I promise to do this list every year – starting before you’re born – of your every quirk and habit and every funny story about you. I don’t want to forget about how you made me feel while I had you in my belly, and how happy you made me (will make me) after we finally meet.  We can re-read this together when you’re older and I’ll remember more stories about you – I’m going to even venture to ask your dad to do his own list. We’ll see how he does, you know he’s lazy to write things – however he’s not aware of what an amazing writer he is. He has a little notebook where he wrote his every thought of Peru during his first visit. He’ll let you read it some time and you’ll feel just as proud as I do.

• I didn’t get sick at all during my whole pregnancy, thank you!
• You grew so slowly, it seemed to me. Up until my 6th month I didn’t show almost at all.
• Finally, my belly popped during month 8th.
• By week 34 you dropped a little. My belly looked way lower!
• On Sunday November 1 – during week 36 – you completely changed your position: I woke up and belly was up very high and I thought you were breech. You had me all day doing squats and sitting on all fours bouncing my pelvis up and down, back and forth.  By the end of the day, nothing had changed. I was so frustrated and worried you weren’t going to go lower again. When I woke up the next morning to go to work, you were low again! Different position than before but definitely lower.  I could feel your butt sticking out behind my belly button! (You still are by now, week 37)
• One of my ex-pregnant friends (gave birth a couple of months ago) asked me if you were kicking me on the sides yet. I said no. Two hours later, you started the habit of kicking me on my left side. I guess you speak English already and you thought to yourself  ‘What a great idea! I’ll start kicking now!’ That is your favorite side to kick and lay down. If I lay down on my left side, you completely roll over that side and it feels so heavy it almost hurts. Now I have to lay down on my right side more often.
• During my last quick ultrasound I was told my placenta was on my right side. That I guess makes sense – you have more room to lay down, kick and roll over on the left side than on the right side.
• You don’t always respond to my kicks – you respond more to slaps. I slap my belly until it’s red just to see you move. It’s so amazing.
• You can be moving a lot for 30 minutes straight, and as soon as I ask your daddy to put his hand on my belly and feel you move, you stop. I don’t know if that’s good or bad – I guess he soothes you and makes you relax but… maybe his feelings get hurt because you don’t want to kick for him?
• You haven’t given me any stretch marks (yet)!
• I always wonder if you look more like daddy or more like me. Or a mix of both? Blue eyes, black hair and darker skin? Lighter skin, brown eyes and brown hair? Tall or short? Chubby or long and skinny? I just care if you’re healthy but I hope you look like a little bit of both… don’t go too blue-eyed and blond on me!
• I’m getting lots of contractions lately (Braxton-Hicks ones) and it really hurts! Everytime I get a hard one, I wonder if this is it. Then I wonder how will I know if that’s it or not, and when I ask a mom about it they all say ‘Oh honey, you WILL know’. It’s starting to piss me off! Even books say ‘ If you’re not sure if this is it or not (a.k.a. labor), then it’s probably not IT’. Jeez.
• Your dad and I are so into monkeys. Stuffed monkeys, monkey blankies, clothes that say ‘mama’s little monkey’. Even dad calls you little monkey man!. I hope you like monkeys too.  — If not, sorry for monkeing you around!
• I’m hungry all the time. I haven’t been too healthy with food, I guess I just eat normal, some chocolates here and there. I hope I’m not making you super fat on candies! And I certainly hope you like veggies, at least more than I do!
• Your big sister, Penny, I don’t think she knows (or cares) much about the big change coming up. She’s been extra needy, yes, but she hasn’t minded her crate being moved, or not being allowed up to our bed. She does love smelling all the new things we buy, things we get has hand-me-downs, and things we get as presents. She takes her time to smell every little bit of everything. Your car seat is sitting on our living room and your hand-me-down bouncer seat was here too, and she spent hours smelling them. She even licked them a few times. I think she’s going to love sniffing you too. You’re going to have to be very patient with her. She’s a good puppy, but very needy and clingy – remember she’s our first (very spoiled) kid!

(Updated Nov 26, 2009 – DUE DATE!)

I’m trying to remember more things that have happened during this pregnancy, Jeremy and I have been thinking hard about it! Lets see…

• I’m so sick of people saying ‘Are you still pregnant?’ YES I AM! And it’s not even my due date yet, so calm down!
• There were only a few things that would gross me out and that I would normally not mind at all (or would normally enjoy): peaches, peach yogurt, peach juice and anything peachy (don’t know why, just the thought of it would make me nauseous), and stir fry (ewwww!!!).
• I had gained 12 pounds up until a month ago. During this last month I have gained a total of 25 pounds… what is wrong with me??? 13 pounds in a month?? Since he dropped (got lower on my belly, into position) I have had more room in my stomach so I guess I have just been eating without guilt. I know I’m pregnant and it’s ok to gain weight and all, but in a month what I didn’t do in 8 months? That’s crazy.
• I left work earlier last Friday Nov 19 with harder contractions. Everyone including myself were so excited. Then I had a painful afternoon and evening and went to bed because the contractions weren’t ‘hard’ enough. When I woke up, they were gone. I have had the same kind of afternoon over and over again since that day. They get harder and harder and then they go away. It sucks.
• I’m terrified of pooping during delivery. I have heard all those bad stories and I have been trying to eat less now that I’m close. Unfortunately, trying doesn’t mean achieving – I have been eating the same, but with a lot of guilt! Now that we’re having thanksgiving dinner tonight I’m even more worried!!! I don’t want to poop for the cameras!!!
• Today is my due date and I can’t wait to have this baby out! I feel so heavy and fat, if I sleep laying flat on bed I choke, if I sleep on my sides my belly falls on that side and it hurts, if I sleep on my back at some point it starts hurting (plus baby moves a lot more). I have to sleep propped up with lots of pillows and spooning my body pillow. I’m used to it by now, but I definitely miss sleeping on my belly!
• PLEASE BABY COME SOON!

I got together with the in-laws last Saturday. I had insisted on having a boys & girls shower so Jeremy can be part of it. After all, this baby wouldn’t exist without him and why shouldn’t he enjoy the fun part of it? I think opening presents and being the center of attention needs to be shared with the guys too, even more if they’re so awesome like he is.

We had games, and winners and losers (we lost all the games but who’s counting? Plus, we still got prizes, HA!) and lots of food and good company. It is really so endearing to me to watch my husband looking at baby stuff and having that excited look on his face – no fear, no nerves, no bad feelings. I can almost read his thoughts and visualize what he’s visualizing: a little minime and minihim wrapped up in that homemade blankie, dressed in that super cute onesie, playing with those adorable toys. A little person looking at him and holding his finger very tightly, like if there’s no one else in this world that can keep him protected and safe. The very thought just brings tears to my eyes. He’s already such a great dad and he doesn’t even know it. I’m so proud of him.

We shared dinner and just hung out, like a big loving family we are. I really didn’t want all the attention on me, I just wanted another family gathering with kids playing around and laughs and food, and this was all I had hoped for. We didn’t stayed too late – which I had hoped for as well – and we had time to go home and look at our little baby things again, organize them and record some videos for my mom to see. She has been so excited as things get closer. She’s also sad about not being here with me, but really there’s nothing we can do. We have come to accept that we won’t be together to welcome the first born, but we will for the next one. And hopefully she’ll be here for my little boy’s first birthday!

I also had my last baby shower with my work friends on Thursday. Of course, guess who was late to the shower?

ME.

Uh – huh. It was only for 10 minutes and I really thought it wasn’t that late but it was. Everybody was already there and everything started moving right after I dropped my purse and took my coat off. We were rushed to the living room after a little mingling because everyone was so excited about opening presents. I sat on my special bowed chair and we started the adventure. I got so many cute and useful stuff! Believe it or not, I still don’t have diapers at all. I only have a few diapers size 2 that came on my diaper cake from my first baby shower. On this shower, I got 100 size 1 diapers! I probably (a.k.a. obviously) still need to buy more but at least not right away.

Everybody had fun, even more after coming up with the blue rule: everybody drinks when I receive something blue. If they hadn’t mixed up a sip of the alcoholic drink with a sip of water, I’m sure they wouldn’t have made it to the last present. It got louder and louder toward the end.

BLUE! DRINK UP!

Another good part of the night was when I got a bottle of wine as a present. They made me pose with the bottle on my mouth and holding my belly.

The pic is a little blurry but I think you get it

We’ll finally be getting our crib next weekend… so excited about that! After that, it’s all about waiting. I’m on week 36 this week, and it seems so far away ad at the same time so close.

I just want to meet him right now!

Since day 1, after looking at my positive pregnancy test, it’s all been different. Good different.

I had to change my eating habits, mainly not eating sushi, deli meats, hot dogs, brie cheese and wine. All my favorites. That has been the hardest part of my pregnancy (really). Of course, I have cheated: I have eaten some sushi, very cooked hot dogs and had some hot chocolate with irish cream. I think it’s all about quantity, as long as you don’t overdo it, it’s all good.

The first months was all about why am I not showing yet but still feel so bloated. I was a little nauseous sometimes, mostly in the evenings, but nothing crazy. I’m very proud to say I have not gotten sick ONCE. Yep, I have not thrown up at all and I feel very blessed. This baby has been easy on me until now that I’m starting to feel the extra weight as belly keeps growing. Oh well, it’s normal and I have way worse things that I have been lucky not to have, like back pain, bad constipation, sickness, not sleeping, not getting comfortable, etc etc.

June 6 - 15 weeks

June 6 - 15 weeks

The first three months went by slow, or so I remember. I couldn’t wait to tell everyone about it and hated to wait. I did tell my boss (pretty much best friend and confidant) at work as soon as I found out. Every website out there says you should tell your boss last but I guess they haven’t met MY boss

I told my mom on Mother’s day. It was hard not to be able to tell her before, in case something goes wrong, but the wait was worth it. Everyone back home was so happy and I was able to see all their faces thru my webcam. It was a very special moment. After that, it was such a relief to tell everyone, not that I yelled it from the rooftop but I did tell all my close friends.

I grew my belly reaaaally slowly. I actually had someone just last week – someone that I see almost everyday – congratulate me because she had just found out I’m pregnant. Really?! I thought my belly was big enough, but I guess I could be bigger. I still have no complaints about it, I think I’m growing just enough and I haven’t gained all the weight I expected to gain (since I can gain weight by just drinking water).  My belly started showing at about 6 months. I could still fit on my regular pants (still can, with the zipper down) and regular shirts, but I started browsing maternity stores then. They’re so expensive!

August 24 - 27 weeks

August 24 - 27 weeks

My belly button is pretty much flat by now. The belly piercing I took out when I was 4 months and now it’s so stretched and sore. I keep feeling the skin is just going to tear, even though everybody says it won’t.  It hurts when baby moves behind it!

I have had one baby shower so far, organized by my best friends. It was exclusively with my Southamerican friends and we had so much fun! Plus it’s nice to be able to speak Spanish to each other, everytime we get together there’s at least one English speaker and we feel bad excluding that one person so we have to speak in English. This time was specially nice, we had missed speaking only in Spanish. We’re starting to forget it!

I have two more showers coming up (yay!), one from my mother and sister in law and one from my  friends from work. Time keeps going by SO FAST. I always thought time will drag and the 9 months will never end, but now that I’m 6 weeks away, I look back and cant’ see where time has gone. After my last shower I will be pretty much due anytime. It’s a little nervewracking and scary, even more considering that this baby was completely planned and expected.

This post has become longer than I anticipated and it’s past midnight already! I did miss blogging. I’ll have to be back soon for more updates. Did I mention I’m into quilting right now? Well, I guess as of this weekend. I did two quilts in two days! I’ll take pics and post them tomorrow (or some time soon).

Off to bed now, baby is kicking too much just because I’m still up. Or maybe he stays awake and I just fall asleep quickly and become unaware of his kicks. Either way, mom is tired and is going to sleep. Hopefully you’ll fall asleep soon, little one.

A DAY.

That’s just amazing!

Anyway, now I have realized that in actuality, I’m letting the best time of my life pass me by without recording it all in here. I’m pregnant and enjoying every single minute of it and there will be no records of it. NOTHING. Only my memories.

Then it hit me.

I’m supposed to blog for myself and should only expect me as my audience. I know there are more people out there who read me – or used to – and I am so grateful to you, because all your comments were so welcomed and appreciated. I don’t even know why you would read me, but I really enjoyed being part of your day and, at the same time, having you as part of my everyday life, laughing with your adventures, and being sad on your bad moments. I took blogging as more of a way to socialize with really talented bloggers and learn from them. Now I’m going to try to take it as how it all started: writing for myself, hoping that in the future I can come back and re-read me and laugh at my funny stories, cry with my sad stories, remember how I used to think and see how much I have changed (or not changed).

I will do my best to keep up with reading everyone else but I don’t think my life will get any easier or simpler now that I’m 6 weeks away of meeting the second love of my life: my little baby boy (no name yet).

In the meantime, if you do read me, I hope you enjoy my few silly stories. I know someday I will.

Things that HAVE changed:

* FLASH NEWS! Did I mention that I’m pregnant? WELL I AM!! I will be 4 months preggo next week… yay! I still don’t feel completely comfortable telling the world – no facebook/twitter/similars for sure! – I think it’s because it’s hard to believe right now when I’m not showing yet, I’m still in that ‘fat girl’ state where people see me as a little chubbier and not all of them know I’m pregnant. It sucks, because nothing fits me right, but I’m not ‘fat’ enough to wear maternity clothes. I’m stuck in between. Oh well, it will come soon enough I hope. And no, I still don’t know what I’m having – but YES, I will definitely find out. I don’t understand why people don’t want to find out, I still respect it but I don’t get it. I have some shopping to do and only 4 months after that! That’s so little time.

* I’m going to San Francisco next week! Wheee!!! Way excited about that, every time I leave town I get excited, even if it’s just to Salt Lake City (no, that was a lie, I do not like Salt Lake, ew). Correcting: I love every time I get out of town ON A PLANE. We’ll be there from the 9th thru the 14th and I’m hoping to do a lot of walking and a lot of photographing. Finally I’m going to start using my SLR camera!

* I have to renew my green card this year. And paperwork needs to be sent in two weeks. I’m excited about that too, because a year after that I could apply for citizenship and my mom will finally be able to come and visit me. Even more now with a grandkid on the way!

* I have more aches and pains. Not very often, but they exist. My back hurts, my uterus hurts (from growing and hanging – it cramps when I stand up too fast! It’s the ligaments holding the uterus, I guess it bounces/stretches faster if I stand up too fast… it’s kind of a funny feeling!).

* Days go by so slow if you look at it day by day but so fast if you look at it month by month! Soon enough, my little baby will be here… like for Thanksgiving, it will probably be born by then! (I hope so anyway, even though my due date is Nov 26, I hope it’s born before so I don’t miss Thanksgiving dinner! Yum!)

* I’m going to celebrate Mother’s/Father’s day next year! J did give me a little something for mother’s day and I’m planning on doing the same for him on that Sunday. I think we have begun on the parenthood thing already, I mean, I had to change my eating/drinking habits, my sleeping time, my sleeping positions, read a whole lot more and give up my beloved sushi and wine. And J, well, he has to put up with me and at the same time encourage me to be good. Plus we’ve been doing SO much reading… we have like 4 books about pregnancy (and counting) and he’s so good to me. He cooks healthy food for me and massages my back when it hurts. Maybe I should do another post about that, of all the things he does for me and why he’s already a good daddy. Oooooh! I’ll do it for Father’s day! Gosh, I’m so creative, I can’t get over myself.

* One of my very best friends is pregnant too! And she’s two weeks behind me… I think I’m having a girl and she thinks she’s having a boy. We have already decided they will be together, get married and have little kids. It’s going to be so perfect! She lives in California, so I hope we get together when our tummies start getting bigger and take some cute pics. It’s so exciting, we can talk about it all day and that way, we don’t make our other friends bored. It works perfectly!

I just realized pretty much everything on this list is pregnancy/baby-related. I hope I don’t become one of those moms-to-be that only talks about babies 24/7.  Please spank me if I do! Even if I’m pregnant I still have a life (or should have one anyways) So I should start thinking about other things to blog about. I know I have some topics but I can’t think of them right now, I’m in baby mode, geez.

I have tried to keep up with my favorite blogs, but if I miss something big, would you remind me? I think everybody is ok and with the normal ups and downs of life, right? I hope everyone is healthy, with a job, and happy.

Will be blogging again after my trip to San Fran! (hopefully sooner )

Happy Wednesday!

Not sure if I’ll be posting everyday as I used to but it’s good to have some time to blog. I have had a pretty interesting life lately, full of little details and mostly happy things so this post ended up being super long – I know I know. You’re not ready to read too much on a Tuesday are you? For your own sake, I’m cutting this post in two parts, so you don’t fall asleep by your computer.

See? I’m still nice!

Shall we begin?

Things that have NOT changed:

* I still have a job. That’s always good right? Except that we have been extra busy, our company is expanding and we have had more paperwork to do… more people to deal with, and I haven’t been as patient as I used to be. Well, I guess I have never been too patient, so go figure.

* I’m still married. My poor hubby has been very nice to me, even though I have been the bitchiest bitch in the world. He’s been patient, he’s listened to my venting, my bitching, my yelling and my complaining about random things like work, traffic, food, tummy aches, etc. Gosh, I would not marry myself if I were him, seriously. I can’t comprehend her vast and unlimited supply of patience… I’m a lucky wifey.

* I still have friends. I haven’t been hanging out with my girlies for a while, everyone has been on vacation or working super hard. I miss them very much and still talk with them on the phone, but still. It’s not the same if we don’t get together for the gossiping catching up.

* I still love my iPhone. And each day I love it even more. Next to my 401k, it’s one of the best investments I have made last year. Just to mention a few of my newly added applications are Slacker Radio, GoSkyWatch (expensive but worth it), Live Poker (also an app on Facebook!), Penguin, my adored Bejeweled, DoodleJump, FlickFishing and of course, Bookworm. This last one you HAVE to get it if you own an iPhone. It’s just completely addicting.

* I still want to go home (Peru) but I still can’t afford it. Yep. That’s the saddest truth. Makes me so sad I don’t even want to think about it.

* I’m still healthy! Hey, I can’t complain too much as long as I’m healthy, right? And I have one strong inmmunity system. I think it’s all that expired crap I eat. I’m immune to crap because it’s part of me he he What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!

* I still love my boss. I’m one of those rare people that completely hits it off with their bosses. Now even more after she left me to take a 10-day vacation last month and I thought it was my end. I always vent /bitch with her and when I go home I’m sane and normal. But when she was gone I was a mess. I would go home and talk about work ALL FREAKING DAY. Poor J had to stop me at some point because we would only talk about drama at work. The next minute I realized that I really missed her and how much she means to me. I cried a little and hoped she doesn’t like Hawaii too much and decides to stay there. She did come back and I’m back to normal mood now!

* Penny is still the best puppy ever. She has learned new tricks, I’m such a proud mama. I’m still trying to teach her to wipe her paws on the mat but she doesn’t get it. If you have tried and and have any tips, do tell me. The one thing that I hate from her is that she still barks when someone rings my bell or knocks at my door and she still gets super defensive when other dogs come around to smell her. She automatically thinks they’re attacking or something because she starts growling really quietly. I’ve learned to read her signs like the hair behind her neck starting to spike up, or she staring at the other dog’s eyes without moving. After I see that I just pull her away because the next thing that could happen is that she could start barking or even snap at the other poor doggie and scare it. I don’t know what else to do, I think it’s hopeless.

* I still don’t own a house. Just a little one bedroom condo. It’s ok for now but I wish I could afford a house with a nice yard. Maybe if I move out of Park City I could afford a nice 5 bedroom house in a little town in Texas or Minessotta or somewhere in the middle of nowhere where real estate is cheaper. But then again, I wouldn’t have this job that allows me to afford my little –way too expensive – condo. It’s a dead end. Sigh.

* I still haven’t mailed out my Pay It Forwards. I SUCK, I’m so sorry, I have been slacking so bad. I do hope that they will be going out soon. (didn’t  I say that last time? Gosh. I really suck at excuses too.)

My second part will be coming tomorrow!

I have missed you guys

I am alive, just with no motivation whatsoever to get back to the blooging world in a regular basis.

Work is busy.

Life is complicated and full of little details that I ignore / overanalyze and then regret that I ignored them / overanalyzed them too much.

Just to confirm it one more time, some ‘friends’ are there just to use you and there’s nothing you do / didn’t do to deserve it. It’s just the way it goes. However that makes me appreciate my real friends way more.

Love is blind, deaf and stupid. That’s the only way I can explain that J is still sticking around. I’m not being extra ‘special’ this days, but I sometimes wonder when is he going to get tired of his bitchy, bossy, moody wifey. Sigh.

Money sucks. Whoever invented it, please know I FREAKING HATE YOU. I would have been fine with the trading of goods.

Family is very missed. Even more when I’m sick (I’m not but I was, had sore throat). I hope I get to visit them this year… we’ll see how it goes (‘it’: aka money).

Hope all my very missed bloggy friends are doing great!

Thanks to everyone for all the comments! The three girls I’m going to Pay It Forward are:

Sleepy Jane

Libby

Rachie

I’ll be needing your mailing addresses so I can send my little gifts (hopefully) this week, just email me at melissavanilla at gmail dot com  – I still don’t know what to get but I’ll work something out any ideas?

I also googled ‘Pay it Forward’ to see if I could find a cool picture for this post and I found the one above and an icon that I borrowed from this blog:

Isn’t it so pretty? I think we could put it in our blogs as a symbol that we were part of this played along, you should grab it, Ria!

=========================

BTW, I’ll be off work tomorrow because… IT’S OUR SECOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! J and I would be hanging out – still not sure doing what – all day and I might not post anything but I’ll be catching up with my Reader later!

Happy Monday

She was so shy when she was little. The day we adopted her she wouldn’t even come closer to us. Poor thing, I think she was just handled by little kids (like 3 year-olds) and she didn’t enjoy being lifted up. She used to whine every night (for at least the first week) in her crate. We chose to do the crate training and I personally think it is awesome. It did break my heart to hear her cry every night and I just wanted to put her in bed with us and cuddle with her but we knew it needed to be done, otherwise she would be even more spoiled than she is now.

She loves snow and fetching, but more than anything else, she loves her frisbee. She would play with it for hours until she has a heart attack or something. She likes to stand by the door when she needs to potty. She learned to sit and lay down before she was 6 months old. She learned how to shake and high five before she was 8 months old. She learned to roll over a month later. We run out of tricks to teach her by then! Such a smartypants. We also taught her to play dead, speak, talk and dance. Then we did the put-the-treat-on-the-nose trick, and I started wondering if I teach her commands with Spanish words… would she still get it? Well, she does. I taught her ‘agua’ (water) and she knows I mean go drink some water. It’s so amazing to realize how smart a dog can be. A dog or any trained animal, she just doesn’t stop amazing me. I’m such a proud mama

Her first birthay, Feb 26, 2008

I think she has stopped growing now (phew!) and has calmed down a lot, although she still has a lot of puppy energy left (dang it).

Thanks for putting up with me while I make you do silly things!

You’re such a good girl, Penny! Mommy and Daddy love you very much and our lives wouldn’t be the same without you, even after you peed on my bed at midnight, even if you chewed and ate most of my chapsticks, even if you growl at me when I get near your favorite bone. I still love you.

Now that I’m back I went to check my stats at StatCounter. I still have my older Blogger blog included so I went to check out how my keyword analysis was lately. Here’s a few interesting things (oh my, how do i love bullets):

• Most searched (and found): Peru’s dos and don’ts
• Funniest: How many continents are there in Peru
  
• ‘What?!’: Body worlds embryos how did they get them 4 weeks – yea, good question. Good luck with that one!
• Second place for ‘What?’: Butt dust to get high
  
• Most random: Somebody that doesn’t like kisses

I can’t imagine what I would find if Statcounter had access to my statistics on WP…

Have you found anything weird on your stats lately? Any other stats and visitor reporting program as good as StatCounter or better out there?