Happy Holidays!

I am really looking forward to my journey home to Michigan this year. I will be home between Dec 20-25th. I am so grateful to be able to see my brother Jesse whom I haven't seen in well over a year (waay too long) as well as so many other beloved family members and friends. 

Of course I remember all my angels during this time too, Mom, Dad, Grandma K, and Grandma and Grampa B. We miss you and love you all so very much. 

May everyone experience a blessed and joyful holiday! It is a time to give thanks for all of the love and good fortune we share. :-)

SURPIRSE!!!!

 Oh my goidness gracious! My AMAZING colleagues at Kaiser had a SURPIRSE Baby Shower for me last week! It was unbelievable! It was actually a very elaborate plan involving my boss emailing me in the morning to set up the plot, a co-worker getting me out of a meeting by telling me a client with an urgent behavioral situation (lol) was on the phone and needed a Clinician...only to find she had "hung up" when I got back there, lol! Then there was a strategically planned meeting with another colleage at a precise time, in which I was strongly encouraged to stay at and then a supposed urgent meeting with a Doctor in the kitchen.

When I walked into the kitchen I walked into a beautifully decorated room complete with celiing decorations, home made wreaths on the walls, a cake, and an entire CART full of baby gifts! About 20 of our staff members were there and shouted out "SURPRISE!"

Oh my goodness what a moment, I was, in fact, completely and utterly surprised! :-) I couldn't believe my eyes. It was so incredibly sweet and just every little detail was in place. The theme of the party, planned by a special friend, Diana, was "The Circle of Life." It was mainly baby animals/jungle themed and she told me she picked the theme b/c of generations carrying on, coming and going, and the cycle of life continuing. Ummm, I almost cried, I was SO touched and honored and wow, it's hard to find the words.

I had a moment where I was just so happy and a bit overwhelmed by seeing all those little baby things and it sinking in a bit deeper, that in just 2 short months there is going to be a little being, a precious baby boy to be wearing the clothes and reading the books and present in the world! Not to mention the center of my world. WOW!

They hooked me up with everything! Really cute clothes, pacifiers, socks, eating utencils, a musical mobile, a play pad, blankets, butt cream (hehe), wash clothes, stuffed animals, diapers, books, a really nice pregnancy book AND a huge wad of cash called "Hope and Marcelo Relief Fund!" Reserved to use for he and I to go out to eat, or for a massage or a babysitter, etc. HOW incredibly sweet! So much love for our family. I am so humbled. And so grateful and so blessed and so incredibly excited!!!!

Thank you Diana and The Entire Health Ed Department. Words fall short of describing how much your kindness and generosity means to me :-) It was really fun bringing everything home and sharing it with Marcelo and telling him the stories of that day :-)

I was and still am so happy about the party! I am still riding on that wave! The rest of the week was good. We had our last of three, 4 hour childbirth prep classes at Kaiser. We are also doing another 8 hour series that ends next week. Here I am on Saturday sitting on my bouncy ball and learning about breast feeding using my vintage E.T doll!!! Good times! I think he liked it, lol.

Despite having anemia I have been feeling good and full of energy! Go figure! I went to 2 yoga classes last week and 3 hour long walks. I love my walks! 

We also went to see The Hobbit Part 2. That was fun, and we went out to eat Pho (Vietnamese Noodles), so delicious! It is starting to sink in what other parents are telling me, to go out and enjoy the last few weeks of being kidless, b/c when the baby's born, it may be much harder to get away! hehe. So yes, we are living it up now and having lots of fun. 

Saturday we went to a friends Holiday party and I enjoyed so much all of the delicious foods and treats. It is really amazing how much attention a pregnant belly gets. People honestly get SO excited! At the party we met some other new parents and spent a while talking with them and hearing stories :-) Today a lady came up to me in a store and asked about my pregnancy and shared about hers many years ago and gave each other a hug when she left. Seriously, the magic of child birth and the creation of life brings out a special glow in people. It's very cool. 

Even my cat loves a preggo belly! Check it out! 

29 week update!

Well I am officially in my 29th week! I have gained about 15 lbs so far, right on track and still feeling good!

I have been walking 1-3 miles per day for the past couple of weeks, yes I know I am kind of obsessed, but it's so awesome b/c walking feels so good both physically and emotionally. It really helps with the stress and I just love having a chance to get outside in the fresh air and move everyday. I also see lots of pretty nature and animals which is great.

Last week I noticed I didn't have my usual energy supply and turns out I have anemia. It's not a super big deal and the doc recommended extra iron supplements. It's understandable since blood volume almost doubles during pregnancy and can easily become diluted, plus the fact that I eat almost zero red meat. So, at Marcelo's urging I did buy some organic grass fed beef yesterday, which I am not super comfortable about due to my ethical beliefs, but I will see how it goes incorporating a small amount of red meat. I am also hoping the supplements and other iron rich foods do the trick.

So that feels good to be addressing that concern. Everything else is looking great! Now Levi is so big that he doesn't fit into one ultrasound picture anymore :-) It was really cool to see him moving around again via ultrasound. Wow!

Can't believe I still have 8-10 more weeks to go! My calendar is filling up with appointments/classes as I now have to start seeing my doc every 2 weeks and then it goes down to every week during the last month. I was reflecting again on how lucky we are to have such great medical care and low co-payments. That truly is a gift in itself :-)

Well I've gotta run off to work. xoxo have a great week!

Good Weekend!

Just taking a few minutes to update!

We had a great and busy whirlwind weekend! We had a good friend, Jon, in town from Boston. We all lived in the co-op together over there. So Friday we ate at Marcelo's parents and of course the food was amazing. Jon got to try her famous salsa and loved it! Then we all went out to a movie, lovely evening!

Saturday we had our second Prepared Childbirth class. It was very cool! All of the couples/participants we asked to bring a fitness ball, yoga mat, and rebozo (long wide scarf), and we spent time practicing different laboring positions, exercises, and massage techniques which was my favorite part, hehe! We also did breathing and relaxation exercises. The instructor is great too.

We also had our first potential Doula interview! It was really exciting and she was great and had a ton of good information. She gave us some good tips and I like that she put a really positive spin on the laboring/birthing process, mentioning how many women enjoy that special time. It's refreshing b/c in our classes we focus a lot on complications and interventions which I think is important, but am really interested in exposing myself to a variety of very birth and labor positive/empowering/intuitive based stories and information.

Saturday eve I went to an awesome craft show in downtown LA with some friends. It was so inspiring!!! I still have my dream of making craft/sewing projects and selling them at shows and such. I really enjoy seeing what's out there and getting motivated. Sunday morning I spent cooking :-) This weeks menu includes:

-high protein whole weat noodle, tofu, egg drop soup
-high protein vegetarian chili
-organic quinoa
-chocolate chip zucchini bread
-raw vegan power balls; dates, cashews, pistachios, sunflower seeds, unsweetened coconut, and cacao. Sooooo good and a healthy alternative to refined sweets. Yum!

I am in heaven with all of my health foods :-) Sunday evening we celebrated a good friend, Cortland's birthday at a restaurant in Marina Del Rey. Seeing friends plus eating Coldstone Ice Cream Cake was pretty much a dynamite combination! Woo hoo!

good foods!

I am so enthralled with healthy foods! My lunch yesterday, brought from home and packaged by myself with love....

- an organic spinach, pepper, carrot salad with braggs aminos and olive oil

- organic greek yogurt with blueberries and walnut pieces (pregnancy super foods!)

- home made hearty lentil soup with brown rice

Good food = pure clean energy and a clear mind :-)

Pregnancy Questionnaire!

Your name? Hope

Fathers name? Marcelo

Were you trying to get pregnant? Yes! We finally decided to give it a try and viola!

When did you find out? Father's Day 2013 - June 15 or 16th

Were did you find out? At home in my bathroom after a pregnancy test

How far along were you? A little over a month

What was your reaction? Seriously the most incredible sense of joy and gratitude that I have ever felt to this day! 

How did you tell the father? I didn't have to, he had an intuitive knowing and came to the bathroom door before I had a chance to tell him and we gave each other the most beautiful, joyous embrace!

What was his reaction? Ecstatic - I love that memory, of us standing in the bathroom doorway overcome by emotion. I'll never forget it. 

Who was the first person you told? We told Marcelo's parents and sister several days later after dinner one evening. We gave his Mom a onsie wrapped up and had her open it....I think they all teared up. Another precious memory. 

When is your due date? Feb 18th 2014!

Did you have any morning sickness? I have been so lucky in this pregnancy! I have not thrown up once or been so sick that it's prevented me from going to work or doing things. I rested a lot in the first trimester and my taste pallet totally changed for a few months! 

Latest Food Craving: Wellll, lol, although I eat very healthily and cook/prepare tons of whole foods I do crave lots of sweets! Latest is chocolate pecan turtles of which I bought a box on Saturday and Marcelo has since hidden and has been rationing me 2 per day, hehe. I have also been loving Trader Joes Tofutti Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches. I do try to limit refined sugars though so I do a lot of cherry tomatoes, frozen blueberries and fresh whole dates. 

Worst Thing about being pregnant: I miss going in the hot tub after working out and the back pain although mine has been mild.

Best Thing about being pregnant: the excitement surrounding me! People all over get so excited about a preggo belly and it has been really fun. I also love having my little babe safe inside all to myself :-) 

Are you more scared or excited: Both! But mostly excited!

What are your fears? pressure to have unnecessary medical interventions during labor and birth, labor and birth, learning how to take care of a baby, being a good Mommy. I am working with a lot of positive affirmations right now which help a lot. I am building my trust in my body and the natural process of birth. I had the absolute best Mom in the world so I know many things will come natural to me. It is scary but I think fear is natural and do not resist it. 

What are you most happy about? Ha! This miracle of life, being able to concieve so easily, having the most amazing, loving, gentle, caring, mature, respectable, smart, compassionate partner in Marcelo. I cannot wait to know him as a Daddy and co-parent with him. Also his family is just wonderful and I am so glad we're close with them. I cannot wait to meet eyes with my little one, I want to cry from joy just thinking about it. I cannot wait to spend every day with Levi and grow with him and take care of him and love and cuddle on him all day!!! And just being a Mom, wow, so full of happiness! 

You pee an estimated __ times a day?: Hmmm, haven't counted but a lot! Probabaly every 1-2 hours. 

Do you want a boy or a girl? Boy...we're having a boy and I wanted a boy :-) 

Do you have a name picked out? We're leaning towards Levi right now.

How much weight have you gained? Probably about 10-15 lbs so far.

Do you plan on having a natural birth? Yes, as much as I can predict. I plan on being very mentally and physically prepared (have been working a lot already on this) and trusting my body, my baby and my deepest intuition to make decisions that feel right during labor. I am not closed to anything but would like to try to do it au natural. 

Are you scared about the labor? yes! Absolutely, pain is scary and it's hard to know what to expect. However I think it is OK to be scared and will work with the fear. Luckily I have great support and a deep sense of trust in nature and my body. 

Have you/are you planning on attending any Lamaze classes? Yes we are attending 2 different class series which are great and plan to meet with a Doula soon! I like that in the classes so far they really emphasize the role of the partner in the process. It's good to know I will have close support through out! 

Do you think you will cry when you see your baby for the first time? Ha! Without a doubt I cry just thinking about it. 

Will you breast feed: yes that is the plan

Words of wisdom: Lean into the process, trust in your body and baby, and ask for help/support when you need it :-) 

A mix of emotions

Well here we are in the 27th week! Baby weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is about 15 inches long! I feel him constantly moving and kicking which is cute!

I am feeling excited, nervous and a bit overwhelmed too! There is so much to do/learn before the baby comes!

I started researching some baby products for our registry and I spent a couple of hours just learning about the science of cloth diapering! I watched youtube videos about different styles and brands and Mom's that compare them with pros and cons, and how to launder them! And I just came away with more questions!

I also watched some videos on "essential" baby items which omg, there are so many types of things to buy for a baby! And to be honest Marcelo and I both want to do as many used/recycled products as possible, especially since they will be used for such a short time. So more to come on that soon. We are hoping to have a shower mid-January and are very excited!

Also we've been taking 2 different class series; 'Prepared Childbirth,' and 'Baby Care Basics.' Both are awesome and the more I learn, the more confident and excited I feel, not to mention nervous too. I'm already realizing how many different approaches and schools of thought there are about these things and then I remind myself that birth and baby care are the most natural things ever, before hospitals, medical interventions, and mass consumerism! So I plan to keep it as simple as possible and really focus on cultivating a deep internal trust of myself and my body through meditation and positive affirmations.

We're also getting ready to interview Doulas for the birthing process. Here is a good article about their role if you don't know.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/witw/articles/2013/12/02/more-american-women-employing-doulas-during-childbirth.html

And we're getting ready to make a birth plan, which will just outline what our preferences are for the birthing process/time in the hospital. So many decisions!

The other great thing, which is truly a blessing, is that I will have an entire month off of work before my due date! I will be able to get a lot done then and gather more things for baby. We are so fortunate to have financial security and the peace of mind of knowing that we will be able to provide for our baby. What a wonderful thing.

I have been feeling good and part of my child birth prep has been walking daily and doing stretches and exercises on a regular basis. Also, of course, eating fresh, whole foods. These practices take time but the investment is so worth it. Walking is not only beneficial for the physical but the mental as well. Check out this sunset I saw tonight!

Special Times

Marcelo and I have started to read Levi stories at bed time :-) How precious are these moments in life? Here we are reading "Goodnight Moon." Marcelo reads in Spanish and I repeat in English. We feel, and now see him kicking and moving inside. Wow, what a treat. Honestly one of the most tender moments in my life so far! 

Thanksgiving

How wonderful that Marcelo and I had some extended time off of work together! We really needed it! For Thanksgiving we went to Marcelo's cousin's house and it was so much fun. His Dad's brother's family was there and several of them had spent the entire day cooking a traditional Mexican meal. It was delish!

It was especially cool b/c his cousin is also pregnant. She has a 2 year old so I got to spend some time talking with her which was nice, and of course everyone is so excited about our baby! 

Have I mentioned how amazing Marcelo's parents are? His Mom's name is Esmeralda but we call her 'Came," short for Carmen with an accent on the 'e.' His Dad is Ricardo and they are both so humble and soooo kind and loving. I just love them so!

And of course I did some of my own cooking! I am so happy when I am cooking and then enjoying home made meals! We had Marcelo's co-worker Grace and her partner over for brunch on Saturday. We had Quiche and Crepes! Here the veggies for the Quiche are sauteing.

Fresh fruit and Ricotta with cinnamon sugar!

Grace and I! She's due at the end of December. It was great chatting about baby stuff and parenthood (ie - how long we should ethically wait to bring our kids to Burning Man and things of that nature, lol)

Saturday I had another friend over for dinner and we made a small feast!

Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and vegan chick-pea cutlets. So yum!

And Marcelo and I spent a quiet day at home decorating and putting up our first Christmas Tree in the 6 years we have lived together! I wasn't sure about it b/c it meant digging up a box from the closet that I hadn't opened in years, full of my family holiday memories and ornaments. Sure I had an upsurge of grief, as expected, but I got through it and now we have a beautiful tree to enjoy! The ornaments are mine from childhood, and very special and sentimental. :-) The cat topper is something cute we randomly found on a walk. Let the festivities begin! I really do love the holidays. Our living room is so warm and cozy with the tree :-)

Happy 35 to me!

My -day this year was really cute! Last b-day before Levi arrives! It was fun some friends and I went to a vegan restaurant for dinner and I was showered with gifts! I got a lot of nice stuff including some new maternity shirts and a bracelet with Levi's name on it that my friend Clare made! 

Afterwards we went to a Karaoke bar and I channeled my inner Axl Rose. So much fun! 

Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday dear Hope, the extremely excited Mama to be!!!