What to Register for with a New Baby (or Things I'm Loving 6 Weeks In)

For some reason when I was pregnant and it was time to create a baby registry, I had major anxiety. As in, it was laughable how much the thought of picking out a car seat and a stroller and a breast pump brought on a severe case of the sweats. It's not that big a deal, right?

But he is my first baby. And I wanted the best. And I love doing research on things like this.

SO, I am imparting all my hard earned wisdom cultivated in the late night hours over the last year to all of you. I have read blogs, product reviews and Amazon descriptions, hit up new and old mamas alike and here's what I have for you: a list of things I could not be living without.

 Le swing: Fisher Price My Little Lamb Platinum Edition Cradle N' Swing

This is the first item on the list because, in some ways, it has helped me get back on track with managing my life. I didn't register for a swing because they are (mainly) huge and our house is (mainly) small. Also, I had read somewhere you should wait until your baby is born before deciding between a bouncy seat and a swing to see which one they prefer. Our friends generously let us borrow their bouncy, but alas, Jack is a swingin' kind of guy. He is not a fussy baby, as long as he's being held most of the time... uh, yeah son, mama has things to do and this arrangement is not gonna work out for long! Enter the swing. It has changed my life. It's like baby crack... fo reals!

Le Miracle: The Miracle Blanket

Some people refer to the first three months after birth as the "fourth trimester" (a bit of an oxymoron, but I digress).  Essentially, the belief is that right out of the womb, babies don't have the coping skills needed to be comfortable on planet earth. The answer? Swaddle the kid like a psycho in a strait jacket. I'm sure plenty of you know about the beautiful muslin Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets and while we use them for a variety of things (keeping the sun out of baby's face, wiping up spit, playing fun games of "Mother Theresa dress-up"), they've been difficult to use as actual swaddles (i.e. the few times we've used them overnight, I've been awfully scared of Jack suffocating). In walks The Miracle Blanket. It's like the muslin swaddle's somewhat plain Jane sister who has a winning personality and ends up getting the guy in the end. We use it Every. Night.

Le Carrier Pour La Bébé: Cybex Aton

Before I wax poetic on this car seat, I should mention I'm almost certain this company decided to stop selling their product in the U.S. (I am SO happy we snagged one before they did!). Designed by those crafty Germans, this seat is not only the lightest on the market, it's also one of the best looking (in my opinion). Also, it clicks into its adapter easy peasy which has made my life one bit easier. No matter what direction you go in the car seat world, make sure this is on your registry... the hospital won't let you leave the hospital without one. ALSO, determine if your car seat works with the stroller you select. We ended up getting a Cybex stroller in addition to our B.O.B. so that we could push baby boy around the first 4-5 months of his life before he can sit up unassisted.

Le Mute Button: Philips Avent Soothies

I was one of those pregnant women who said, "We're gonna try to avoid using a pacifier if we can." HA! Once Jack was alive and doin' his thing, that lasted a total of one week. I had registered for some of these as a "just in case" sort of item, and I thank my lucky stars that I did. Aside from diapers, a change of clothes and the car seat, this is one item we never leave home without. 

Le Best Friend: My Brest Friend

Allow me to weigh in on the Boppy vs. My Brest Friend debate, as I've had the pleasure of using both multiple times at the lactation support group I attend (more on that later): My Brest Friend wins, hands down. While I could see the Boppy being good for tummy time with baby, it wiggles around too much, and I certainly can't get up with it around me. Aside from My Brest Friend's spelling (and oh yes, it drives me completely insane: you couldn't just have it be My Breast Friend? What's so wrong with the 'a'?), it provides back support and Jack's finally getting to the point where he can rest his head on it while having a go at my tits, which means I have a single hand free. What I can do with said free hand, I've yet to determine, but I'll let you know when I figure it out!

Le Dog Walking Assistant: The Moby Wrap

We received two types of wearable baby carriers: the Beco Gemini (structured) and the Moby (simply fabric). Jack was much smaller than we were anticipating and was unable to use the Beco right away, so we started using the Moby. Now that I've finally mastered how to tie it, I can say I love wearing Jack in it. Not only was it a lifesaver for the first six weeks during "the witching hours" from 4 to 8pm (he immediately zonks once we start moving), it's also been handy as a helper for walking Moe when Kyle's at work. In addition, seeing Kyle wear Jack in it? Holy moly, he's never been more attractive. Because, really ladies, is there anything better than seeing your husband be a kick ass father? I don't think so.

Le Pump: Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Double Electric Breast Pump

My friend Micaela sent me her breast pump to use before I had Jack and I'll admit, I thought I'd be using it once and a while. Like most of the things I'm discovering about motherhood, I was completely wrong and have used it non-stop. I had milk supply issues right out the gate with breastfeeding (it turns out my boobs wanted to be disappointing from high school right up to now), and the first month of Jack's life, I was essentially chained to this thing. Breastfeeding is easier than before so it's not AS important as it was in the beginning, but it does allow me to have some extra milk in the diaper bag should we need it.

Le Diapers: Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive

Yes, they're the most expensive diaper I'm aware of. Yes, they are totally and completely worth it. Do you want yellow poop shooting out the sides of your kid's onesie? Didn't think so. If you can afford it, these are the way to go.

I could go on and on about the items I'm loving (as well as the ones I think are kinda meh), but this write-up has to have an end at some point. If you want to ask me about any of it, feel free to email me at ehsutherland@gmail.com. In addition, I can't recommend Lucie's List enough for any first time parent trying to navigate "baby gear hell."

The First Month

Surprises from the first month of being a parent (and things seasoned parents don't tell you):

1. Babies are a time suck.

I think we're starting to get closer to the "set routine" portion of baby life, but the first thirty days went something like this: wake up, feed, try to do something but ultimately soothe fussy baby, change diaper, feed, try to do something but ultimately soothe fussy baby... You get the idea. I'd look at the clock and suddenly it would be 4 o'clock and all I'd have to show for my day's output was keeping another human alive.

Which is actually a pretty big deal, am I right?

2. You feel like a phony.

I must admit I still feel like a bit of a fake when it comes to this whole "mom" thing. When I pass Jack off to Kyle, I call him "Daddy" which is additionally weird and doesn't feel genuine. It's not that I don't look at my son and feel like his mother. It's more that it feels incredibly surreal and I don't put myself in any sort of "Mom" classification. I know at some point, I'll start to feel like this whole thing is not a dream, I'm just not sure when.

3. Recovering from having a baby blows... especially in the summer.

Since Jack was born in August, we've been "surviving" the worst heat wave I can remember as of the last few years. I am not built for hot weather. I wilt in the heat like a southern belle and would prefer a good winter storm any day. But can I go swimming to cool off? Nope, I have to wait until my six week check up. Have I been sweating profusely, more than I normally would in this weather? Of course! Also, sorry, a bit TMI, but having to wear maxi pads for a month and a half? All sorts of not fun. If you thought you hated them in middle school, just wait until you have a baby! It seems like a never-ending drag.

4. Your house will experience many states of non-clean.

This kind of ties into number one, but it deserves its own section. People tell you to let your house go to crap as you get used to your new routines as a parent ("Focus on your baby! Don't worry about folding the laundry or doing the dishes!"), and while this advice is all well and good, it can only get to a point of disrepair before health codes start to fail and public health nurses get called in. I imagined having a ton of time to clean while Jack was "sleeping" during the day, but I laugh at my naivete, friends... what a fool was I!

5. If you're lucky, you'll get to enjoy all sorts of free food!

While I think we are reaching the tail end of this perk, I have to say it's been pretty awesome. Our friends and family have brought take-out, homemade meals, groceries, dessert, even some booze... and it has been all kinds of helpful. Remember number one? Forget any kind of decent cooking  coming out of your kitchen for at least the first month.

6. It's not as hard as everyone says.

Don't get ahead of yourself- I am by no means saying being a mom is easy. Good god, no. What I'm trying to say is that many, MANY people will tell you the horror stories and make it sound like having a newborn is akin to trying to teach a panda how to roller-skate or surviving some sort of scary Indonesian prison. Yes, I'm not getting as much sleep as I did pre-Jack. Yes, it is work keeping a helpless human alive (I mean, the kid can't even hold his head up for christssake). However, Kyle and I have talked about it and agree: it's totally manageable and not that bad. I'm hoping this is reassuring to some readers, but I will mention that if you're a complainer or a "glass is half empty" kind of person, it will probably be quite hellish for you.

7. Babies are incredibly talented at producing loud, audible farts.

I mean, seriously, it's impressive.

8. They're not as delicate as you anticipate they'll be. 

Going into this whole "newborn" thing, I was slightly afraid of breaking my child. I imagined that one false move and baby boy would end up in the emergency room. It turns out babies are incredibly resilient (and thank god for that, because Kyle and I aren't exactly delicate people)! As long as their basic needs are being met and their head is supported, you pretty much get an A+.

9.  Baby poop smells like rotten popcorn.

This is for breastfed babies... I can't attest to the formula fed set.

10. You will think they are perfect, you will spend an inordinate amount of time staring and it will always feel like it's flying by too quickly.

Ok, I guess this really isn't a surprise.

My Birth Story: Follow Up

It seems many of you were able to appreciate the lightness of my son's birth. I come from a family that enjoys seeing the humor in things, and dear lord, the day of Jack McKay's debut was certainly filled with many opportunities to do so.

However, I realized after sharing my dramatic tale that there were a few things I forgot to mention and I decided that some follow-up is needed.

(1) All the noise I was making was not necessarily from the pain I was in. Yes, giving birth was very painful at times, however, up until some nurses taught me how to rein in my vocals, I was using being loud to actually get through the contractions in a positive way. It helped me keep my focus. I'm going to do a different write-up about natural child birth in the near future, but until I do, hear this: many natural childbirth advocates believe that an open mouth equals an open cervix. Sounds crazy, but I totally buy into the idea that if your body tenses up (like clenching your jaw), you're less likely to progress as well in labor. If you let go in regards to what your body is doing, things happen faster.

(2) The birth I had was AWESOME. I realized after a few friends commented on how terrified they now were of having a baby after reading my story that I hadn't adequately conveyed my satisfaction. Almost everything I could have envisioned about how it would go down, did. Granted, I didn't expect to show up at the hospital at the last minute, shoot amniotic fluid at some nurses and I CERTAINLY didn't think the midget from Poltergeist would be the doctor on-call delivering my child, but you can't get everything you hope for in this life!

(3) I have never felt more proud of myself or my body. Bringing another HUMAN (!) into this world the way nature intended... I did what I set out to do and no one can take it away from me. And I have the world's cutest baby to thank for it.

(4) Kyle did not get major props in my last write-up. I won't deny it: I was a little skeptical about how he would be as a birth partner leading up to "the big day." I had asked him to read three books, most of which he did not because he thought the cesarean was definitely happening. The night he started scrambling to catch up was the night I went into labor (oops). But you guys, he pulled it out. He, more than anyone else on the planet it seems, has a way of keeping me calm when things seem their most chaotic. And aside from his choice of parking space and his incorrect use of a certain "contraction tracker" app, he was awesome. I was (and still am) super proud of how he handled everything that day.

(5) I forgot to mention the world's most delicious oatmeal cookie can be found at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital. It was the first thing I ate after giving birth and I have never loved a cookie more.

In the coming weeks (because it seems I am still having difficulties getting posts up; sorry about that), I will be writing a slew of things about birth, life with baby and officially starting out as a working mom. I hope you'll join me in all my new adventures!

Hump Day, Bump Day: Week 41

I'm guessing the cat's out of the bag... I'm no longer sporting a bump these days. Actually, I take it back. I'm sporting a hobbit like bulge that hints at too many beers, but I carry no baby around in it.

That's because Jack McKay Sutherland is finally here!

He was born at 11:55 pm on Thursday, August 9, and he is all sorts of wonderful. There's so much I want to share with all of you, his birth story, the challenges and joys thus far, however, it turns out I am not one of those bloggers that can maintain it after becoming a new mom.

Kudos to those of you who are; how do you do it? I can barely find time to eat and shower, let alone type on my computer.

Kyle goes back to work tomorrow, and at that point, I hope to be picking up where I let off pre-pregnancy (i.e. posting more than just once a week and good god, no more photos of me up in here!).  Ok, Jack's crying, my time here is done for the moment.

Over and out... xoxoxoxox.

A Room for Baby

I think there are some skeptics out there who thought this post wouldn't happen. Alas, the nursery is officially complete! At least, it is for me. If you think there's something missing in this room, by all means, keep it to yourself.

My hormones are such that if you said anything negative about this room I WOULD track you down and I would break your knee caps.

There are a couple things about Baby Boy's room I would like to mention.

One, I'm not a person who loves super matchy things. By the photos below, I'm pretty sure you've deduced this. Don't get me wrong; I love a well curated room. However, I enjoy spaces that are interesting and fun to be in. I've had the luck of knowing people who have an eye for what unexpectedly looks good together, people who know how to pair items that others wouldn't and I like to think (hope? Pray?!) that some of their natural skill has rubbed off on me. Please note, I am by no means saying I am a talented interior decorator.

Two, I do not have a favorite color, but I'll tell ya what I don't like: pink for girls and blue for boys. Maybe I should rescind that statement; what I mean to say is color is color and it should be celebrated, gender be damned! Yellow is such a happy color, and when plopped next to gray and white, I feel you can't go wrong.

Three, this room would not nearly look as good as it does if it weren't for our generous family and friends... y'all rock.

Most of these images are repetitive, but I'm not a photographer, nor do I claim to be, so it was the best I could do to provide you with a full "feel" of the layout.

I plan on posting links to some of the items that are available online, but won't have a chance to until tomorrow. Let me know if something catches your eye and I'll let you  know where I found it!

PS Moe loves the rug the most.

Details:
Crib
Bedding
Bookcase
Chair
Lamp
Rug
Hamper
Nightlight
Awesome Animals
Woven Baskets
Lamb Chair
Changing Topper

Dogs and Babies: A Refreshing Wake Up

WARNING: Long, but informative, post alert. Take the time to read it if you have a dog and a baby (or are expecting a baby!).

I'm sure this comes as no surprise to those of you who follow this blog that I am completely obsessed with my pitbull mix, Moe. I've said it before, and I'll say it now (and I'll say it again!): he is one of the true loves of my life. He is everything a good dog should be: sweet, kind, gentle, playful when the time calls for it, mellow when he needs to be.

It should also come as no surprise then that I am incredibly defensive of my dog and his pitbull heritage (my friend Trav is rolling his eyes at this I'm sure; incredibly defensive doesn't even BEGIN to cover it).

I feel the plight of the pitbull owner is one of defensive education. No, my dog is not inherently bad. Yes, I trust him and he trusts me. No, he will not try to eat my child when we bring him home from the hospital (by the way, I know most people are joking when they say things like this, but I don't find it funny; I actually find it completely rude... Yup, wasn't lying about being defensive; I should probably calm down a bit).

So, on Tuesday, when I attended a class offered by our hospital (aptly titled, "Dogs and Babies: Play It Safe"), I went in with my protective attitude. Having worked with and spent time with children AND my dog simultaneously, I can honestly say Moe likes kids. Thus, I was surprised when the following happened.

Our instructor, Madeline Gabriel: "How many of you here believe your dog is capable of biting a child?" Two hands out of almost 20 went up. Only two (and mine was not one of them). Her response: "By the end of this class, I am hoping that every hand in this room, no matter your dog's personality or breed, goes up. Because EVERY dog is capable of biting a child."

I should mention that she gave us some stats at the beginning about dog bites and maulings, and it should be mentioned that when it comes to "family dogs" mauling or killing the children in their families, it is very RARE for it to actually be a true "family dog." Unfortunately, in the media, when these stories are reported, they use that term, but many of them are dogs that are not socialized with family members; they're kept in the garage or outside, essentially removed from the lives of their "owners." I feel it's also important to know that 50% of all children in the U.S. will be bit by a dog before they turn 18 and that (quoting directly here) "because young children under age five present their faces to dogs, when they get bitten, 77% of the time it is to the face or head, leaving little margin for error."

The most interesting thing she said, however, was, "We care about dog bites to children because children are vulnerable and dogs pay with their lives." We live in a society where cute dog and baby interactions are rewarded, but it's setting both parties up for possible failure.

The following is a bulleted rundown of some of the things she covered. I'm probably going to do a horrible job of it, but I cannot recommend her wisdom, training, website and blog enough. If you live in the San Diego area, are delivering a baby at Sharp Mary Birch and love your dog, take this course! 

Avoid the "Curse of the Good Dog."  
I am probably the most guilty of this, but as I mentioned, I am constantly trying to convince people that my dog is a good dog. However, one thing Madeline mentioned is that if you are completely, 100% convinced that your dog would NEVER bite a child, you can be blinded to their possible warning signs that they are uncomfortable. To quote her directly, "Children who grow up with a 'good dog' are often allowed to take more liberties with that good dog." And at the end of the day, as much as we want to convince ourselves that are dogs are like us, they are DOGS. They are animals. Some dogs are much more tolerant than others, but that does not mean they do not have a tipping point. She put it in this perspective: Imagine you're at the grocery store and someone is standing directly behind you in line, thus violating your personal space. At first you might turn to them and shoot them a "what the hell are you doing?" kind of look. If they continue to stand their and don't catch the signal you're giving them, you might say, "excuse me" in a rather firm tone. If at that point, they still haven't moved, you're probably gonna yell something like, "Hey, back the fuck off, you are right up on me!" Dogs do this too when they're uncomfortable in a situation, but they do not have the gift of language to communicate it directly and succinctly. As their owner, you're the best person to know if they are relaxed or on edge. 

Know and help your dog. 
She encourages dog owners (before their babies arrive) to really know their dog's body language, because each one is going to be unique. They're going to have their own experiences, tolerate different noises, behaviors and situations... it is very important to remember that one dog's relaxation behavior might be another's worried behavior! You can tell when your dog is happy and relaxed, and when they're unhappy or worried. In recognizing these signals that they're displaying, you can help train your dog to have a wider range of relaxed expectations. Example, maybe your dog startles easily. Before you have a baby, it's not too big of a deal, but think about how much noise a baby makes. A baby throws things on the ground, screams, cries, acts wild; it's what children do! Thus, knowing this about your dog can help you train them to be more relaxed with the situation before it actually happens.

Know and help your baby.
Babies and children are curious about the world around them (as they should be)! Knowing this, realize that you can help your child avoid being mesmerized or fixated on your family dog. Have you ever been at the park or walking down the street and seen that kid who is all about your dog? "Doggie! Doggie!" is their usual calling card. Personally, I do adore this kid. I was this kid. You cannot fault a child for wanting to get close to some cute, fuzzy animal. However, take a step back from the adorable child and the dog you love, and look at the possibilities. This child is most likely going to come at your dog the way they would another person: head on. Face to face. In the animal kingdom, that sort of approach is actually a threatening behavior, so you're putting your dog in a situation that he or she is unsure of and your setting up this sweet, innocent child for a good (or very bad) experience. Here's another thing about babies and toddlers: they're tactile beings. They want to feel and touch and experience everything with their hands and feet. They're also gaining more muscle control by the second. Ever held a baby and had them suddenly grab onto your hair with the force of a kung fu master? I know I have. Now imagine you're a dog and being pet by a baby and that baby is petting you gently... until it decides to grab your fur with all its "holy hell, how is it possible you're this strong" strength. Some dogs have a higher tolerance for this behavior, but others don't and why should they be subjected to the whims of a baby who is innocently doing what babies do. Essentially, don't set your child up to be able to engage in this kind of behavior with dogs and instill respect in a dog's personal space from the get-go.

Understand that most dogs simply tolerate babies and toddlers until the age of 5.
Your dog loves you. Your dog may or may not love your baby the way you think or hope they will, and that's OK! Madeline was saying that until a child turns 5, it is difficult for them to fully participate in the kinds of scenarios that make your dog love you (feeding, playing, walking, etc.). Also, take into account what a dog goes through when a new baby is introduced to the family. You're sleep deprived? Well, so is your dog. I find I'm much more cranky when I haven't gotten a full night's sleep, and people should realize that the same things apply to their dog. Another thing I'd like to point out is that we were shown a diagram of the rate that "issues" between babies and dogs occur. There's initially a "what is going on" period at the onset, but for the first couple months, babies and dogs get in a good routine. It's around the time that crawling and walking start to happen that these issues spike, due to the fact that it's unfamiliar territory for both the child and the animal.

Ok... Anyone still there? Honestly, I have not even begun to cover a quarter of the stuff I learned in this Dog's and Babies class, and I feel I may have done a horrible job of succinctly conveying what I did. If you're reading along and some "a ha!" moments are happening for you like they did for me, please check out Dogs and Babies Learning for all the accurate, informative and amazing deets.

You may commence with your weekend.

Hump Day, Bump Day: Week 26

Adios second trimester! As of this Sunday, I'm officially in it to win it, with only one more trimester standing in my way. Many moms have told me that pregnancy dragged on for them, but I have to say (so far) it's flying by for me!

And you know, if we're nearing my third trimester, it means summer's almost here, so grab your suits everyone and let's kick it!

Musings on weekly photo: Are you covering your eyes and screaming "It's too much! Good god, it's too much!" Get it, grrrrl. Ladies and Gentlemen, I found the balls (because, as crazy as this is, I AM currently carrying a set of balls around) to do this simply because (1) I would have never, EVER posted a photo of myself in a bikini before I got pregnant and (2) I'm not sure if I'll be able to get away with a bikini post-pregnancy at all. Thus, feast your eyes on the beauty that is me scantily clad. Kyle gets to see this every day, lucky guy that he is.

Size of baby: Still hovering around the 2 pound mark, but continuing to put on fat. You go boy! Make yo mama proud.

Movement:  At this point, it'd be worrisome if BBS wasn't moving around (he is though!). However, the range of movement I can feel now is crazy. Kicking and punching, yes of course, but full on body twirling and rolling- it's insane. I think the only one I've yet to experience is baby hiccups.

Cravings: I may have sneaked a Nutter Butter milkshake yesterday after prenatal yoga. And it may have been the most delicious thing ever. Especially right after spending an hour treating my body as a temple.

Annoyance: Ok, so I'm still head over heels with the Snoogle, don't get me wrong. However, sleeping has become a "maybe it will happen tonight, maybe it won't" situation, and yes, I know I should stop complaining about it now because it WILL only get worse a couple months down the road.

Highlight of the week:  Tonight we're off to see one of my favorite bands, The Wombats, at The Casbah. Not only do I L-O-V-E- love their music, they hold a special place in my heart for a different reason as well. The night before I quit my job last year, I watched them play in West Hollywood, and it was a completely cathartic and joyous experience. A few of my favorite songs of theirs can be found here, here and here. Also, their most recent album, This Modern Glitch, is only $5 on Amazon right now. I highly recommend it.

Non-Highlight of the week: I think I'm starting to experience one of the dreaded side effects of pregnancy: edema. Did I scare you with that word? I meant to. It reminds me of all sorts of horrible pirate diseases and cures, like blood-letting with leeches and gout and shingles! It's ok, edema is just excessive swelling, but you should have seen my left foot compared to my right last night. It was frightening.

Fears: Cankles (see above non-highlight).

Nursery: I'm putting together an inspiration board for Baby Boy's nursery and hope to share it with you all before the end of the week. My only wishy washiness right now is the rug. I keep going back and forth between subtle and gray or colorful and fun. The texture makes a difference too because, one, you don't want it to be uncomfortable and two, you don't want it to shed.  

Additional Notes: Next Tuesday we'll be experiencing the first of our "baby classes" at Sharp Mary Birch, the hospital where Kyle and I will be meeting our son for the first time: Dogs and Babies. Apparently, we get a full diagnostic on our dog, which I am possibly most excited for due to the fact that Moe loves kids and that I've been dying for someone to tell me what's going on in my dog's brain anyway. I think my hopes may be a little high for one class.

Happy Hump Day, Bump Day everyone!

Hump Day, Bump Day: Week 19

This is officially the last post until we've reached the halfway mark... which is exciting and terrifying (as I've mentioned before). Now that we know we're having a dude and not a dudette, this whole "we're having a baby thing" is much more real than before.

Saying "I'm going to have a son" is surreal.

On to the photos:

Musings on weekly photo: All I can think about are the following: (1) I feel like such an ass when I take these and (2) I don't even take them properly! You should see the outtakes. It's like Stevie Wonder on a photo assignment.

Size of baby: Baby Boy Sutherland is the size and weight of a can of soda! I mentioned this to a friend of mine and he promptly pointed out that that is also the size of a can of beer. Maybe baby's new nickname is Coors Light?

Movement: It may be completely created by my imagination, but Coors Light is hyperactive and possibly a dancer. I can only assume the songs playing in his not-fully-formed brain are similar to mine (you know, like this, this and this).

Cravings: Full disclosure (in all its white trashiness): Pat and Oscar's Breadsticks. Oh mah GOD, they are good! The fat kid in me especially loves that I get a free breadstick while waiting in line to order my bag of breadsticks. It really doesn't get much better than that.

Annoyance: Forget heartburn: I've officially entered leg cramp hell. The other night, I woke up to the sound of me screaming at the top of my lungs due to the ungodly pain in my right calf. Needless to say, I scared the crap out of Kyle. It was the WORST charlie horse I have ever had in my life, and this is coming from someone who trained for/ran a marathon (notice how I drop that in wherever I can? I ran a marathon. I RAN A MARATHON!!!).

Highlight of the week: Finding out we were having a boy was the ultimate highlight of the month. I don't know how it could possibly be topped. Seeing him move around on the monitor was all kinds of cray too, and having our moms and sisters there to share with us made it all the more special.

Fears: I am straight up terrified of facial swelling (and I'm pretty sure it's already happening). This cookie face has the potential to do BIG things, let me tell ya.

Additional notes: I legitimately started researching baby gear and a possible nursery set up this week. It was not as overwhelming as I expected it to be; major kudos to people who take these projects on in stride. Also, I have been shocked at how rock hard my stomach gets after eating; it is the strangest feeling in the world.

And finally, apologies for this blog suddenly becoming "all things baby." Aside from having a severe case of baby brain (i.e. forgetting everything the moment I think it), it's been hard to come up with any readable material. Oh, apologies as well for my out of control roots. It's official: my hairdresser is fired and I'm on the lookout for a new one.

HELLO Morrison Hair.

Happy hump (bump) day, everyone!

Yep...

... it's official!

I can't wait to meet my son in August.

Pink or Blue?

So there's one week until we know for certain:

Miss Piggy...

or Kermit?

Matilda...

or Charlie Bucket?

Return to Oz...

or Willow?

To be honest, I'm hoping the answer is yes to every single option above, but the real question is girl or boy?

I'm about to put my money on the table and say my gut is telling me boy. Boy, I said it, boy. I think I'm having a boy. I've thought it since the beginning, and though I've had bouts of extreme doubt since then, the closer I get to next week's appointment, the more certain I am that we are expecting Baby Boy Sutherland in August.

However, I will say, I would be very stoked to be completely wrong. So who knows?

I thought it might be fun to play a little game. I'm going to say the winner gets a box of homemade salted caramels made my moi (they've been known to cause groans of pleasure from those who taste them) shipped directly to their residence. But not until August. For you see, to win you have to properly guess the sex of the baby, and guess closest to the due date.

Wanna play? Wanna win some caramels? Answer the following questions in the comments of this post and see what happens. Comments on Facebook will not be accepted... sorry :)

Question 1: Boy or Girl?

Question 2: Due Date (you can include the time if you want)

So for the hell of it, my guess is baby boy born at 4:12pm on August 24.

And may the gender and date odds be ever in your favor.

Drunk Baby

Sometimes, you just need a laugh.



It's an oldie, but a goody. Enjoy!

Hump Day, Bump Day: Week 17

I thought I might use up a day's worth of blogging by posting a weekly "bumpdate." I don't want to claim I came up with this term, but I have yet to see it used, so I am patting myself on the back for my clever wit. [insert eyeroll here]

In being one of those people who like to mark milestones, I thought it might be cool to have a play by play set of photos for Baby Sutherland as his/her mother got fatter and fatter carrying him or her.

Or maybe I'm completely kidding myself.

Either way, week 17's bumpdate(s):

As you can tell, while I am certainly larger than I was when I released the "big news," for the most part, I just look thick-waisted. Like one too many beers and bags of Doritos thick-waisted. However, the beauty of being forced to post these each week is that there will come a day when I suddenly look pregnant, not just chubby.

And that will be awesome.

Things to note:

(1) I felt Baby Sutherland move for the first time last week! The only way I can describe the feeling is the first one felt like a piece of popcorn popping in my stomach. And since then, it goes back and forth between fluttering and the occasional finger flick. Either way, it was a confirmation that there's actually something in there. And it's alive. ALIVE! A bit sci-fi, truly.

(2) I've given up on my old pants (except for my black Gap jeggings which have been very kind to me with their multitudinous amount of stretch. I think I love you, Gap jeggings). Yes, they still button, but they are the most uncomfortable things to wear while sitting down, and as my job finds me sitting in front of a computer for the majority of the day, I had to say "sayonara" to them. I can only hope we will meet again at some point in the distant future (I also hope my waist comes running back to me with open arms; it's not goodbye forever... it's just goodbye, for now).

(3) Baby shower talk started this week, and I have to admit that creating a registry is a somewhat daunting task. I remembered feeling this way when I got married... apparently, I have anxiety issues when it comes to this relatively simple activity. I will say I have created a book registry and it was the easiest and simultaneously most exciting thing ever. Kyle and I are both avid readers and want to instill a love of books (real books. You know, the kind that are made from trees and do not require charging?) in our child. Luckily, having worked with kids on and off for the last decade of my life, I have a good handle on which current reads are fabulous, as well as fond memories of my favorites growing up.

(4) Still loving quality prosciutto. And have been downing this like it's no one's business.

(5) In the "what they don't tell you department," I must admit the being out of breath for no reason has been a bit of a shocker. I'm not out of breath all the time, but I will say that I have gone to bed many a night gasping for air after simply brushing my teeth or grabbing a glass of water. In all that is totally bizarre because of pregnancy, it's caused by my organs which shift on their own (... again, sci-fi central) to make room for Baby, and occasionally put pressure on my lungs. What. The. Hell, man?!

(6) And finally, I feel I should mention how some of these "pregnancy" websites update you each week on the progression of your baby's growth. They compare it to a piece of fruit, which has made both eating fruit and shopping for produce a dreaded chore. Feel like eating an apple? Imagine it's a 16-week fetus!

It makes for a lot of interesting mind-fucks, I'll tell you that much!

Oh, one more thing. I got the posed shot idea from this blog (it's one of my faves). She did a whole series last year when she was expecting her son, and I have to give her mad props because she made taking photos of herself like this look easy. Easy it is not, let me tell you.

Happy Hump/Bump Day!

Future Mama Musings on a Rainy Monday

Last Friday, I had my last appointment until we find out if Baby S. will be a mini-Kyle or a mini-Elizabeth. I went by myself because Kyle didn't have the time to spare at work, and even though the majority of the visit feels like a true waste of an hour (because at this point, peeing in a cup is far from exciting and weighing myself is increasingly depressing), every second is worth it to hear our baby's heartbeat. It's strong, if you're curious.

The whole visit got me thinking: what is this little devil going to look like? I have to admit, the more time passes, the more my curiosity starts to rear it's ugly little head; it is starting to become an all consuming thing, this wondering about baby.

So I did what any rational pregnant woman (this, of course, is an oxymoron, if you'll remember rule number one in this post) would do: I drummed up some photos of me and my baby daddy from childhood. Which has only led to increased mental anguish, naturally.

Take a looksy and tell me what you think... I can only imagine how our genes are going to combine to make our perfect little bambino.

Baby Daddy (aka Kyle):

and me (aka Elizabeth):

And apologies for the somewhat blurry photos! I had to take a picture of them since our scanner's not hooked up, and the quality is less than stellar.

Happy Monday!