The Final Moments

4 more days
Rocking flannel pajamas and watching Dick Clark’s Rocking New Year’s Eve might seem like a pretty insignificant way to ring in the New Year; but as Andy and I counted down along with the crowd in Times Square from our couch, we knew this New Year's was anything but insignificant. 2012 would be the year we become parents – and it was here. It’s was getting really real now.

5 more minutes 

...until the bus comes. It was a freezing morning (especially when the size of your belly prohibits you from buttoning your jacket) as we waited at the bus stop during a typical Wednesday morning commute. Only, we weren’t commuting to our respective offices, we were headed to the hospital to start our brand new jobs as parents – a fact my brain still couldn't fully compute.

That's us on the 73...yup, we ended up taking public transit to the hospital after all!

20 minutes until go-time
In the pre-op room, we suited-up for the surgery and exchanged repeated looks of stunned excitement. We marveled over the fact we were finally going to meet the mystery person who has been living in my belly. What would she look like? Who would she be? And, oh my god, what if she is a he? Well, that poor little guy would be wearing a whole lot of pink for the first year of his life!

I don't get any more pregnant that this.
Andy's all scrubbed up and looking cuter than any doctor who ever starred on ER.

"Count to 10
...and take a deep breath," the doctors told me as they administered the anesthesia into my spine. Yes, that hurt as badly as it sounds. (Thank you, hypnobirthing class for helping me to relax through that one!)

Any moment now
After the curtain was raised to block my view of my lower half, Andy joined me in the operating room. During the procedure, I felt a lot tugging, jostling and pressure but no pain (how do they do that?!). When they finally lifted Chelsea up and out for her first breath, I felt 20 pounds lighter and knew she was born.

Chelsea's first breaths

Seconds later, we heard a sound that completely blew us away – her first cry. I never would have guessed the sound of a baby crying would instantly elicit a million powerful emotions but starting with this moment, everything has changed. And actually seeing her for the first time...? Well, to describe the pride, love, shock and joy you feel at the first glimpse of your baby is almost impossible but I can tell you that meeting Chelsea brought on big smiles and tears of joy.

Our first family hug.

See more images from Chelsea's Birth Day here.

January 4th: T Minus 5 Days and Counting

January 4th is the scheduled delivery date!
Here's an update to our breech situation.

Acupunture: The good news, acupuncture made me feel great/so much more comfortable for a day or two! The not-so good news, the baby is still breech...this is not for lack of trying though! I think she made 2 separate attempts to spin around, which in turn, was a little sci-fi and whole lot of excruciating. For two nights in a row last week, as I writhed in pain and my belly behaved like high-tide at the Jersey Shore (yes, visually), I tried to distract myself with the fact that I must look like a scene out of a Star Trek movie –complete with bad acting and weak visual effects. Net result: 2 interesting evenings of boldly going where I never want to go again and one baby with her head up. I just don't think she can get where she needs to be....she's been growing at a good clip and I'm offering a pretty narrow turning radius these days.

Version: We decided against this procedure. With a 50% success rate and a high risk for distress to the baby, it just didn't feel right to us. We have a feeling she may be breech for a reason – not just by chance – and we don't want to mess with it. In addition, I have an anterior placenta (located at the front of my belly instead of the back, where it is more commonly found); this would add further risk as it could get dislodged or damaged since it would technically be sandwiched between the doctor's hands and the baby during the procedure.

C-Section: As long as she remains breech, we will be having a c-section. So unless I go into labor beforehand, the delivery is scheduled for January 4th. Pregnancy is starting to feel like an eternity, so it is a relief to have the end in sight. We're excited and a little stunned to suddenly know the date and time we will become parents!

The Campaign

Andy's colleagues, Alexia and Quinn, have been lobbying to be our daughter's godparents for a few months now. They stepped it up recently by releasing this ad campaign, which just cracks me up.

Getting Pissed Off About Pink Toys Will Make Your Heart Swell

Check out this little girl, who happens to be named Riley, as she paces around the doll aisle of a toy store telling her dad that companies "trick girls into buying the pink stuff instead of stuff that boys want to buy."

She continues, "Some girls like superheroes, some girls like princesses! Some boys like superheroes, some boys like princesses! So why do all the girls have to buy pink stuff and all the boys have to buy different color stuff?"

Uncanny isn't it? It's like (Ali) Riley on Marketing to little girls. In my opinion, this weird princess craze has completely overstayed its welcome. While I vehemently disagree with putting a focus on some passive, pretty damsel in distress, I realize a princess or two might make an appearance in our house a some point down the line....it will be ok – but it will be moderation! (Hopefully it's a butt-kicking princess, like the one in Brave, the Pixar movie coming out this summer...just putting that out there.)   

Until then, amen, little Riley for your mature insight and not being afraid to admit you like toys that aren't marketed directly to you!

Chin Up

The baby is breech. From what I understand, this news and the possibility of a c-section can send pregnant women – especially those who have planned to birth their babies naturally – into a tailspin of distress. So am I upset? Not really. Admittedly, the news did throw us for a loop and gave us a lot to think about at a time when more thinking is just plain overwhelming.

We've managed to reframe the whole process pretty easily though. Despite the fact Andy and I have spent a bunch of time and energy preparing for a natural birth, we're in agreement that it doesn't really matter how she gets here, as long as she gets here healthily. With all due respect, I'm not one of those women who needs to go through labor; and gosh darn it, if I don't have to pass something the size of a watermelon through an opening the size of my nostril....well, as far as I'm concerned, that's a relief.

It's funny, you'd think my kid would be just fine hanging out upside down – perhaps she did one too many somersaults and got stuck there. Speaking of somersaults, she is in the pike position (or a frank breech position, in technical terms), and every gymnast knows the pike position is more difficult to execute than the tuck position (which looks pretty similar to the fetal position). Attagirl! The fetal position is for babies!

So why are babies breech? (Fetal development and anatomy continues to fascinate me.)

1. The umbilical cord could be too short
2. The umbilical cord could be wrapped around her body preventing her from rotating (with all of the flips she had been doing, when there was more space to do them, I see this as a viable option)
3. My uterus may be a weird shape and not accommodating to a large body part, like her head
4. She's confused or stubborn or it's just a fluke and all she needs is a little coaxing

What do we do to help spin her around?

1. Acupuncture - This has proven to be very effective. FYI: the baby spinning button is located in the pinky toe, that's where the needle goes.
2. Yoga positions
3. Music or conversation directed at the "exit"
4. Ice at the top of my belly - she'll move her head away from the cold.
   I'm not so sure about this one, fetal ice cream headaches just seem abusive.
5. Version - a medical procedure where the doctor manually, and externally, turns the baby.

If none of these options work, we will have a scheduled c-section.

-
One more thing, Pink's baby was frank breech too. So the next time I run into her at The Hitching Post, we'll have something to talk about.

Nesting

This delay in blog updates has been brought to you by nesting – the next stage of my pregnancy. As I am no stranger to anal-retentiveness, I was curious how this next chapter would effect me. Yeah, it's not pretty...I would describe myself in nesting-mode as focused (read: obsessive), determined to cross stuff off my list, cleaning like a fool regardless of physical limitations while collecting necessary provisions I didn't even know I needed. I confess, I woke up at 3:00AM to make a spreadsheet...with formulas.

In all fairness, we had a lot to do – the closet/contractor snafu delayed us quite a bit. Regardless, we're at a good point now and the baby's room is pretty much done. It exudes cuteness and calmness with a good mix of safari and Muppet influences. I've been catching Andy in her room just looking around contemplatively, making snow angels on the cushy white shag rug or quietly gliding on our rocker. He's going to be a great dad.

Here's a sneak peek into the nursery:

Just in case you thought I was depriving her of pink....as you can see, there's plenty of it! 

Bye, Mom. Hi, Mom.

I just said goodbye to my Mom after Thanksgiving weekend in Jersey. As we got in the car, she commented, "Next time I see you, you'll be a mom." ....That was surreal. I think I finally wrapped my head around that statement hours later as we crossed over the Massachusetts border. 

3 generations of the super fabulous women of my family

Discomfort Sets In

Well, I suppose it’s about time. I think I’ve flown under the pregnancy radar and avoided lots of typical aches and pains due to my level of activity...well, I'm assuming it's due to my level of activity...maybe it was just luck. Regardless, I am so pleased my body has allowed me to continue to workout regularly.

When I put my heart rate monitor this morning, I was already at 100 bpm…and I was only in the locker room! By the time I got to the gym at the top of the stairs (to be fair, there are a lot of stairs) I was at 140 bpm, which is the maximum heart rate I am allowed. I'm at my max already?! I didn’t even so much as look at a bike much less start my spin class! As I waddled my way to the studio, with hips totally screaming at me, I started coming to the realization that this might be my last spin class until after the baby is born. Totally bummed but looking on the bright side – at least I made it to 31 weeks – I reluctantly entered the studio.

Pregnancy is funny. Yes, sometimes funny ha-ha. Turns out I feel better on the bike than on my feet! Perhaps it’s the power of the Black Eyed Peas but I had a great class, maintained proper heart rate throughout and am so going back next week and hopefully for the next 9 weeks! Phew!

The Babymoon

Go out to dinner and a movie. Repeat. This is the pre-baby arrival advice we've been getting from our new parent friends. Seems sound to me. So we planned one final jaunt as a couple – a babymoon – to our favorite destination, California.

For the past two years, low airfares and a place to stay in Santa Monica have afforded us the opportunity to bask in the good vibes of the golden state about twice a year...yeah, we kind of enjoy it. Our visits usually revolve around active outdoor excursions, food, and of couse, wine. The focus of our trip this time around, however, would have to shift quite a bit:  surf lessons and horseback riding were out; joining in with the acrobats at Venice Beach would be a no-no; and given my temporary oenophilic limitations, we kept our distance from Napa and Sonoma...that would just be cruel and unusual punishment for a pregnant Ali.

Taking it slow...the view from my beach towel.

So what did we do? We took it slow, ate, spent quality time with our favorite French Canadian friend, went to a spa in Palm Springs, finally visited The Getty, ate, went to a zoo, got caught in a flash mob, revisited Santa Barbara County for a day of wine tasting (where I was happy to be the designated driver), ate, took a tour of Hollywood and celebrity homes, drove with the top down in our convertible, spent time on the beach, and of course, ate some more. It was not our typical visit but this babymoon thing is new for us!

Check out photos from our trip here

Snack Attack!

Should I be aware that my local 7-11 just had a Ben & Jerry's delivery? No I shouldn't. No pregnant woman should know this, it's just way too tempting.

I Like My Whole House!

Andy sent me this YouTube video with a note saying,
"I hope our daughter does this someday." 

Between her musicality and sense of humor with that curly hair and a propensity to climb things, I think this could be a glimpse into our future!

Gearing Up for Workouts

Working out is important to me so it is crucial I maintain a decent level of fitness throughout my pregnancy...or for as long as my body will allow through my pregnancy. I've surrendered – my body is calling the shots these days.

After a prenatal personal training session, I learned monitoring my heart rate is the key working out safely. So I bought this heart rate monitor to use during my cardio workout of choice, spinning. During class, I watch the digital display like a hawk, making sure I stay within the recommended zone without exceeding 140 (the maximum heart rate). It's working really well for me and I'm glad I have this tool to keep me in check so I don't hog all of the oxygen.

When I began monitoring my heart rate several months ago, I felt staying under 140 still provided a decent workout. In the last few weeks, however, one of the (many) changes my body is undergoing is an increase in my standing heart rate. Actually, I am surprised at the significant increase happening each week when I start the monitor up in the locker room. Since I am starting at a higher rate, reaching 140 during my workouts does not take as long as it used to – which is totally fair, my body is already working pretty hard these days.

The Road Less Traveled

This is the hallway to my doctor's office, her door is on the left. The first time I turned the corner to visit my new doctor and discovered this was the hallway I would be traveling down during my pregnancy, I laughed out loud...this is also the hallway to the travel clinic, that door is on the right.

Could Robert Frost be anymore apropos?

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergroth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Whose Day?

Why on earth is Woman's Day magazine regularly arriving in my mailbox?! Granted, a little person will soon be calling me "Mom" but this is not my magazine, this is someone else's mom's magazine.

I included my Athleta catalog in this picture just to balance things out.

Fruity Drinks Make Me Happy?

As a beer and wine girl, the world of cocktails – make that, mocktails for these 9 months – is unchartered territory. Despite my lack of hard liquor knowledge, I thought by this point in my pregnancy, I would have tried dozens of mocktails and developed a short list of favorites.

However several uncreative bartenders (one of them actually asked me what a mocktail was) have curtailed my libation experimentation.

On more than one occasion “Just make me something grapefruit juice” has landed me with juice, ice and a straw. Once it was in a paper cup. Gee, thanks, now I feel like a third grader.

I recently went out for an after-work drink (read: I'll have water) and discovered a brand new section on the menu of our local bar: Mocktails! I ordered a raspberry nojito and it was awesome. I'm kinda still excited about this...oh, how things have changed!

Halfway Done...and it Shows

At 21 weeks, I'm half way there! The marination process is definitely getting more intense and seems to be kicking into overdrive. I'm definitely noticing a drain on my energy in the past week or so – the little one is supposedly quadrupling her size in the next couple of weeks.

As you might guess, I am showing more too: strangers are now just flat out asking how I am feeling, and this morning, my bus driver congratulated me as I paid my fare. So I guess it's official: I've graduated from "Hmm...did she pack on a few pounds?" to "That girl is pregnant."

I guess that's what carrying a baby the size of a cantaloupe will do to you...
Sheesh, cantaloupe – already?!

I Saw a Werewolf with a Chinese Menu in his Hand

Have I mentioned that I'm completely fascinated with all of the stuff the body does to accommodate and nourish a baby during pregnancy? Yes, probably a few times...

In addition to the obvious change – my growing belly – the natural growth hormones surging through my body coupled with the prenatal vitamins are making my hair and nails grow at an alarming rate. I can watch my nails almost grow before my eyes, which makes me feel a little like Teen Wolf.

Remember that scene? I just can't shake it from my mind as I reach for the nail clippers twice a week.
(It's right around 1:11 in the clip below.)

Bedtime Reading

This book is f-ing brilliant!
We just got it as a gift, it makes a great start to our library!

Baby Stores "R" Overwhelming

I can't believe we're at grapefruit week already! Given the heft of this sizable citrus fruit, all signs point to one of the outstanding items on the So Your Pregnant? checklist – starting a baby registry.

BethAnn the sherpa

We had a feeling registering was not going to be easy but we had no idea it would be so overwhelming. Did you know there are over a dozen brands of baby bottles – all with different features? And that's just one aspect of feeding the little one, there's so much more to think about!

I didn't expect to be an expert when it comes to this stuff – let's face it, up to this point my expertise lays in the realm of dog gear, not baby gear – but I thought prepping for the arrival of a baby would be a little more intuitive. Yeah, it's not.

BethAnn was our savior—or should I say, our sherpa—leading us effortlessly through the dizzying aisles of Babies R Us. I seriously can't imagine doing this without her.

She would bring us to a section, present the item, tell us about the different brands available and give us her opinion on what's worked for her, and in some cases, what's worked best for TJ, Sara or Jack's needs. She even tweaked her advice knowing we need city-sized gear and like to equip ourselves at smart but minimal levels. She was efficient, organized (no surprise there), and had the stamina (and then some) for our 4.5 hour expedition. In retrospect, BethAnn, you should contract out your skills, I'll make your business cards.

A word of advice: if you're thinking about having a baby and plan on registering, don't go it alone, bring an expert. Also, keep well-hydrated.

We're Having a Girl!

Actually, the exact words of the ultrasound technician were, "You're having a girl gymnast." (No, I'm not kidding.) During the ultrasound, our little girl was doing flips and moving around at a good clip, which made it quite challenging to photograph her – as you can see by the not-so-clear imaging below!

(I'll need to heavily caption these images, 

they are not as self-explanatory as our ultrasound two months ago.)

This is her head with her mouth open and fist in the air, looks like she's rocking out in a karaoke bar.

Tiny baby feet are really cute and when she "kicked" the camera, it was just plain adorable. It cracks me up that this is the clearest image of the day.

What even is this? Well, if you were there, you would know this blur of an image was a nicely-executed double back flip with a triple twist. She's been perfecting it over the past week or so. We're proud of her.