Half Way

Today, Isabel and I are officially halfway through this journey together. The past two weeks have brought many exciting changes. I've started to feel her move inside of me almost daily. She loves to move around once I've eaten dessert (that's my girl!!) and am lounging on the couch.

Not only has she started to move and grow, but I am FINALLY starting to grow as well. While this has been a hard adjustment, I must admit, God has faithfully reminded me that it is all for a greater purpose. I have officially gained weight, which relieved the midwife, and some of my shorts no longer comfortably button. I've employed the Belly Band, and must say, it's worked great. I've also splurged a bit and started buying maternity clothing. What one item of maternity clothing could you not have lived without during your pregnancy? Where did you purchase it?

Here's a "belly" picture for you, taken this morning. Miguel says I look like I'm just arching my back and sticking out my stomach!

Timbuk2

I love Timbuk2 bags; they are versatile, durable, and super cute. (You can even customize your bag with the materials and colors you want.) But, they are also quite pricey. I'd been eyeing up the Cargo Tote for some time, thinking that I'd love to use it as a diaper bag one day. Today, I was returning something at REI in Timonium and wandered by the backpack section. On an end display, they had Timbuk2 Cargo Totes. I of course had to stop and drool a bit. Then I looked at the display. All of the bags were significantly reduced in price, AND they had the exact colors I've wanted!

I now have bought my first "baby" item, and am so tickled with my find. What great finds have you purchased lately?

Aha Use

"Real Simple" magazine has a monthly section listing common household items and their "aha" uses. I think I have my own, and it may just be brilliant!

Item: The Bella Band

Common Use: to hold your barely-too-tight pants and shorts up when you can no longer button them due to a growing pregnant belly.

New Use: For the every-day-woman who fluctuates between 3 pant sizes. The Bella Band will allow you to wear those jeans that are just a tad too tight or those dress pants that are too baggy because you lost a few pounds. No need to continue purchasing new clothing each time you gain or lose a pant size! Use a Bella Band to make your clothing fit your growing and shrinking body.

Am I brilliant or what?! ha

Fruit season

I love berry season, especially when I can pick my own at a local farm. The fruit somehow seems to taste that much better when it's been hand picked! Miguel and I picked 11 pounds of strawberries yesterday, knowing it will be the last of the strawberries for the season. So, in an attempt to use up the berries, I've been incorporating them into every meal!

For lunch today, I had this protein shake:

4 ice cubes
1/2 C. skim milk
1 C. nonfat, plain yogurt
1 Scoop protein powder-I used chocolate (yum!)
A large handful of strawberries (6 large ones)

Blend on high until ice is crushed, and shake is smooth. This is a super healthy, and filling shake. What is your favorite strawberry recipe?

Vacation Pictures

Just a few snippets from our Maine adventure.

Jordan Pond on a foggy, misty afternoon.




























Sand Beach- One of the only sand beaches on the Maine coastline.





















Cadillac Mtn. - We did a short 4 mile hike up to the summit. This was the only sunny, warm day.

It's a....

GIRL!!! Miguel and I were honestly shocked; we both thought this baby was a boy. We laughed, we cried, and now we're just in awe....

I am currently using "stolen" WIFI in front of a little ice cream shop in Bar Harbor, Maine. Once we're home I'll post the amazing 3-d ultrasound pictures. Until then, we'll be enjoying the gorgeous scenery and amazing fact that Isabel Renee (his mom's name) will be joining us in 20 weeks!

Sleepless night

It's summer vacation and I was up at 6:15 am. Why, you might ask? Well, I couldn't sleep last night due to sheer excitement and figured that was a "normal" time to actually get out of bed. I have several reasons for being as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve:

1. We get to find out the gender of our little one today! Pray that the baby cooperates and shows us what we want to see.

2. We leave for Maine late, late, late tonight/tomorrow morning. Other than the intensely long drive, I am beyond excited to get away to New England.

3. Miguel went out yesterday and made a huge purchase. The ZOOM LENS for our Nikon!!! ohmygosh. It's amazing. He is currently doing a large side job and felt that this would probably be one of the few seasons of our life that we could actually afford to buy it without feeling the strain of the money spent.

So, needless to say, I can't wait for this day to really start! I will try to post an update on the baby's gender if we can get wireless access in backwoods Maine. If not, you'll have to live in suspense until the 21st (or talk to a family member or close friend who knows).

Wedding

Pictures from Ken and Cheryl's wedding...I LOVE our new camera and already want the additional zoom lens. =)
















Me and my babe-the best looking one in the wedding party!

















Two Preggos =)


















Kris, Em, and AJ-all dolled up.

ewwwwww

Amazingly, I managed to have my classroom cleaned up, packed up, and ready to go so I could run out at exactly 12:15 today! Part of the process was cleaning out all cabinets and throwing away expired or opened food items (our kids cook once a week). As I was sorting through our spices, I turned the lazy susan and found a block of cheddar cheese. The lazy susan is NOT in the fridge. One of the kids must have been told to put it away...and they did just that...in the cabinet. So as you can imagine, it was mushy, moldy, and a lovely shade of dark gray! Sick. I almost gagged as I threw it in the trash.

Summer Vacation

I officially have .5 days left of school. Am I as bad as my students? I think not...I am worse!!! I am way more excited than they are for the bell to ring tomorrow at 11:44!!!!!!!!

Doctors, Carson and other

Our June book club book is "Gifted Hands," the autobiography of Dr. Ben Carson. First, I must say that Dr. Carson did an excellent job sharing his life's journey-both personally and spiritually. The gospel is essentially laid out within the first three chapters. I loved reading of his struggles to the top and his fight to stay there. However, in sharing his successes, I at times felt that there was pride and boasting that came through. I understand that the man is incredibly talented, and perhaps my perception was due to writing style.

Drs., other. Little Migi and I have now been together 16.5 weeks. He's growing, his heartbeat is strong, and we only have to wait 1.5 weeks to see if I can start calling little Migi -Isabelle or uh, some boy name to be determined. =) Not much else new on the baby front. Still no baby bump (just a not-so-flat stomach any more), though people I know are beginning to touch my belly. Not quite sure how I feel about that yet. I saw this t-shirt in "Fit Pregnancy" and thought it was SO cute. Maybe I should invest if the belly touching gets too invasive!

Check it off the list

Coldplay Concert
When: July 2
Where: Verizon Center, D.C.
Why: Because my little bro ROCKS!

My summer "to-do" list included going to one concert. And I LOVE checking things off that list.

Downee Oshin

I can't even imagine my life without girl friends!! From start to finish, we laughed, gabbed, stayed up way too late, gabbed some more, ate junk food, and then gabbed some more. What more could I have asked for in a weekend away?!

Here are just a few pictures (I didn't have my camera with me, so have to wait for more via e-mail)



















All-You-Can-Eat Crabs at Hoopers. AJ, Sacha, and I probably ate 3 dozen all together!
















Em, enjoying (??!) a little "spa treatment" via Lib's incredible epilation talents.


















Sacha was brave enough to undergo above said treatment, even after watching Em's torture.
















Me, laughing hysterically at Sacha and Em's pain!

Beach

I am getting ready to walk out the door and drive to the beach. I am beyond excited, as I'll get to spend the weekend with 4 of my closest girl friends. I can't wait to relax, soak in some sun, watch chick flicks and just enjoy being together. I'll be sure to post pictures of the birthday bash!

hobby

I posted a while back about my new love of sewing. My sister gave my my granny's machine (seriously from the '70's), and I have managed to begin using it. My first project was a baby quilt, which was incredibly simple and fast to put together. It doesn't look perfect, but for a first try, I am please. I'll post pictures once we get the memory card for our new digital camera. We decided to go with the Nikon D40, because it came highly recommended and we found an incredible deal on Amazon.com.

Now, what else to sew? I plan to make some fun gifts for people and want to attempt an easy sun dress. So if i show up at church looking a little dumpy but proud, you'll know why!!!

Limes to Lemons

Our little one is 14 weeks old!! Time has flow by, and we have so much to be grateful for as we enter the second trimester. The baby is now the size of a lemon, and it's arm length is in proportion to its body. It is beginning to make facial expressions and suck its thumb! On a personal note, the end of the first trimester has meant that my slight nausea has completed disappeared and my energy has returned. I've been to the gym more in the past week and a half than I had been in the previous 10 weeks. Somehow, I actually missed my weekly workouts!? It's been a stress reliever as well as a reestablishing of routines.

Still no "baby bump" but I know that will change soon enough.

Last night Miguel and I went to the Bonefish Grill to celebrate my birthday (early). It was a great time of discussing this new season and looking back on God's goodness to us. Not to mention, we had great food and service. We both have our preference in terms of the baby's gender, but both realize either a boy or a girl will be amazing. We are still without a boy name-so send some of your favorites my way!!

Limes and other edibles

12 weeks...hard to believe we've made it this far already. I pray the coming two trimesters slow down a bit-so I can mentally adjust and prepare to the coming changes. I was weighed today at the doctors; isn't that just the MOST fun thing?! Then the nurse announced I'd lost an entire half of a pound. Was I throwing up? Not eating enough? Changing my diet to purposefully lose weight? For heaven's sakes, didn't they think that perhaps, just perhaps, it could've been due to the fact that I was wearing flipflops today and heavy shoes last month? =) On a more serious note, little Migi is now over 2" long and the size of a lime. We heard the heartbeat again today, and the nurse midwife assured me that the next visit would be easier to find the heartbeat (and see my baby bump, too).

On to other topics. Sacha makes a killer Salsa Verde (It's Judy Phillips' recipe, need I say more?). It's a fresh summer salsa, perfect for get togethers or to have on hand as a snack.

1 lb. Tomatillos (little green tomato looking things with brown husks), husked, scrubbed, and cut in half
1-2 Garlic cloves
1 Jalapeno with half of the seeds (more or less depending on desired fire)
1/2 White Onion, cut into large chunks
Lime Juice
Cilantro to taste

Put half of the tomatillos into a blender, blend until just chunky. Add all other ingredients, blend until desired texture. Add remaining tomatillos, blend again until desired chunkiness.

Camera Advice

Miguel and I have a tradition revolving around b-days and Christmas. If there is a larger item that we want to purchase, we buy it as a joint gift and then don't give each other anything else. (Well, I always ended up getting him a small little something anyway!). For our birthdays this year, we want to invest in a nice digital camera-not just a small pocket sized one. Neither of us are into photography per se, but enjoy taking pictures and want something that will produce good quality shots.

What do you currently own and would you recommend it? What was the price range (if you don't mind sharing)? What extra equipment did you purchase for your camera?

Thanks!!!

Maine and 10 weeks

Miguel and I really wanted to go on vacation this year to somewhere other than Ocean City. New England has always been a favorite location of mine, even before I ever visited. Five-ish years ago, Em Sleeman and I camped throughout the North East, and I fell in love with the area, especially Acadia. This year, Miguel and I decided to head to Bar Harbor, Maine, in mid-June for vacation. We booked our cabin yesterday, and are beginning to make plans for outings, restaurants, and sight seeing. Kate and Kane will be joining us for 8 days of relaxation in gorgeous Bar Harbor. I can't wait to experience Maine as a house dweller and NOT a camper =)

Today also marks 10 weeks of little Migi's life-imagine that-one more week than this time last Friday?! It's hard to imagine that I am almost out of the first trimester and could start showing physical signs of pregnancy within the next few months. The baby now has all major parts developed and is starting to grow fingernails and hair. My little "kumquat" is 1.5" long now.

The Kite Runner

This month's book club book is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I was excited to read the book, given all the past hype and numerous recommendations. I was warned, though, that it would be a "rough" read.

The book traces the fictional life of Amir, a young Afghan, as he grows up during pre-war Afghanistan and later moves to America during war-ravaged times. The book is beautifully written, with imagery that transports the reader to another time and place. I saw Amir as he sat below the pomegranate tree; I saw Amir as he walked the war-torn streets searching for his past; and I saw Amir as he ached for redemption and forgiveness of sins.

The Kite Runner truly was a "rough" read-I cried as the losses mounted, heartaches increased, and difficulties seemed insurmountable. Thought it is a work of fiction, the tale is rooted in the history of a violent civil war. You cannot help but thank God that our experiences of daily life have been vastly different. The Kite Runner is well worth your investment of time and emotions.

P.S.-I hear the movie adaptation is not a great representation of the book and is not worth the $4 to rent it.