Theo's First Photos

Wesley has captured some fantastic moments from Theo's first week of life. More photos to come soon!

There are over 100 photos in this slide show. If you would rather, you can view them on facebook or by clicking Here

Theo

Theodore James was born at 10:11pm on Saturday, September 4. He weighed 5 pounds and 5 ounces at birth and was 18 inches long. Theo is in perfect health and as beautiful as beautiful can be. He sleeps peacefully and is alert and curious when awake. He has his dad's facial expressions- the most amusing of which is how he furrows his brow when he sleeps, just like Dad. I read a quote today that said "The littlest birds make the sweetest song." This rings so true. His every little squeak, chirp, and even cry is a precious sound to me.

It all began at 4AM when I woke up having contractions every 2-3 minutes. They did not hurt and it was not uncommon for me to have Braxton-Hicks (false labor) contractions at night. However, these did not stop like the others eventually would. I started timing the contractions about 4:30 but didn't wake Wesley up yet. I just wasn't sure. Then at around 6AM they became stronger and started to actually hurt. Something clicked and I knew I was in labor. My first thought was to wake Wesley up. My second thought was how grateful I was that I would not have to be induced. I woke up Wesley and we called the doctor. She said that it sounded like labor and we should pack the bags (no, they weren't packed) and head on up to the hospital. Wesley got the bags packed while I kept counting contractions. I didn't labor at home for as long as I thought I would because the contractions were still coming 2-3 minutes apart, closer than normal for the first stage of labor.

We got to the hospital and were taken to an observation room where they watched my contractions to make sure I was in labor. They also watched Theo's heart rate so they could know if he was in any distress. He was never in distress at any point during they day. My OB said he did beautifully and was a strong baby.

Around 9AM we were moved to the birthing room. I walked from one room to the other without much difficulty. Our room was nice and spacious and had a great view from the window. Wesley and I both lamented that the window could not be opened and wished we could have had some fresh air that day. We set up camp and met our nurse. Cheryl was a blessing. She was experienced, patient, and calming. She was willing to sit and talk with us early on in the labor, willing to help coach and provide pain relief by pushing against my lower back later in delivery, and was generally just wonderful.

I had decided during the last couple of weeks of pregnancy to try for a natural birth. I told myself that if I just couldn't take the pain I would get an epidural. I met with the CRNA who would have done the epidural while I was still in the early stages of labor so that if I needed her later she would already have the information she needed. I never called her back. I gave birth with no epidural, no anesthesia, no drugs. And I survived.

I never thought I would be one to give birth naturally but more and more reasons kept popping up. Once labor started I somehow knew I would be able to do it. It wasn't some heroic choice or need to be "all woman" or anything like that. I just knew that I had the support and the inner strength to do it and that outweighed the risks of the epidural.

I labored for sixteen hours. Once I hit the second stage (of three) of labor the endorphines and adrenaline kicked in. It was like being drugged. I was aware of what was going on but also a little out of it. I knew I was in massive pain but it was Ok. It is amazing how my body knew what to do to take care of me and Theo during delivery. I have heard people say that but never really understood it until I experienced it.

Wesley was at my side the entire time, always ready to help me with whatever I needed. He helped me control my breathing. He held my hand. He spent hours providing pressure to my lower back which helped immensely. His favorite thing about the day (well, second favorite thing) was that I was so out of it during the second stage of labor that I let him listen to six hours of Phish. Six hours of one of my least favorite bands. That should tell you something. I'm glad it happened that way though. Wesley says that listening to Phish was really good for him during that time.

I moved around a lot during labor. I used the bed, the chair, and the giant tub to help me through the pain. Each had their place and each stopped doing the trick after a while.

Transition (the third stage of labor, right before pushing) is as painful as they make it seem. This was the only time when I wanted to give up but I knew I was close and that kept me going. That and being able to hang on Wesley's arm when the contractions hit. Ok, those two things and shaking the arm to the bed like I was trying to break it off. Ok, those three things and making bizarre growling noises until my mouth felt like a dried out sponge. Regardless, I made it through.

I pushed for 45 minutes- it felt like 10. The room went from being quiet and serene, very still, to a space of commotion and excitement. Everything seemed to get brighter. My little boy was born. Perfect. Everything was just perfect.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Is it a train? No, but I imagine it's going to feel like one when the kid comes barreling into the world.

More doctor's visits, more news that Baby DB is doing well. More bedrest and more Boost shakes (blegh!).

They have scheduled me for an induction on September 14th. The eviction notice has been served. Kid has eleven days to pack up his things and move out or he's getting the boot. It feels good to have a definite deadline. It's easier to stick to the bedrest orders when I can count down the days. I want the kid to bake for as long as she needs, but I hope I can go into labor right before the 14th so I don't have to be induced. That hurts. A lot. And I won't be able to move around. If I am induced I will have to lay in bed, strapped to monitors and gadgets. No walking, rocking, or whirlpool tubs for me. But! If I can manage to get labor going on my own, which seems highly possible with some laps around the mall, then I will have much more freedom and decision about how my labor is going to go. Plus, I will be able to labor at home for a little while instead of the whole process being in the hospital setting. Who knows how this thing is going to go down. We'll just have to wait and see.

Another reason I don't really want to be induced- the big reason- is that my chances of needing a c-section are dramatically increased with induction. The doctors seem to think I will be easy to induce, but the risk is still there. I really, really, really don't want a c-section. The recovery is longer and the risks for me and Baby DB are greater. Cross your fingers for us that it doesn't come to that. But, if it does, I trust my doctors and know that they will take good care of me. Whatever happens, I trust that we will be ok. I just know my order of preference.

In other news, I ate dinner last night. Real food. And then... I ate real food again today for lunch. Two ACTUAL meals in less than 12 hours. This is a big deal. It makes me happy. Feeling hunger makes me happy. Being able to eat when I'm hungry makes me ecstatic. I have a whole new appreciation for hunger and food. Not just nutrition- but the enjoyment of food too. Thank you Wesley for making yummy, yummy pot roast. You're a king.

And Julia- you are a queen. Those tampanadas were might tasty! Thank you for sharing your cooking talents with us. I look forward to returning the favor when Nicolas makes his appearance!

The Ipod is loaded and I am going to start packing my bag this afternoon. Then all there will be left to do is wait. Here we go! I am so excited about meeting Baby DB soon!

T minus 11 days!

OB Visit #1,273

I'm skipping over a month's worth of Braxton-Hicks contractions, a wonderful baby shower, a visit to Nashville where I had a fantastic time with some of Wesley's family, and mundane details about late pregnancy and how adorable my nursery is. Oh, and insomnia. Most of you have been able to read about these things on Facebook.

I am here to update you after my latest OB visit. Last week they put me on twice weekly visits to check fetal activity and heart rate (non-stress tests, for those interested), and fetal growth. Baby DB is measuring small so we are under a careful watch to make sure s/he is still growing and doing well. Baby DB IS doing well and all signs so far point to good health, just a tiny baby. As one of my doctor's put it, "I wouldn't wish a big baby on you." Yeah, me either!

We go for another growth ultrasound on Monday where they may or may not decide to induce me. As long as Baby DB is growing, they'll let us keep baking. I have been put on modified bedrest- bedrest where I am not confined to the bed 24/7- and ordered to drink three Boost shakes (like Ensure, but tastier) a day. I don't expect to be told they will induce next week based on the information I have gotten from the two visits so far this week.

Today's visit was positive. Baby has plenty of fluid to swim in and the non-stress test was reactive, meaning normal. I am 2cm dilated and 75% effaced with Baby DB at station 0 (think of it as the starting line of a race). My OB today said that she thinks I will go 39-40 weeks then have a quick labor based on what my body is doing. I was encouraged to hear that labor wouldn't likely be a drawn-out affair. Now if we can just get to that day!

Here is a picture of fetal stations. It's easier to show you where Baby DB is than try to describe it.

Baby Food

Wesley's mom sent my this photo of an article she wrote for the Natchez Garden Club cookbook in 1980 (Wesley's first year). I posted a link to it so you can zoom in and read the article. It would have been too small if I had placed it directly in the blog.

Thanks for sharing, Lucy. What a great piece of family history- and good article too!

Mish Mash

Wesley and I received a gift from his cousin Jessica and her husband Brandt this week. Baby DB is now the proud owner of a hand-crafted tie-dyed onesie, a staple in every kid's wardrobe, I think. Kid also got a very fuzzy teddy bear and some stacking cups. Mom got a book on introducing purees and solids to baby's diet.

The book is written very simply with small words and big pictures. I am guessing they took the sleep deprivation into account when they designed the pages. It makes it seem so easy to puree and freeze your own baby food. The book tells you when to introduce what and how to prepare it in easy steps and large batches. I didn't think I was interested in making my own baby food but now I am curious. It seems easy enough and would definitely be cheaper than buying jars of baby food.

So Moms, did you make your own baby food? How did it go? What were the benefits and drawbacks and would you do it again? Any expert tips on the matter? I think it would be fun to get together with at least one other mom of an infant and prepare batches of freezable baby food together once every two weeks. Everything is easier when it's social, right? Plus, it would provide me with some accountability if I had a mish-mash partner. Thoughts?

Up to Speed

Ups and downs
Highs and lows
That's just the way
Pregnancy goes

Things have been hopping around here lately. My mom came for a visit just over two weeks ago. It was fantastic to have family around. Especially the day she helped me deep clean the house! I can't tell you how much Wesley and I appreciated that. Mom and I did a little "touristing" as well. Her favorite part of the trip, I believe, was going to Jonas Gerard's studio, where we got to meet him and attend a live painting. He was quite a trip. Neat guy. Pretty darn good at what he does too. Wesley and I took Mom up to Mt Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi, where it was a cool 62 degrees. I think she would have stayed up there all summer if she could have! Truthfully, I would have too. It felt good to get out of the heat. Even if Asheville is cooler than Mississippi (by a long shot), it has still been too hot this summer. I'm ready for fall- for more reasons than one!

Not long after my mom left, Wesley's mom Lucy and brother William came up for a short visit. Lucy insisted we stop by her "summer home" and make sure things were running smoothly in her absence. I commiserated that it is so hard to find good help these days... We had a very nice visit and again, it was great to see family.

I am proud to report that both moms approve and, dare I say, like the nursery. Hooray! I have commissioned my favorite artist to do a painting with a peacock theme for the nursery but I hear she is quite busy lately with other (better paying- I offer hugs and gratitude) commissions and an Artist's Reception at Southern Breeze, the premier art gallery in Jackson. Go Mom!

On the other side of the coin, Wesley and I had a little adventure last Friday. In the wee hours of the morning I woke up having contractions. I'm pretty sure they had been going on for a few hours and I never quite woke up enough to realize what was happening until I groggily stacked all my pillows and crouched in a way that we learned about in birthing class. It was that realization that finally woke me up. I woke Wesley up and we timed the contractions. I laid on my side and drank water like they say to do. Then we called the doctor. He told us a couple of more things to try and said to head to the hospital to be checked out if things did not get better. We did end up going to the hospital, but not before Wesley ran around the house packing our bags for what we were concerned could be "the big stay" at the hospital. I must say, he did a darn good job. He even remembered my exercise ball (for sitting on) and a onesie for the critter.
We got to the hospital and had a fantastic nurse. She was just awesome. I ended up getting a bag of IV fluids and a drug called terbuteline. Let me tell you. Terbutaline is not fun. They gave it to me to relax the uterine muscle and stop the contractions. It did what it was supposed to do, which was great. It also sped up my heart and made it feel like it was going to pound out of my chest. I felt like crap for a couple of hours. Then it passed, the contractions had stopped and we got word that baby was doing great and not going anywhere for a while.

Since all that has happened something has changed and I have been able to eat a lot more food than I had been able to before. In fact, I ate a family sized bag of fruit loops by myself in about 24 hours earlier this week. I have also eaten healthier and more balanced meals than that but my own need to devour all that cereal and milk amazed me. I haven't eaten like that since way, way early in the first trimester before I started getting sick. Yeah food!

On Sunday Wesley and I went to Looking Glass Falls and sat on the rocks like lounging lizards. There was quite a crowd and I enjoyed people watching. We left there and went up the Parkway to Graveyard Fields in hopes of picking some blueberries and blackberries. They weren't quite ready yet but you could see the fruit beginning to bud. We sat by the stream there too. The water was refreshingly cool. We heard thunder overhead after a while and headed back to the car to wait out the storm. They often don't last long in the mountains. We had a phenomenal view of the storm rolling East over the mountains. It was simply stunning. Once we headed home we saw 3 or 4 rainbows in the valleys surrounding the Parkway. Wesley got some great photos that he has shared on Facebook. You should really check them out.

Today's agenda started with a coffee break with Jody Burnett, an old friend of ours from Hattiesburg who is now a priest outside of DC. It was great to see Jody and meet his friendly dog Charlie. They make a fine pair. Jody blessed the Bump, the first priest to do that. I think it's pretty special that baby's first blessing comes from such a good friend of Mom and Dad.

My next stop is the pool with Kelly and her kids. I am looking forward to floating in the cool water and taking a nap- if it's not too loud, which it may be. I've never been to a public pool before. I'm not sure what to expect but I imagine I'll get splashed. Bombs away!

Dear Nausea

Dear Nausea,
We have been together for over seven months now, long enough to get to know each other pretty well. After six months of being in my face all of the time, keeping me from my friends, and dominating my life, you finally got the hint and gave me a little space. But now, when we do hang out you make me twice as miserable.
I missed a fantastic meal prepared especially for me last night because of you. Your jealousy is making me sick. I just can't do this anymore. I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Delete my number. I'm unfriending you. Really, it was just a fling that got dragged out too long. All those times you embarrassed me in public- remember the parking lot screaming matches? That time at the restaurant? I'm over it. I'm a stronger woman than that and I won't tolerate it anymore. Don't beg. Just go. It's over.
Sincerely,
Eryn

Childbirth Classes

Wesley and I have attended two of six in a series of childbirth classes. We go on Tuesday nights. Our classmates are an interesting hodgepodge of people and our teacher is stellar. She is a mother of four and an obviously very experienced labor and delivery nurse. Her knowledge is extensive and she discusses things in a way that are easy for everyone to understand but not patronizing.

Our first class was basic anatomy and physiology. Wesley and I didn't get much new information out of that one but we did get a good review of when to call the MD and when to go to the hospital. It was the second class that I really enjoyed and felt like we both learned something. We discussed the stages of labor and the different aspects and needs for each. We talked about different comfort measures and what emotions and reactions we can both expect to have during the delivery.

Chalayne, our instructor, also showed us a video with real births. The video was very edited to only show these women breathing calmly and looking peaceful as they endured contractions and birth. I call BS, but whatever. I am proud (though not surprised) to say that Wesley didn't bat an eye. The guy next to him, however, turned three shades of green and slipped down in his seat a little. In fact, he got woozy at a line drawing of the vagina that Chalayne drew on the marker board. That man has a looong day ahead of him in the not-so-distant future!

Chalayne sent us home with a few worksheets to spark discussion about how each of us deals with stress and discomfort and what Wesley can do to help me through the birth. We went to our local Greek restaurant Apollo Flame and had dinner while going through the worksheets after class. It was a great discussion that I think not only helped us prepare for the birth but helped us learn more about each other. I really enjoyed our conversation and I think it helped us both feel a little more at ease in a time when we are both feeling exhausted from the challenges and stressors of this pregnancy.

I am looking forward to class tomorrow night and what we may learn from it not just about the delivery but about ourselves and our marriage. I hope that every pregnant couple out there gets the chance to attend such a useful childbirth class.

Sneak Peak

Wesley and I have spent most of today cleaning, organizing, and taking care of "honey-dos" around the house. With our progress I am finally ready to show you what the nursery is shaping up to look like. There still isn't any art on the walls and that crib skirt is a nice stack of cut fabric waiting to be sewn together, but there is still something to show for our work so far. I'm stoked with how the room is coming together.

Also, my good friend Kelly came over last week and helped me organize the plethora of baby items that I now have thanks to the folks in Mississippi. Seeing all those baby items nested in their proper places in Baby DB's nursery makes it all just a little more real.

Without further adieu, here are pictures from the nursery.



For those reading this through email, if you cannot see the slideshow, go to www.babyduffeebraun.org to view the photos on the website.

Road Trip

Wesley and I went home to Mississippi this weekend. We left Thursday evening and got back last night (Monday). Our trip began with a stop in Atlanta and dinner with a few friends who live there. It was great to see Julie and Charles, Jamie B. and Slim (his adorably fat tabby cat). We stayed the night at Jamie's house and hit the road early Friday morning, destination: Gulfport.

Friday evening we hung out with Wesley's mom and his youngest brother, Christopher, who leaves for England tomorrow. We had a great time playing Wii, eating a tasty dinner, and enjoying each others company. I never get tired of letting people feel the baby kick around and seeing their reactions. It amazes me how surprised people are when they meet Ninja-Baby. I also find it amusing when people get a little weirded out by the "alien." Christopher's reaction was equal parts astonishment, gross-out, and "That's so cool!"

Saturday morning Wesley and I drove over to New Orleans. We haven't been back since before we got married and both missed the city, it's life, music, and food. Cafe du Monde was packed so we headed up to Magazine Street and got coffee and a muffin at CC's coffee house. We then walked around a few blocks of the garden district, admiring the homes. We found a great baby boutique on Magazine and had a lot of fun checking out the toys, clothes and nursery goodies. They had a wrought iron four poster crib that was as gorgeous as it was pretentious and a robot building kit that made Wesley light up with glee.

We went back to the Quarter and walked the block around Jackson Square, admiring the art and hearing the sounds. A local Jr. High band was playing in front of St. Louis' Cathedral. It made my day to hear that Big-Brass New Orleans sound. Afterward we walked along the riverwalk back to our car. We saw the Natchez steamboat on the Mississippi River, had a sno-ball, and passed by the aquarium. We talked about how great it will be to come back to the aquarium and zoo with Baby DB one day. We also discussed- again- how if we ever move back to the South, we will live in New Orleans.

Back in Gulport by 1 o' clock for my book shower that was hosted by Wesley's mom Lucy and her friend Lori. Lucy's friends were incredibly kind and Baby DB has a great collection of books now. Fairy tale books, board books, Dr Seuss, Corduroy (one of my favorites), and sweet books for us to read together at bedtime. Not only were there great books and a bouncy seat from Grandmother Lulu, but there were cucumber sandwiches and the best cupcakes this side of the Mississippi river. Chocolate cupcake with strawberry filling, chocolate icing, and a chocolate covered strawberry on top. Oh my goodness!

After the shower we continued our trek up to Jackson where we had dinner at Keifer's with my dad and his good (best?) friend James and his wife Mary. Keifer's is a staple in Jackson and they have the best gyro I have ever eaten. Ever. As happens when dad and James are together, there was much talk about cars, motorcycles, and a little bravado. We had a great time, I just wish I could have spent more time with Dad this trip.

Sunday morning Mom and I spent time in the pool while Wesley and Mark, my step-dad, went for a bike ride at a new trail in Madison. The pool was a great relief from all the Mississippi heat and the weightlessness felt wonderful. After their bike ride the men joined us in the pool then we had burgers for lunch. Mark has become a master grill-man and the burgers were mmm good!

My aunt Michele hosted a shower for me Sunday afternoon. I was so excited to see family and old friends and really wish I could have spent more time chit-chatting with everyone. Two friends from nursing school were there and my oldest friend, Wren, came too. There were so many people dear to me there that it made me feel a little homesick for Jackson. I do miss being close to everyone but Asheville is home now.

Mom and Mark cooked us a good ol' southern meal Sunday night- something you can't get in Asheville no matter what they say. We had grilled chicken on the Green Egg that would make you slap yo' momma, crowder peas, Mom's awesome cornbread, my favorite marinated cucumbers, and creamed corn. It was a feast!

We got back home last night. The house looks like a tornado ran through it and the animals are all happy to see us. Time for life to return to normal for a little while.

*sidenote* As I read this entry for proofing, I realized I mentioned food in every paragraph. Think the kid is trying to tell me something? Off to the pantry I go...

Final Stretch

My third trimester started yesterday. Right on cue, I have started thinking about things like the birth plan, what to pack for the hospital, and "holy moly, my body is going to do What?". I'm getting really excited about meeting the little critter. I feel like I know Baby DB so well already but I still don't have a clue. It's like internet dating for nine months. I mean, I guess it is... I never did internet dating. Wesley has been stuck with me for a long time now. Anyways, back on track.

I've been having Braxton-Hicks contractions here and there. I started getting them at the beginning of the second trimester but now I have them at least once every couple of days it seems. My body is gearing up. I know I'm petite but I really have a feeling that I am going to be able to do this without induction or c-section. In spite of ME feeling crummy, my body has done a great job taking care of this kiddo so far. The baby has grown right on schedule, has all signs of good health and is very active. The hormones that make me pukey and my nose stuffy and runny 24/7 (which is maddening) are protecting Critter from possible dangers. I used to think my body was horrible at being pregnant but now I think maybe it's really, really good at it- albeit at the expense of my own comfort, but so what?

I've also started working out on a regular basis. Nothing too strenuous, mind you. I ride a stationary bike at the lowest setting for 15-30 minutes, do some time on the elliptical to build up my stamina and try to do 50 squats a day to strengthen and tone important muscles for the upcoming task. All of the cardio equipment has heart rate monitors so I can keep an eye on the ticker and make sure I don't overdo it. It feels good to exercise and I can already see the benefits in energy and mood.

Ladies, did you have a birth plan? What was most important to you? Was it honored to the best of the staff's ability? Any suggestions? And what random item should I make sure to pack in the hospital bag?

Baby Stuff

I've had several people ask me where I am registered. You can find a list of goodies for Baby DB at Babies-R-Us. You can peruse the list online via the link or go into the store if that's easier. Man, some things are just hard to say, aren't they?

Cake

Life is cruising along here. Not too much to report. I'm sitting in my totally awesome rocking chair avoiding things like cleaning the house, doing laundry, and getting ready for a garage sale I hope to have on Saturday. After a pretty rough morning, I don't have much go-juice. Wesley suggests I get out of the house and do something fun. I think I might do just that. Maybe after I will have the oomph I need to get stuff done.
Until then, let me share this little gem with you. Cakewrecks.com is a great website for wasting time. Her entry about 'butt cakes' is enlightening to say the least.

Here's an example.


I think that baby is a little too close to the ledge, don't you?

Preggie Pop Drops

Six months into this thing and I've finally given Preggie Pops a try. I think it's good I didn't use them before because I would probably be sick of them by now and they seem to be helping keep the queasiness down. I only have one bone to pick with the makers of these sour little treats.



No pregnant woman who actually has morning (make that "all day") sickness looks this good. So when I've turned a couple shades of green and reach for the little candies, seeing this perky face really just ticks me off. You could at least pretend to realize that pregnancy isn't all fun all the time for the people you are marketing to. That is all.

Breast is Best video

My friend Kelly shared this great video with me. It's a seven minute preview of a longer film about breast feeding and the importance of skin-to-skin contact. I thought it was very sweet and informative. Just be prepared to see moms and newborns doing what they do.



I love how constant contact is encouraged immediately from birth. I never liked the idea of having my child taken away from me for shots and weighing and such before we get a chance to bond. Seeing this video helped me feel like it is OK to ask for what I want after the baby is born and not let the 'hospital rush' separate Baby DB from me any more or any sooner than absolutely necessary. I want Baby DB to be in my arms or Wesley's arms the first 24 hours of life. I thought it was great that they showed the dad giving kangaroo care (the nursing term for skin-to-skin) to the baby while Mom wasn't available for whatever reason. I would be interested in seeing the whole video.

Funny Story

They say having a dog is a great way to meet people. I never expected the story to go like this, though.

I woke up this morning to a telephone call from someone saying my dog was in her backyard. Apparently Molly's playdate has taught her how to jump the fence. She was one street over in this person's backyard. I said "Thank you so much, I'll be right there." I could hear dogs barking in the background and thought "Oh, I hope she is behaving."

I rush over there and Amy brings Molly out to me. Amy is pregnant too! We start to talk and realize that our due dates are one day apart. We stood in her driveway and chatted for an hour about nesting, delivery, moving to the area (they moved here in December), dogs, and whatever else came to mind. Her husband seems very nice too. We made plans to keep in touch, become walking buddies and have dinner together sometime.

I'm really excited to have a friend who is right where I am- six months pregnant with my first child. It's great having friends who have a kid or two who can share sage advice but it will be fun to know someone who is experiencing it all for the first time too. Wouldn't it be something if our critters were born on the same day?

Now, what to do about the fact that my dog has started jumping fences??

To Do List

1. Sewing projects
2. Build a few playlists for the baby
3. Build a few playlists for the delivery (can't you see me giving birth to Rage Against the Machine?)
4. Put crib together
5. See a movie together (Thank you Thomas and Amanda)
6. Start stock-piling thaw-and-eat meals
7. Finalize name selections
8. Decide on art for the baby's room (Ahem, calling MOM)
9. Pencil in a calendar for family visits post-delivery
10. Declutter the house to make room for baby items

Building a Nursery

I have Sarah McLachlan's "Building a Mystery" stuck in my head, except I keep singing "Now we're working on... building a nursery..." Come on, you know it's catchy. All together now... "We're holding on..."

Anyways. We Are working on building a nursery. The painting is finally done and the switch plates are back on all the outlets. We bought a glider-rocker last weekend and I picked it up today. The box was so huge that I had to to fold down the seats in the CR-V so it could fit. I'm not sure how we're going to actually get it inside but I have faith my awesome husband will figure out a way.

It looks like we may be ordering a crib soon too. I've found one I like at Target. The Graco Lauren Classic, for those who are curious.

I called the fabric store nearby to find out if they had nursery patterns and what time they closed. I heard "Yes, we carry McCall's patterns and we close at 9:30." I bebop my way up there and waltz in at 5:30. Do you see where this story is going? I found a fabric I LOVE for the crib skirt and diaper stacker. I go to ask the man- whom I spoke to on the phone- where the patterns were. He told me that they were in the back but they closed five minutes ago, at 5:30. He had the tone of voice of a man who had spent too many hours with "sew-busy" ladies. Once I told him that I misunderstood and apologized for waltzing in at closing, he was much nicer than he had been at first. He offered to send me home with the McCall's book and hold my fabric behind the counter until morning so I wouldn't have to try to find it again.



Things are starting to come together for this nursery. A good thing too. This baby is really starting to look like a baby! We had an ultrasound this morning. Baby DB has the most adorable nose and lips you've ever seen in grainy black and white. The critter is still head down and sleeping diagonally in the bed most of the time (just like Dad!). We'll have pictures of the ultrasound as soon as Wesley can get them scanned and some pictures of progress on the nursery sometime after this weekend- when it will be a guest room for Wesley's dad and stepmom who are coming for their first visit to Asheville. Until then... there I am above. You see me? I'm the one hiding behind that huge belly!



We are also having a party for Wesley's 30th birthday this Sunday. The official day was Monday. We brought home Wesley's baby that day- a new propane grill. Wesley cooked up some bbq chicken, onion, bell peppers, and sweet potatoes for the inaugural meal. I may be a little biased, but it was mighty tasty! I am often amazed at what a fantastic handy-man, heavy lifter, great cook, amazing husband Wesley is. How lucky I am to have Wesley and Baby DB in my life! Happy birthday, sweetie! xoxo

Signs

Wesley and I have decided to use baby sign language with Baby DB. I am really, really excited about this after having seen it work with kids I took care of back in my daycare days.

Wesley had a healthy dose of skepticism at first but after a good conversation where he brought up some great questions we decided to go for it. We bought a book that has a very readable section of short chapters on how to learn baby sign, what it is and its benefits, and how to teach your baby in an effective and fun manner. The majority of the book is an alphabetically arranged selection of 300 basic signs with photographs and small descriptions of how to do them.

I'm hoping Wesley and I can start learning and using signs with each other immediately so when Baby DB gets here we will already be comfortable with the signs and not have to try and teach ourselves while taking care of a newborn.

I'm also hoping that friends and family will be willing to get in on the fun. It is recommended that you start with a base of 3 to 6 words and build from there. There are a plethora of websites and books about baby sign language that you can look into. Baby sign uses American Sign Language and books on ASL can be rented from the library. Video instructions on signing can also be found online. I will try to post pictures and videos of what Wesley and I are learning to sign so that you can learn along with us.


Wikipedia has an article on baby sign language that cites legitimate research on the subject. One of the research papers quoted states that some of the benefits of baby sign language are:
* larger expressive and receptive spoken language vocabularies;
* more advanced mental development;
* a reduction in problematic behaviours like tantrums resulting from frustration; and
* improved parent–child relationships.
(Acredolo et al., 1999, Goodwyn et al., 2000)

Sounds pretty cool, huh?

Going Back

After a wonderful visit to Jackson I am back in the mountains where I belong. Making that drive alone was much harder than I thought it would be. I used to make it in eight hours with two stops the whole way. Not this time. It took me well over ten hours with many stops for gas, food, bathroom breaks, and "Ow, my back is stiff" breaks. I'm hoping Wesley can go with me for the trip in June. Wait, let's be honest. I'm hoping Wesley can chauffeur me for the trip in June.

My grandparents were kind enough to let me stay with them and come and go so I could see everyone while I was in town. I feel like I spent the least amount of time with them, which makes me a little sad- but it was good time. One big highlight of the trip was when I got in the door from my drive and Dran (my grandmother) had fried okra, cornbread, butter beans, and the best meatloaf I've ever tasted on the table. That was some seriously comforting comfort food!

Saturday night I went to the wedding of my second cousin Kellum. She married her childhood sweetheart, Brandon; whom she has been dating since she was thirteen. You could tell that they were each others best friends. The wedding was very sweet.

I haven't seen her or her family in years even though we all spent countless weekends together when we were growing up. She and her sister have grown into beautiful young women and her parents are just as I remember them. It was a fantastic walk down memory lane being with all of them and the wedding was beautiful. Every detail was attended to and it all came together flawlessly. I was grateful that I got to be there and grateful that I didn't have to plan it! Congrats to Kellum and Brandon Kim. May your married life be blessed.

The weather was killer. The air was soupy- hot and thick. I have a new appreciation for our mountain breezes up here. I ended up buying a very lightweight linen sundress on Sunday and wearing it, well... let's just say it's not new anymore.

Believe it or not, I didn't take any pictures the whole trip. I guess I just wanted to experience everything 'in the moment.' Now I'm wishing I had pictures to look back on and share. Silly me.

Thank you to everyone who found time in their busy schedules for me. It was good for my soul to see family. I love you all!

Long time, no post

I haven't written in a while. Much has happened both internally and externally.

Internally, I've changed from feeling like "I am pregnant" to "This baby is going to be born." Being able to feel Baby DB kick around on a regular basis has played a big part in that change. Also fun is when Critter gets the hiccups and I can watch my belly bounce. I like feeling like I am never alone. My little sidekick.

Last week I got very antsy to start working on the nursery. Good thing too, seeing how long it has taken us to get Step 1 completed. I have decided on colors for the room and painted the walls. The only part left is to edge next to the ceiling with a second coat and one small section of wall up high. As a sidebar- No VOC paint is much healthier, but a bit more difficult to apply evenly. Two coats is definitely necessary. What color is the room, you ask? Pea Pod Green. To get an idea of the color, check out the background on the website (www.babyduffeebraun.org for those of you getting this by email). The background was my inspiration for the color scheme and the green on the walls is really that bright. I want to accent the room with turquoise and chocolate brown, but we will see what direction things go in once I start adding furniture and other elements.

I love how cheery this room is and think I will be falling on it for inspiration as I continue to work on the nursery.




Part of the reason I've had the time and energy to work on the nursery is that I am not working anymore. The pregnancy plus the POT syndrome made being a floor nurse on such a hectic unit almost impossible. I pushed through for months but was miserable. I would throw up because I wasn't able to eat when I was hungry. I was getting severely dehydrated. I was too tired to finish my work some days and some days I just wasn't able to go in. It was a mess. I was a mess. Now that the stress from that job is gone I feel much better. I am able to eat better, stay hydrated, rest, and I feel better emotionally. I'm finally starting to enjoy this pregnancy. I am fortunate that Wesley has been so supportive of this change. It has made the transition a smooth one, for which I am grateful. I do plan on returning to work after the baby is born. I hope to find something outside the hospital.

In other news, I had a wonderful time during my grandparents' visit. They helped Wesley do yard work while I supervised. Roy C manned the chainsaw and we turned it from a wildlife preserve to a backyard. Then Roy C and Wesley built a bluebird box and a hanging bird feeder from scrap wood we had. I love sitting on the back porch and watching the birds at the feeder. So far I have seen sparrows, a cardinal, a bluejay, and a robin. The robin has a nest in our dogwood tree. The backyard still has a long way to go before we are ready to be in Southern Living but we got a good start.

I am heading to Jackson tomorrow to visit family. It will be the first time since Christmas since I have seen many of them. I am looking forward to it all. Being pregnant has made me really miss my family. I am fortunate that so many have made the trek up here to come visit us in the past few months. I will make this trip and one at the end of June and that will be the end of my big travels until after the baby is born. Hopefully I can convince family that they need to get out of the MS heat and come see me this summer!

Wesley took me out to eat at the Biltmore Estate Inn a couple of weeks ago. We had a wonderful time. We got dressed up and had a leisurely, coursed meal that was exquisite. Our waitress was fantastic; not too pushy but always there if we needed something. She even had the pastry chef decorate our dessert plate with "Congratulations" written in chocolate piping. These are some pictures we took before we headed out that night.

Ultrasound Pictures

We got to see the critter this morning. Ninja Baby was true to form; kicking, dancing, hand chewing, gulping, and waving. Baby DB is right on track with the growth charts and appears healthy by all accounts. The doctor told me "Whatever you are doing, keep doing it because everything is going great." I felt very encouraged when he said that.

Without further adieu, here are more photos of Baby Duffee-Braun!

This is a profile of the face, abdomen and a cross-section of arm.


Happy feet!



The arm bone is connected to the...



We dubbed this one 'ghost baby'


The first thing we saw this morning. I love this picture.

Auntie Jess

My grandparents are coming into town later this week. I can't wait to see them! Alas, that means I have a lot to do today. Mainly laundry. I think I am just going to take all the bedding and dirty clothes to the laundromat and get it done at once. Once I get off the couch... But until then... I shall procrastinate.

Our friends Mike and Jessica had us over for grilling and Singstar karaoke last week. Jess is one person who just may take more pictures than Wesley. I love that she has her camera around at all times and am grateful for the fun pictures she has shared. She has captured my favorite belly pic so far. I also love that she has taken to calling herself Auntie Jess and is thrilled that we have a baby on the way. Her enthusiasm lifts my spirits when I feel like I've had enough of the vomiting, sleeplessness, nasal congestion, and litany of other not-so-fun pregnancy symptoms.

This is me and Jess watching the boys set up her pool. As she puts it, "We were helping"


Jessica insisted on the "I heart my tummy" photo. I didn't think I would like it, but I do. Thanks, Jess!



This is my favorite pregnancy picture so far. Check out that gut!


Jess and I wait for Baby DB to make himself known with a couple of ninja kicks. He did not disappoint and Jessica's excitement was simply awesome.



Meanwhile, Wesley and Mike serenade us with Singstar. I'm pretty sure this was when we got rick-rolled.

Life Outside of the Womb

Believe it or not I have done more than just brew a baby these past several months. For me, it has been the center of the universe- and gravity- but lot's of cool things have happened.

For one, Wesley has been working extremely hard on home improvement projects and I have been enjoying the benefits. I wish I could say I helped but I've been more on the 'moral support' side of things lately. Our kitchen is a different space from what it was when we bought the house. We painted the walls in October but otherwise it stayed pretty much the same until the past couple of months. One new dishwasher, one new disposal, five new upper cabinets where there were none before, crown moulding, and one fantastic light fixture- a gift from Wesley's mother- later and we have a good looking and functional kitchen on our hands.

*I can't find the pictures to post but will add them soon*

We have done a hefty amount of yard work in the front yard since we moved into the house. We pulled out all of the overgrown 'flowers' in the flower bed and planted 100 tulip bulbs. There was a hideous bush-tree right by the front door that I finally got fed up with and hack-sawed into oblivion one energetic day in March. I hated that tree. The root was so intense I finally just buried it and I am planning on putting a bird bath over the bald spot. We also added black shutters and painted the green door black.

Here is the yard before:


And here it is after (but before Wesley got our new lawn mower):



The car is my Dad's. He came to visit last week and we had a wonderful time. There are pictures on Facebook. There are too many to add here right now. We drove the Blue Ridge Parkway, took Rt. 9 to Lake Lure, stopped by Triple Falls, and had lots of tasty food. The best was the night Wesley and Dad grilled farmer's market veggies and steak. Even Molly got a taste!

I tried my best to convince Dad he needed to move up here and be Granddad. He even got a job offer! I think he enjoyed the scenery but all the talk about our awful winter we just had might have been just enough to keep him in Jackson. Regardless, we look forward to your next visit, Dad!

Baby DB

Top ten favorite humorous nicknames that have been bestowed upon the baby:

10. The parasite
9. Fetus
8. Dancing alien
7. Baby DB- or E.B.D.B. as Tabitha says
6. Critter
5. Plum
4. Peanut
3. Creature
2. He She It
1. Ninja Baby

Baby DB has been dancing up a storm for the past two days. I can feel movement all the time now. Wesley even got a 'hello' kick tonight. It's pretty awesome.

In other news, "ninja baby" brings up some pretty funny results in Google image search. I liked these gems:

The Preggo Card

I pulled the 'because I'm pregnant' card Thursday night. I HAD to do it. It was an emergency. I swear.

I worked Thursday and was surprisingly hungry when I got finished. When I'm THAT hungry, there isn't time to cook. I have been craving a gyro and domas from Jerusalem Garden for a couple of weeks now.

I make my way downtown, have a seat and realize there are no gyros on the dinner menu, just overpriced Greek/Mediterranean meals. I was not deterred. I asked my waitress very politely if she thought the cook would be willing to make me a gyro. She responded, 'That's on the lunch menu." As in "Um, no. I can't believe you even asked." So I said, "Not even for a pregnant woman?" with a big, sweet smile on my face. She said she would ask and the next time I saw her she had domas and a gyro for me. It took me a little while but I ate every last bit of that meal.

Eryn 1
Craving 0

The early weeks

It dawned on me recently that I never wrote about those precious two weeks when I was first pregnant. It was an exciting time full of internet searches like "early signs of pregnancy," "two week wait," and "really gassy, am I pregnant?"

Believe it or not, I suspected that I was pregnant within a day of it actually happening. At first it was just a hunch, a suspicion. A gut feeling, if you will. Then over the next two weeks my hormones let me know that something was definitely up.

The first major Ah Ha moment happened at Buffalo Wild Wings of all places. Wesley and I were chowing down, people watching, and talking about how I might be pregnant and when we could know for sure. I had been a little emotional leading up to this point but nothing outstanding. Then the All State commercial came on. I cried like a little baby. Boo-hoo, sniffle-sniffle-snort. Let me tell you something about me. I don't cry often. There has to be a darn good reason, and even then it's not a sure thing. I can't remember the last time I cried at a movie. And as much as I love books, not one has ever made me cry.

Go on, watch it. It's cheesy and maybe will pull at your heart strings a little bit, but if you started crying with abandon I've got two pregnancy tests left under my cabinet for you to use.

I looked at Wesley and said "If I'm not pregnant, something is really wrong with me." He may have been laughing too hard to hear me.

I waited patiently until a full two weeks had gone by before taking the test. This happened to be a Tuesday morning at around 6AM because I worked that day. When I did, I expected to see a plus sign immediately if there was going to be one. About three seconds later I looked at the window and said "Oh well." I proceeded with other things for a moment and when I looked again there was a bright blue plus sign, clear as day. Even though I had known for weeks, I couldn't believe it. Real proof! A real baby! My baby! About that time Wesley called from the bedroom "Well??" I couldn't even say it. I was speechless. I just ran and kind of pounced on him with a big grin on my face. It was dark, but I think I felt him grinning too.

Another funny restaurant experience happened at LoneStar- it was close and I wanted steak. My mixed vegetables that came with the steak were carrots and broccoli. The broccoli was tolerable but the carrots. Well, lets just say I haven't eaten carrots once since that night. I don't even want to see them. Something about carrots is just utterly appalling to me these days. After recovering from the carrots, I ate more of my meal. I didn't have much of an appetite the first trimester, even before the nausea came to town.

While we are eating, the waiters and waitresses all gather in the back and start clapping. The dreaded, obnoxious, chain-restaurant birthday song. I hate this tradition. It's so tacky and I loathed having to do it when I waited tables. So here they come... singing off key and off beat to some schmuck who made it around the sun one more time. Whoopie. Well, guess who starts crying? The pregnant lady. And guess who laughed his head off again, her husband. Can you imagine looking over and seeing a couple- one crying for no apparent reason and one laughing his head off? I bet we were a curious sight.

Wesley was a real trooper through the mood swings of the first trimester. Or rather, the personality swings, truth be told. They seem to have leveled off for the most part. I am sure Wesley is singing praises for that!

I will say one thing that Really gets me angry. I mean, really, really. If I am angry or frustrated, there is probably at least a kernel of a good reason at the root of it, especially now in my second trimester. Don't be like one of my coworkers and brush me off saying "Oh you're just hormonal." I'll show you hormonal! Nothing gets my goat more. Just because I'm pregnant does not mean I am incapable of genuine emotions. Take note. This is valuable advice for anyone who will ever be in the vicinity of a pregnant woman.

Elbows, knees, and toes

I went to the Urgent Care this morning. A very nice PA wiggled my leg around and asked me questions. Neither of us wanted to do an x-ray since radiation makes unborn children glow in the dark. He told me I probably have a torn meniscus (Tabitha's diagnosis last night) and that I should stay off of it for a week. He wants me to call Friday if it isn't better so he can get me in with an orthopedist. Hopefully, I will be better by then.

In other news, my night ended on quite a special note. As I was lying quietly in bed, before the nighttime sniffles started, I felt my baby move. Baby DB was just a-tossing and a-turning. I imagined the kid was doing flips saying "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, this is FUN!" It felt like a little ripple or flutter across my lower abdomen. I wonder if I was feeling dancing feet, or swinging arms, or maybe I was being head-butted for the second time in a day.

I also saw my baby in a dream last night. Baby DB had my eyes and Wesley's nose and mouth, soft blond hair, and was as sweet as an angel.

Sometimes, just when you feel like you've reached the end of your rope, life ties the knot for you.

How to Celebrate Easter Eryn-Style

Step 1: Puke in the shower.

Step 2: Dress purdy and go to church. Try furtively to get some curl in the hair. Look like Medusa with bangs.

Step 3: Get squeezed into a pew with too many people because it's SRO today. At least I got to sit by Wesley.

Step 4: Get nauseated due to the heat and stuffiness and bail in the middle of the renewal of baptismal vows. Drag poor husband along.

Step 5: Almost puke on the church steps but make it to the ladies' room instead.

Step 5.5: Nap.

Step 6: Have Easter brunch with non-Christian (and lovely and wonderful) friends, Wesley and some new folks.

Step 7: Make two planters for the front stoop with Wesley. Enjoy playing in the dirt.
















Step 8: Lounge in the sun.

Step 9: Take a family trip to the dog park.

Step 10: Have a dog take me out by running full-force into my knee. Get carried back to car in excruciating pain.

Step 10: Call occupational therapist friend (Thanks Tabitha!) for advice and avoid ER like the plague.

Step 11: Attempt to eat Mexican food, which has become Wesley's Sunday night craving. Enjoy chips and salsa, get grossed out by everything else.

Step 12: Get knee immobilizer, tell work I can't bear weight.

Step 13: Write blog.

Step 14: See if I can sleep with knee brace on.

It was a roller coaster of a day but I have so many wonderful memories of it too. I loved spending so much time with Wesley. The weather was amazing. And Alleluia Christ is risen!!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! ~Because I can.

Holy Week

Yesterday I had a meeting with Bishop Taylor of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina. My priest Rev. Brian Cole and I went to announce to the bishop that I feel called to pursue a life of ordained ministry.

It felt good, and right, to say in a very official way "I want to be a priest. I have felt called to live my life for ministry in some form or fashion since I was a a young girl. Every time I go to church, I am distracted because all I can think during the service is 'I want to be up there, I want to serve communion.' I want to teach, love, and minister to God's people in the highs, lows, and mundanes of their lives."

Bishop Taylor responded by saying that he did feel like the Holy Spirit was moving in my life, but now is not the time to discern that call. He asked me to come see him after the baby is born and we will look at starting the process then. He stated (wisely, I think) that my life is changing and who I am now is not who I will be after the baby is born. He said I should focus on taking on the role of motherhood first and then we will look at the role of priesthood and how it fits into my life as wife and mother. I half expected this answer and was not shocked or disappointed. In fact, I left feeling very encouraged and at peace. Upon parting, the Bishop said something to the effect of "So I'll see you at the Maundy Thursday service tonight, right?" My answer, of course, was "Absolutely," regardless of any earlier intentions for my evening (which consisted of staying home and trying not to ralph, like all my other nights lately).

I've somehow missed Maundy Thursday services up until this point. I didn't know what to expect by I knew that it was going to be about the Last Supper. This appealed to me because communion has always been the part of the service that I enjoyed the most. I love the physical, visceral act of eating and becoming one with Christ and the Christian community. I could never feel completely at home at a church that did not celebrate communion at least every Sunday.

The service was beautiful and poignant. It brought home the fact that Jesus showed us that if He who is perfect is not too perfect to wash feet then how are we to say we are above even the dirtiest tasks needed to care for one another? I spent a large portion of the service realizing that Jesus' death has never been a cause for mourning in me. I always saw it as an action of perfect submission to God's will and the humility and love of which Jesus was capable. It was always just something that had to happen so that He could rise again. As the alter was stripped bare and we canted "Oh God, my God, why have you forsaken me" I realized that this WAS a death- an ugly, horrible, sad reason to mourn. When I left, I still could not have told you why, and it bothered me.

Then I had a dream. It wasn't a pretty dream but it helped me understand that Jesus' death was not just something that had to happen so that Easter could occur, but it was the murder of an innocent, holy man.

In my dream, two young men met a homeless but harmless man on the streets. He was near death but still alive. They lit him on fire and it killed him. (Luckily, this scene was not very graphic but rather figurative). Both men were imprisoned. One of the young men was not penitent and had no regret about what he had done. He did not value this man's life because as far as he knew it meant nothing to him. He quickly faded out of the dream. Most of the dream focused on a private conversation with te second man who confessed what he had done and how horrible he felt about his actions, how it was tearing him apart inside. The second man told me that he was following the first man's actions and deeply, deeply regretted killing the innocent man. I remember him wailing in agony at regret over what he had done. But in the end, it had been done.

Of course, it didn't take long before I woke up thinking "what in the...?" After a while I realized what the dream meant to me. It was a way for me to understand in a very personal way, why Jesus' death is so tragic. First, He was innocent, harmless. He did not deserve to die on the cross. There is tragedy in the injustice.

The second thing that makes His death, and not just his resurrection, something we need to remember and commemorate, I learned from the wailing of the second man in the dream. Jesus died because we are imperfect. Each of us played a part in His persecution. When we mourn his death, it is our own failings, our own inability to love completely, and our own collective role in his crucifixion that we must come to terms with. It is a horrible experience not only for Jesus but also for his persecutors.

That being said, I am ready for Easter. I want to celebrate my Lord, not mourn him. I want loud, happy music and celebrations with the "A word" abounding! I have never looked forward to Easter in such a way as I do this year. Here's to Sunday's sunrise and the end of the Lenten season!

Writing Styles

When Eryn writes a blog post, she comes up with the title after writing the post. When I, Wesley, write a post, I come up with the title first then write a supporting blog. Interesting difference. I wonder if our child will be a prose poet or 5 paragraph essay kinda person.

Moving right along....we had a lovely visit from the MIL (Eryn's abbreviation) this weekend. Biltmore, painting, sweet gifts for Eryn and the baby, a great housewarming gift (we can actually see in our kitchen now) and lots of meaningful conversation. Also attended Palm Sunday services at All Souls, which are ....different....to say the least. Different at least from the normal Eucharist at All Souls. Which is to be expected, being Palm Sunday and all, but still - different.

When you write a blog post, does your wife/husband/etc back seat post? Just curious, as mine does.

Molly (our dog for those who don't know) had a great time this weekend and since as well. Two trips to the dog park and lots of walks. Enjoying the nice weather as we all are.

Here are photos of my radiant and beautiful ever patient and loving wife:

Wesley and I were in Valle Crucis for the weekend at an Episcopal young adult retreat we have been active with for many years now. Vocare, as it is called, has been the source of many great friendships for us. It was wonderful to be around those friends, both old and new, this weekend. I was feeling pretty crummy and mostly just observed the activities and napped, but to get away and to be surrounded by fun and loving people was very therapeutic to this tired momma.

Wesley was the music leader for the weekend and did a wonderful job inspiring the group to lift our voices in celebration. I fell in love with a guitar player and it's always a joy to see that glow he gets when he plays and sings those familiar worship songs.

It was interesting to gauge the reactions of the people at the retreat to my pregnancy. The older people in the group (25-30) were very interested in how the pregnancy affected me, how big the baby is right now, and other things that made me feel like pregnancy was more than just an abstract thing to them, even though none of them had children yet. The younger people in the group (20-25) were much more concerned with nursery colors, baby showers, and how they know someone who is pregnant. This is not to say that there is a right or wrong reaction to pregnancy, but that I found it curious that there seemed to be a definite distinction in reactions that occurred around 25 years old.

The road home from the retreat was a long, winding mountain road- and not in a figurative sense. I didn't redecorate the car, but felt pretty icky the whole way home and crawled into bed as soon as I could see it. I slept for probably 14-15 hours last night. Well, minus the bit of time around midnight where we hung out in the basement because Asheville's public warning system rang out for about 30 minutes. Wesley ended up calling the police station to see what was going on after the Doppler showed that all the storms had passed. They didn't know why the sirens were going off or who set them off. It was a good thing in a way to have a 'drill' because we learned what the sirens sound like when you are asleep (cars on a highway) and that Wesley would get blown away in a tornado because he would be too busy hunting down his camera equipment and shoes to get down to the basement in time.

Charleston, Dahlin'

Wesley and I had a marvelous time in Charleston over the weekend. We went without an agenda and had a true "weekend getaway." After a stressful first trimester, we needed the time to just relax and BE together.

On Saturday we walked the lower peninsula, looking at all of the amazing mansions, beautiful old churches, and historic buildings. We also walked along the riverside park and The Battery, which offered views of the bay and Fort Sumter. You can click here to see the photos Wesley took on our trip.

All that walking made me and the baby hungry. We ate every couple of hours. First was brunch at Toast, which was decent and at least filling. Then we had lunch at Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar. I had a Fried Green Tomato BLT, since these days my gut reaction (get it?) is that things from the sea should stay there. Mid-afternoon snack was had at Kaminsky's. It was a great little mahogany bar/coffee house where we shared a baked-apple cheesecake. I had a steamer with Irish cream and caramel. Yum! I found my coffee substitute. Who knew fluffy milk could taste so good? Wesley had a latte that he seemed to enjoy. We had a nice, quiet dinner at Blossom on East Bay Street Saturday night. Our waiter was fantastic. Although, the waiters in Charleston all seem a little pushy and every dish is their favorite dish. It was as if they thought we would walk out if they didn't tell us how Amazing each item on the menu was. Maybe it's like that other places, but I'm used to my waiters being indifferent to what I order.

I enjoyed that Charleston was a pretty place with lots of landscaping and green spaces in the metropolitan area. Asheville's beauty mostly lies outside the city limits and being in Charleston made me wish our downtown was a little more groomed.

One thing I really enjoyed on Saturday was seeing all of the window boxes. I've been wanting to add them to our house and now I have lots of ideas on what to plant and how to make the boxes. They had some really amazing presentations. It was a pleasant surprise to see so much color. Everything is still very wintry here.

Sunday morning we got up early and did a carriage ride tour through the peninsula. Our guide was a history major from the area and did a great job telling us about the beginnings of the city, the battles that took place, and tidbits on some of the homes. I was fascinated to learn that Charleston was once a walled city with a moat. I found it humorous that the 'French Quarter' had nothing to do with being a French neighborhood but was instead the original 'red light district' with bars and brothels because it was a block from the ports.

I found myself comparing Charleston to New Orleans often. They are similar in many ways; both coastal towns with historical significance, a focus on food and socializing, and of course that 'Soouthern feel.' They were different in many ways too, though. Charleston has relegated it's pirates, slaves, and the like, along with their cultural influences to be anecdotes for the tourists and not much more. New Orleans really embraces it's diversity and history in a way that makes the city come alive, I think. Nothing compares to hearing jazz and zydeco on the streets while perusing voodoo dolls and antiques. There was no music on the streets in Charleston. Just the occasional church bells (lots of brides on Saturday).

After the carriage ride we had brunch at High Cotton, a very hip place to be, with lots of rich foods and glasses filled to the brim with bloody mary's and mimosas. Oh, I can't wait to have a mimosa again! The food was rich and tasty. Wesley's huevos rancheros looked amazing. Lucky for him, baby didn't seem to want anything except carbs that morning. I had pancakes.

After brunch we toured The Old Exchange Building. It has a dungeon (or what we highlanders refer to as a basement) that held pirates and patriots at different points in the city's history. It is supposedly haunted, but then again so is every other building in Charleston. Charleston seems to be particularly proud of this building's architecture but I thought there were many houses with much more visual interest. The building was historically significant, though. South Carolina ratified the Constitution there, for one thing.

Our last stop in Charleston was the U.S.S. Yorktown, an carrier ship for the US Air Force. There was also a submarine that we toured. I have to say, it was Not my favorite part of the trip. I don't see how those men do it. The ship was huge and had lots and lots of narrow, ladder-like staircases. It's a good thing I am not any bigger than I am yet. It was neat to get a glimpse of 'life at sea' and I found the medical bay especially interesting, of course. I also really liked going up in the control tower. That seemed to be where all the business happened. The radar room and map room were interesting and I got a kick out of sitting in the captain's chair. It was the only cushioned seat on the whole boat, with the exception of the dentist's chair. Wesley has a funny picture of me sitting on the floor in the map room because I got dizzy after climbing all those stairs all afternoon. Don't worry, I stayed hydrated. Some kind older gentleman came by and was very concerned about me. I thought about telling him "Oh, I'm just pregnant," but was afraid that would make him worry more. I just let it be and eventually got up and went on my merry way.

After a very bumpy four hour ride home- SC roads are terrible- we stopped for a quick dinner at at pizza place here in town. We were there about two minutes when I got slammed with a wave of nausea. Wesley got his pizza to go and we made it back to the car, but not INTO the car. I stood right there, next to the car, in the parking lot of a ritzy 'town center' kind of place and puked my guts up. I mean, epic. I feel terrible for the poor soul who parked in that spot next. Eryn 1, Parking Lot 0.

This morning we had an OB visit. It was just a check up with the Nurse Practitioner. I am not even remotely dehydrated, something I am quite proud of. We got to hear Baby DB's heart beat. It's a healthy 150 beats per minute. Since we were there before the doctors were, the FNP took us to the ultrasound room and we got to take a peek. Baby DB is wiggling around a good bit these days, but was sleepy this morning. We got to see a little dancing but then Baby turned away from us and showed his/her backside. Not a morning person, I guess. It's so awesome to see a healthy little baby and know that I am carrying that child. Even Wesley got a little grin on his face. He has been wonderful about not only coming to my OB visits, but being involved and asking questions. I think it surprises the nurses a little. I'm so proud to have him with me. He is taking very good care of us and I am grateful. He's going to be an amazing, amazing father.

Last week I was walking through the hospital on the way to the cafeteria when I noticed a sticker on the door to a bathroom that I have passed hundreds of times before. It was one of those stickers that lets you know there is a changing table inside. Seeing this made me think that I am going to need to know where all the changing tables in Asheville are.

This somehow clicked on a light bulb of epic proportions. It dawned on me at that moment that I am not only pregnant, not only going to be a consumer of baby-related products, but I am going to be a mother. A Mother! As in: responsible for another human being's safety, well-being, happiness, manners, and of course, any downfalls of personality (it's always the mother's fault, right?). I will be the person this little creature looks to when knees get scraped and hearts get broken. I will love this child unconditionally. My life is now lived for someone else. Needless to say, this hormonal pregnant lady teared up in the hospital hallway.

12 weeks and 1 day

I got my hair cut today. After getting a pretty awful cut right before Christmas it felt good to back to someone I trust (Amy at Beauty Parade) and get a cut I like. My hair has changed since I got pregnant. It's really soft and not really in a good way. It has gotten almost fuzzy and the curl doesn't hold the same way. It's not bad, I'm just having to adjust to having a new head of hair.

In other news, Wesley is almost finished installing our dishwasher and disposal. He and Jared Yates worked from 6pm to 4am last night and this morning. They cut out the cabinet, ran electricity across the house, did the plumbing, and installed the disposal. Wesley has been finishing up the project tonight. I have to say, Wesley looks pretty hot with power tools and plumbers tape in his hands.

We made a last minute decision to go to Charleston this weekend. We found a great condo on vrbo.com and the owner gave us a deal since we were picking up a slot that someone else had canceled. Neither of us have ever been to Charleston. I think it will be quite romantic and I'm looking forward to all the tasty food too.

Speaking of food, I woke up feeling pretty good this morning, didn't take my nausea medicine. I met a friend at the dog park and Wesley brought us 12 Bones bbq (my idea). Bad idea. My gastronomic ambition left me feeling pretty yucky the rest of the day. Back to bland and safe for a while, I guess.

Preggo Jeans

I bought my first pair of preggo jeans last night. They are heavenly. Why did I wait so long to do this? I mean, jeans without buttons that slide right over my pudgy belly? Genius. I also got a really cute maternity t-shirt. I can't wait to step out with my new style. Goodbye pencil thin dresses, hello curve-loving clothes!

Twelve weeks on Monday!

Wheels

I have now gone more than 24 hours without any nausea medicine! This from three pills a day for two months just to keep the nausea at a low swell instead of outright Tummy-Armageddon. As I am three days from my second trimester, I think I might be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel- or is that just my reflection on the porcelain?

Ironically enough, this was possibly the most queasy week I've had. On Monday, I puked up my toes and still managed to make it to work on time. I was a mess, but made it through the day. When I got off work Wesley and I went shopping for our new dishwasher. We were out for about an hour or so and the nausea and tiredness were escalating at warp speed. We purchased an awesome dishwasher (which Wesley and Jared Yates will be so bravely installing- Thank you both!) and headed home.

Then it happened. Two scenarios I had successfully avoided so far, all in one not-so-neat package. Wesley had to witness me puking (not a pretty site At All), and I did it while leaning out of the car on the side of the road. Talk about dignity.

Yesterday I was able to spend several hours at Babies-R-Us. I've started our baby registry. A little preemptive, maybe, but it was a good way for me to get excited about the pregnancy and focus on something other than how tired I feel. The Chicco stroller I picked rates very high with Consumer Reports and is very well reviewed by owners. I'm really excited about it. I played with it for a while and it's light weight, functional, folds easily, and looks nice. I think I might have registered for every kind of receiving blanket they had- I was such a sucker for how cute they are and the thought of my little one being so cozily wrapped in blankets. All together now... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawe.

Oh- one question. Red or green? Answer in the poll to the left. Thanks!