

So, nearly 18 weeks into this pregnancy I think it's time to switch up the wardrobe!

My favorite nephew

I get to see this little man this weekend.... how lucky am I!?

Go Giants!

What a great season! Geoff is number 1 Giants fan, so when I found this shirt I had to get it for our baby-to-be. Kaira broke it in for our new little one, which I think is now lucky since the Giants TOOK IT ALL this year!