10. A few awesome meetings for IAB. There are some really great things to come.

9. Officially hiring Nicolette Bond as the International Art of Bowling’s new online marketing developer.

8. Landing a GREAT web designer off craigslist. Thanks Ille Sutt for building this amazing website and blog.

7. It’s Elvis week at Gymboree. Enough Said.

6. Anticipating not only the best day of the week, (Sunday) but also one of the most important days of the year. (John’s birthday is Sunday, September 11!)

5. Enjoying another full week with my wonderful In-Laws.

4. Feeling the first real feeling of Fall 2011.

3. Jazz Fest at Grand Park.

2. An awesome wedding (Michele Wayman aka SuperFantastic photographer: Check out michelewaymanphotography.com) and by awesome I mean, uh- it rocked. See photo above.

1. Madden started dancing. It might be the cutest thing I have ever seen. As soon as he hears music, he starts bouncing.

More photos from this week that made me happy:

Today, I felt compelled to blog about something that I feel very passionately about. Following Through.  To get in the mood: Listen to what Gavin DeGraw has to say. Unfortunately, the last few years have been filled with individuals that say one thing, and do something else.  Nothing disappoints me more. My take on it is, do not over promise and under deliver. Be honest in your intentions, and if you, for some reason absolutely cannot follow through- come clean about it. Admit it. Be accountable.

I promised to be true to my blogging. I’m not a complainer. I’m such a crazy optimist. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t get disappointed. And, I’m telling you- there is no bigger disappointment than to expect something, and receive something else. It’s hard for me to handle. It breaks my heart. It’s distracting. So, I do my best to live with this in mind: Keep Your Word. Follow Through. And, if for some reason you cannot: own up to it.

What is your Friday Lesson?

And so it begins… another hat to wear. Although I have 3383 things to juggle, I will make blogging a priority—so long as I know I have readers and support. (So, that means you should write any and all comments you have about anything at all!) I plan to create a blog schedule so I have specific time during the week that I devote to blogging.  I am all about schedules and if I have one, I will stick to it.  I’m very much a “all or nothing” type of girl.  Ask my trainer.

I want this blog to be a lot of things.  I want it to be entertaining and funny. I want this blog to be honest and inspiring.  I want to use this gateway into the virtual world that keeps us all connected.  I plan to blog about many things that steal my heart.  These passions include but are not limited to: My family. Chicago. Fashion. Eating. (I may even be able to convince Chef John to make a special appearance) Coaching. Photography. Writing.

So yeah, you will read a lot about my son, Madden, as I have successfully documented his first year of life.  If you get Maddened out, skip those posts. Because I won’t stop writing them.

I want to know what my readers want to know. Please contact me at diandraasbaty@hotmail.com to tell me! Or, post a comment under this post.  I promise to read each and every one of them.

Here’s to a long and fun filled journey ahead.  One full of inspiration, headaches, laughing, and revelations. Here’s to my new journey. This blog.

Turns out it was amniotic fluid and as I wasn’t in labor, my doctor felt that it was essential she make sure the baby was delivered within a certain time frame. She was very concerned that me, or baby would get an infection. I guess I never realized how dangerous this “infection” could be. I was thinking, cold.. or something minor.  She was talking mental retardation, and disease threatening infection. That scared me.  I asked my doctor if I could wait a little longer to see if I would go into labor on my own (i felt like I was really close!) and although she was resistant.. she allowed me to wait over night.

At 10pm, I went into labor on my own. I was sooo excited to labor all night long hoping that by the time I was checked again, I would be far enough along.  I started my own contractions at 10pm, and at 8am my doctor called the hospital to check me.  I was 3cm. She didn’t feel I was progressing quick enough and because of the risk of infection, really felt like we needed to get the baby delivered as soon as possible. So, she suggested pitocin. Again, not in our plans, but we knew going in that we were going to be open minded and things may not go exactly as planned.  We felt that pitocin was the best option as we didn’t want the risk of infection to increase.

And so… I got pitocin. One of the best things I did was request a saline lock instead of a normal IV. Didn’t seem like they did this very much ( I have no idea why!) Because, as soon as I got to the hospital the night before I had to have the antibiotics (for the possible infection) I was able to walk around without the IV in me when I didn’t have the antibodies, which meant I was able to shower before the pitocin started since I could disconnect.  One of the best decisions we made at the hospital. I felt the most comfortable not hooked up to anything during the night I was laboring on my own. (needless to say)

The pitocin contractions were very strong, and very close together. I really stayed focused and remembered that every contraction I knew I was closer and closer to seeing our little guy. It wasn’t easy.. and after 2 hours of the pitocin, they checked me. I was only 4cm along. I did feel frustrated because I felt like I had already endured so much that I wasn’t sure if I could continue at the pace I was going without anything to help me through the pain. I did go through the “I don’t think I can do this.. I need something to help me.” around hour 15. They said they could get me the epidural but that would take an hour. I realllllly didn’t want the epidural. But, I wasn’t sure if I could last considering I was going on 40 hours of NO sleep, and they really wouldn’t allow me to eat much during the day in case I needed a C section. I was tired, and it hurt.  A lot. I did a lot of my laboring on a birthing ball.

They said the other option was stadol which would be temporary relief, and would allow me to at least rest and get some energy. It would last an hour and a half. They said that if I did receive it, I had to stay in bed through the contractions, which I was fine with. They say they gave me the stadol through the IV.. Uh, I didn’t feel any different. I even thought that maybe they just SAID they gave it to me, and really didn’t.  I literally felt every contraction, and was very aware of everything. but, after I did receive it, it seemed like things sped up a bit.  FInally, at 5pm I felt the urge to push and was dialated 10cm.

I pushed this guy out for 3 hours. I felt every moment. And, I would do everything all over again the same way. (Except I would prefer my bag wouldn’t break so I could labor on my own and handle the contractions better) I pushed for about an hour and a half and felt my eyes become very very swollen. They kept saying “push as hard as you can.”  And so.. I did.. And after everything was over you could tell I did.

With the help of my doula, John, and my sister.. I have a really wonderful birthing story. They could not have been more helpful… John was amazing. I am sure it’s so hard to see someone you love so much go through so much pain and not be able to offer any comfort. He did everything I knew he would. Nurses actually came into the room and commented on how they have never seen a more supportive husband. He did everything for me that I knew he would. The Bradley Method and Hypnobirthing classes that John and I took helped a great deal. I was able to stay focused on managing the pain, and breathing through the contractions. It was, by far, the hardest thing I have ever done.

I delivered at Community Hospital in Indiana, and could not be happier with the nurses there or my doctor. No one pressured us into any pain medication. Everyone read our birth plan. We feel so fortunate to have the great experience we did. As soon as I delivered him, he was laid right on my chest.  He immediately picked his head up (strong baby!) and looked me in the eyes. Thanks to Kassy, we captured this moment on video and will always be one of the most meaningful videos I will ever see.  To be able to capture his first cry, his first glance…  I can’t even put into words what reliving that moment means to me. As soon as we had our bonding time, for about an hour, John and Madden were taken to the nursery for a sponge bath and weigh in. We were VERY surprised to hear that he weighed 9lbs, 2oz and was 23inches long. We had NO idea I was carrying such a big baby.  I don’t feel that I really got that big, so to see how big he was after I delivered him- was a complete shock. And another complete shock was how much hair he had! Holy Moly. He never really looked like an infant.. In fact, when we were in the hospital, when the nurses brought him to our room, they said, “here’s your toddler.”

I can’t describe the excitement I felt the first night in the hospital. After everyone left the Postpartum Room I was in, Madden was brought to us from the nursery. This is when John changed his very first diaper EVER! I, of course got a few photos of this special occasion. After hanging out with my new little family, we decided to get rest. We weren’t allowed to keep Madden in our room unless one of us was awake. So, we decided to return him to the nursery so John and I could get a few hours of sleep. We hadn’t slept in almost 2 days! One of the moments that I will never forget is when they brought Madden to me during the night to feed.  As soon as I heard the door open, and heard the wheels on his little bassinet rolling in, I immediately got so excited.  I remember thinking, That’s my baby coming to see me! As the nurse said, “Here’s Mr. Madden for you.” I could feel small tears well up in my eyes.

Yes, I had incredibly swollen eyes from pushing (I looked like I got into a bad street fight) and yes, I had blood vessels in my eyes that didn’t heal for 2 weeks. Yes, I couldn’t move around too quickly the two days after (he was 9lbs!!) but I wouldn’t change any of it. A week later, and I felt really, really great. I even found a way to put on a pair of jeans! Madden is doing awesome… and I can honestly say it was the most incredible thing I’ve ever done in my life… with nothing even close. We can’t stop staring at him.

Two days later, the hospital gave us the OK to go home with the stipulation that we would visit our pediatrician the next day to keep track of his jaundice level. John drove about 14mph home, and I couldn’t bring myself to ride in the front seat with him. So, I sat in back with Mads. He slept all the way home. When we arrived home, Kassy and my Dad were waiting for us. They had decorated our car with “It’s a boy” stickers, and spent some time putting up “It’s a boy” decorations in my house.  When we arrived at our doorstep, there was a stork with all of Madden’s details on it. Thanks Kassy!

How has life been since August 27th?

Amazing. Although I don’t sleep for more than 4 hours at one time. (well, one night he let me sleep 5.. Thanks Mads!) And, It’s much harder to get things done during my day, I already cannot imagine my life without him. When he’s crying in the middle of the night because he’s hungry and I go to his crib and pick him up- he immediately stops crying.  There is something so satisfying about that.  To be the comfort that this little person needs to feel better.  To give them reassurance and make them feel that everything will be ok- It’s such a powerful thing. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.

I’ve always said that being a mother has always been my biggest goal in life. I can honestly say it’s even better than I expected. He just started smiling at me.. (non gas smiles) and is becoming more comfortable in his own skin. I know a few things for sure: I will raise him to be so proud of who he is.  I will allow him to be whatever he dreams of being, and will do everything I can to help him reach his dreams. Just as my parents did for me.

The Art of Bowling Goes Global

Chicago, Illinois (September 24, 2010) Traditional bowling lessons are a thing of the past. The International Art of Bowling (IAB) is a brand new experience unlike any other.

USBC Gold Level Certified Coach Ron Hoppe along with Silver Level Certified Coaches Jason Belmonte and Diandra Asbaty recently founded the IAB with intentions of bringing to light the importance of building a bowling lifestyle to each player looking to take their game to the next level.

Asbaty says the IAB’s philosophy centers around the idea that bowling must be seen artistically to be fully understood. “The sport of bowling is very visual. There is a heavy artistic element to the game and we want to bring that out with each bowler. We want them to look at bowling not just analytically, but also artistically. We want to help them develop their canvas and get their ball to paint the most ideal picture.”

Hoppe, Belmonte and Asbaty each bring three very different perspectives to the IAB. “Each member of the IAB staff has a unique expert quality,” said Belmonte, “so no student will hear the same voice for hours on end.”

A well-respected name in the coaching industry, Hoppe has an impressive list of coaching credentials. Including experience coaching several national teams and founding the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association (IBPSIA). Hoppe’s ability to visualize and convey the game to bowlers is extraordinary and unparalleled.

Now that he has revolutionized bowling with his unique two-handed style, Belmonte brings to the table extensive knowledge to not only coach the two-handed style, which is growing in popularity, but also on lane play as he has traveled across the world to bowl for the past 10 years.

Besides being one of the top female bowlers in the world, Asbaty’s glowing personality and understanding of both the physical game and ball motion bring an extra special dynamic to the IAB staff. “Diandra is especially great with women and children,” said Hoppe, “both Jason and Diandra bring a wealth of knowledge to IAB. Their understanding of the youth movement in bowling is incredible.”

What sets IAB apart is the material and structure of each clinic. In addition to on-lane coaching and in-classroom sessions, IAB will provide a nutritionist and personal trainer to discuss the importance of proper nutrition and strength conditioning to further develop one’s bowling game.

Welcoming bowlers of all skill levels, a unique option through the IAB is to customize each session. “Over the years, I’ve kept track of the questions I get asked by bowlers who want to learn more,” says Hoppe, “we’ve developed this series of Bootcamp clinics to answers those questions.” Asbaty adds that IAB will offer different types of Bowler’s Bootcamp classes to match the skill levels interested, ”we have an extensive 2 day clinic set up, as well as a beginner 1 day clinic. We will give the bowlers exactly what they want.”

While they will begin the IAB tour in the United States, Asbaty says there is no limit to how far they hope to grow internationally, “we will go where there is a need for us. Any interested party across the world can have access to us.”

The first Bowlers Bootcamp will take place October 17-18 in Oak Forest, Ill. For more information on how to sign up visit www.internationalartofbowling.com or email artofbowling@hotmail.com.

—This is what 22 hours of labor, 40 hours of no sleep, 24 hours of not eating, and a whole lot of strong contractions feels like—

Madden Haledon Asbaty 9lbs 2oz, 23inches

On August 26th, I had a doctors appointment (one day after my due date)  My doctor asked if anything was different. I told her that I felt like maybe my water broke.  It wasn’t like the movies, where you see the woman’s water breaking in the middle of the grocery story which causes a crazy scene. No, it never gushed.. But, at that time, I wasn’t even sure if it was my water that I was feeling.. She was very concerned it was amniotic fluid and as we learned from our class, you don’t want to go long if your bag breaks for risk of infection. She immediately sent us to the hospital (John and I had our bags in the car just in case!) to check and make sure it wasn’t amniotic fluid. If it wasn’t.. I would be sent home. If it was, they would have to admit me.

Turns out it was amniotic fluid and as I wasn’t in labor, my doctor felt that it was essential she make sure the baby was delivered within a certain time frame. She was very concerned that me, or baby would get an infection. I guess I never realized how dangerous this “infection” could be. I was thinking, cold.. or something minor.  She was talking mental retardation, and disease threatening infection. That scared me.  I asked my doctor if I could wait a little longer to see if I would go into labor on my own (i felt like I was really close!) and although she was resistant.. she allowed me to wait over night.

At 10pm, I went into labor on my own. I was sooo excited to labor all night long hoping that by the time I was checked again, I would be far enough along.  I started my own contractions at 10pm, and at 8am my doctor called the hospital to check me.  I was 3cm. She didn’t feel I was progressing quick enough and because of the risk of infection, really felt like we needed to get the baby delivered as soon as possible. So, she suggested pitocin. Again, not in our plans, but we knew going in that we were going to be open minded and things may not go exactly as planned.  We felt that pitocin was the best option as we didn’t want the risk of infection to increase.

And so… I got pitocin. One of the best things I did was request a saline lock instead of a normal IV. Didn’t seem like they did this very much ( I have no idea why!) Because, as soon as I got to the hospital the night before I had to have the antibiotics (for the possible infection) I was able to walk around without the IV in me when I didn’t have the antibodies, which meant I was able to shower before the pitocin started since I could disconnect.  One of the best decisions we made at the hospital. I felt the most comfortable not hooked up to anything during the night I was laboring on my own. (needless to say)

The pitocin contractions were very strong, and very close together. I really stayed focused and remembered that every contraction I knew I was closer and closer to seeing our little guy. It wasn’t easy.. and after 2 hours of the pitocin, they checked me. I was only 4cm along. I did feel frustrated because I felt like I had already endured so much that I wasn’t sure if I could continue at the pace I was going without anything to help me through the pain. I did go through the “I don’t think I can do this.. I need something to help me.” around hour 15. They said they could get me the epidural but that would take an hour. I realllllly didn’t want the epidural. But, I wasn’t sure if I could last considering I was going on 40 hours of NO sleep, and they really wouldn’t allow me to eat much during the day in case I needed a C section. I was tired, and it hurt.  A lot. I did a lot of my laboring on a birthing ball.

They said the other option was stadol which would be temporary relief, and would allow me to at least rest and get some energy. It would last an hour and a half. They said that if I did receive it, I had to stay in bed through the contractions, which I was fine with. They say they gave me the stadol through the IV.. Uh, I didn’t feel any different. I even thought that maybe they just SAID they gave it to me, and really didn’t.  I literally felt every contraction, and was very aware of everything. but, after I did receive it, it seemed like things sped up a bit.  FInally, at 5pm I felt the urge to push and was dialated 10cm.

I pushed this guy out for 3 hours. I felt every moment. And, I would do everything all over again the same way. (Except I would prefer my bag wouldn’t break so I could labor on my own and handle the contractions better) I pushed for about an hour and a half and felt my eyes become very very swollen. They kept saying “push as hard as you can.”  And so.. I did.. And after everything was over you could tell I did.

With the help of my doula, John, and my sister.. I have a really wonderful birthing story. They could not have been more helpful… John was amazing. I am sure it’s so hard to see someone you love so much go through so much pain and not be able to offer any comfort. He did everything I knew he would. Nurses actually came into the room and commented on how they have never seen a more supportive husband. He did everything for me that I knew he would. The Bradley Method and Hypnobirthing classes that John and I took helped a great deal. I was able to stay focused on managing the pain, and breathing through the contractions. It was, by far, the hardest thing I have ever done.

Kassy, Dr. Medina McDevitt, John, and Madden

I delivered at Community Hospital in Indiana, and could not be happier with the nurses there or my doctor. No one pressured us into any pain medication. Everyone read our birth plan. We feel so fortunate to have the great experience we did. As soon as I delivered him, he was laid right on my chest.  He immediately picked his head up (strong baby!) and looked me in the eyes. Thanks to Kassy, we captured this moment on video and will always be one of the most meaningful videos I will ever see.  To be able to capture his first cry, his first glance…  I can’t even put into words what reliving that moment means to me. As soon as we had our bonding time, for about an hour, John and Madden were taken to the nursery for a sponge bath and weigh in. We were VERY surprised to hear that he weighed 9lbs, 2oz and was 23inches long. We had NO idea I was carrying such a big baby.  I don’t feel that I really got that big, so to see how big he was after I delivered him- was a complete shock. And another complete shock was how much hair he had! Holy Moly. He never really looked like an infant.. In fact, when we were in the hospital, when the nurses brought him to our room, they said, “here’s your toddler.”

Daddy and Son

Mommy and Madden

I can’t describe the excitement I felt the first night in the hospital. After everyone left the Postpartum Room I was in, Madden was brought to us from the nursery. This is when John changed his very first diaper EVER! I, of course got a few photos of this special occasion. After hanging out with my new little family, we decided to get rest. We weren’t allowed to keep Madden in our room unless one of us was awake. So, we decided to return him to the nursery so John and I could get a few hours of sleep. We hadn’t slept in almost 2 days! One of the moments that I will never forget is when they brought Madden to me during the night to feed.  As soon as I heard the door open, and heard the wheels on his little bassinet rolling in, I immediately got so excited.  I remember thinking, That’s my baby coming to see me! As the nurse said, “Here’s Mr. Madden for you.” I could feel small tears well up in my eyes.

Yes, I had incredibly swollen eyes from pushing (I looked like I got into a bad street fight) and yes, I had blood vessels in my eyes that didn’t heal for 2 weeks. Yes, I couldn’t move around too quickly the two days after (he was 9lbs!!) but I wouldn’t change any of it. A week later, and I felt really, really great. I even found a way to put on a pair of jeans! Madden is doing awesome… and I can honestly say it was the most incredible thing I’ve ever done in my life… with nothing even close. We can’t stop staring at him.

Two days later, the hospital gave us the OK to go home with the stipulation that we would visit our pediatrician the next day to keep track of his jaundice level. John drove about 14mph home, and I couldn’t bring myself to ride in the front seat with him. So, I sat in back with Mads. He slept all the way home. When we arrived home, Kassy and my Dad were waiting for us. They had decorated our car with “It’s a boy” stickers, and spent some time putting up “It’s a boy” decorations in my house.  When we arrived at our doorstep, there was a stork with all of Madden’s details on it. Thanks Kassy!

How has life been since August 27th?

Amazing. Although I don’t sleep for more than 4 hours at one time. (well, one night he let me sleep 5.. Thanks Mads!) And, It’s much harder to get things done during my day, I already cannot imagine my life without him. When he’s crying in the middle of the night because he’s hungry and I go to his crib and pick him up- he immediately stops crying.  There is something so satisfying about that.  To be the comfort that this little person needs to feel better.  To give them reassurance and make them feel that everything will be ok- It’s such a powerful thing. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.

I’ve always said that being a mother has always been my biggest goal in life. I can honestly say it’s even better than I expected. He just started smiling at me.. (non gas smiles) and is becoming more comfortable in his own skin. I know a few things for sure: I will raise him to be so proud of who he is.  I will allow him to be whatever he dreams of being, and will do everything I can to help him reach his dreams. Just as my parents did for me.

For Immediate Release

The Art of Bowling Goes Global

Chicago, Illinois (September 24, 2010) Traditional bowling lessons are a thing of the past. The International Art of Bowling (IAB) is a brand new experience unlike any other.

USBC Gold Level Certified Coach Ron Hoppe along with Silver Level Certified Coaches Jason Belmonte and Diandra Asbaty recently founded the IAB with intentions of bringing to light the importance of building a bowling lifestyle to each player looking to take their game to the next level.

Asbaty says the IAB’s philosophy centers around the idea that bowling must be seen artistically to be fully understood. “The sport of bowling is very visual. There is a heavy artistic element to the game and we want to bring that out with each bowler. We want them to look at bowling not just analytically, but also artistically. We want to help them develop their canvas and get their ball to paint the most ideal picture.”

Hoppe, Belmonte and Asbaty each bring three very different perspectives to the IAB. “Each member of the IAB staff has a unique expert quality,” said Belmonte, “so no student will hear the same voice for hours on end.”

A well-respected name in the coaching industry, Hoppe has an impressive list of coaching credentials. Including experience coaching several national teams and founding the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association (IBPSIA). Hoppe’s ability to visualize and convey the game to bowlers is extraordinary and unparalleled.

Now that he has revolutionized bowling with his unique two-handed style, Belmonte brings to the table extensive knowledge to not only coach the two-handed style, which is growing in popularity, but also on lane play as he has traveled across the world to bowl for the past 10 years.

Besides being one of the top female bowlers in the world, Asbaty’s glowing personality and understanding of both the physical game and ball motion bring an extra special dynamic to the IAB staff. “Diandra is especially great with women and children,” said Hoppe, “both Jason and Diandra bring a wealth of knowledge to IAB. Their understanding of the youth movement in bowling is incredible.”

What sets IAB apart is the material and structure of each clinic. In addition to on-lane coaching and in-classroom sessions, IAB will provide a nutritionist and personal trainer to discuss the importance of proper nutrition and strength conditioning to further develop one’s bowling game.

Welcoming bowlers of all skill levels, a unique option through the IAB is to customize each session. “Over the years, I’ve kept track of the questions I get asked by bowlers who want to learn more,” says Hoppe, “we’ve developed this series of Bootcamp clinics to answers those questions.” Asbaty adds that IAB will offer different types of Bowler’s Bootcamp classes to match the skill levels interested, ”we have an extensive 2 day clinic set up, as well as a beginner 1 day clinic. We will give the bowlers exactly what they want.”

While they will begin the IAB tour in the United States, Asbaty says there is no limit to how far they hope to grow internationally, “we will go where there is a need for us. Any interested party across the world can have access to us.”

The first Bowlers Bootcamp will take place October 17-18 in Oak Forest, Ill. For more information on how to sign up visit www.internationalartofbowling.com or email artofbowling@hotmail.com.

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And the countdown begins. Six. More. Weeks. I can’t believe how quickly these 9 months have passed.  You hear a lot of horror stories about pregnancies and one of the first things people said when I told them when I was due (August 25) was an apologetic “ohh, I’m so sorry you have to be pregnant during the summer months. That will be so difficult and uncomfortable.”  My inner dialogue said, “Oh, that’s nice. Thanks for your support and encouragement.” Fact is, it hasn’t been bad at all. Yes, it’s hot.  But really- I wouldn’t be any more uncomfortable if I wasn’t pregnant. When it’s hot, everyone sweats. It’s sticky, and it’s humid.  Those things don’t change just because you’re pregnant. So, I tell this to all you first time moms : If you happen to get pregnant at a time that leaves you bigger than you ever have been in your life during the summer months- It’s really not that bad.  But, then again, I’ve always been an optimist. Things are as bad as you make them out to be.  And, being pregnant? Coolest thing I’ve done in my life so far.

My last blog left off with month 6.. so I’m here to catch you all up on months 7 and 8!  So much as happened since then.

Am I feeling more movement into the 7th and 8th month of pregnancy?

Yes! I feel him every morning and night.  He also responds to John’s voice when he comes home from work.  Which is pretty dang cool. It’s pretty amazing that our little guy already knows our voices. We talk to him a lot.

Anything funny happening during the pregnancy?

My belly button is disappearing. Some women develop an “outtie” belly button.  I haven’t. My belly is just swallowing my belly button.  Also, I never developed the black line that runs from the top of the pubic bone to the belly button, aka “linea nigra.”

I have to go to the bathroom a lot.  During the night I get up about 3-4 times. To put that in perspective- when I’m not pregnant, I don’t get up at all to go to the bathroom.

Do I have a name and am I telling anyone?

Yes. And, No. That will be the one surprise that everyone will have to wait for.  In fact, tomorrow his nursery will be complete. On the wall of his nursery is his name.  I will have to cover it up so that all visitors that come over before he arrives can’t get a glimpse of what we have decided to name him. Why are we keeping it a secret? Because it’s really personal, and we want to keep this between us for right now. And, I don’t want people responding with, “oooh, that’s nice. I once knew a kid in high school that was a total jerk.. and that was his name.”  Really? Thanks. Ruined it.

Have I had any Braxton-Hicks contractions?

These are contractions that you get early on. They aren’t a sign of labor, they are just preparing your body for what is to come. No, I haven’t felt any Braxton Hicks contractions so far in my pregnancy.

What have I done to take care of myself this month?

Prenatal massage to ease my headaches, and prenatal yoga with one of my best friends, Allison Chapin, who was pregnant throughout most of my pregnancy. She welcomed her twin baby girls on June 29th! Welcome Victoria and Isabella Chapin! So excited to see them grow up, and have them such a big part of my son’s life. Who knows.. maybe one of them will get lucky with the new Mr. Asbaty.

Allison and Mike Chapin with their 1 day old twins, Victoria and Isabella Chapin!

What are my favorite pregnancy/childbirth books at the moment?

Hypnobirthing. We just started our hypnobirthing class and LOVE it. This method will allow me to bring myself into a very deep state of relaxation. It will allow my body to do what it’s made to do.. without fear or concern. This will allow me the best opportunity for an all natural birth. Unmedicated. This is my intention. I am not 100% because I have never been through this before so I won’t count anything out. But, I know a lot of women have gone the natural route, and they are still living. I know I can do this. That’s why I am educating myself thoroughly on what to expect and how to manage the pain.

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. This book was recommended on June 6th, by Kristin Hassan. This was one day before she gave birth to her super sweet baby girl, Violet Marie Hassan. Welcome Violet! Crazy how I was having lunch with her one day (a week before her official due date) and the next day she has a baby.

Violet Hassan

The Hassan Family

The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer is really great at establishing a routine early on.  Like, from day 1. It has a lot of good advice and will adapt it to our lifestyle and our little guy.  I think it’s important to have a routine, and a consistent lifestyle. They say he has a better chance of sleeping through the night earlier than most babies, if you adapt this structure into his life. I’ll let you know how that works out.

Happiest Baby on the Block:

Very cool book and DVD! I realllly hope that these techniques work for my crying baby. The Dr. who established these techniques seems like a magician in the DVD. He introduces the concept of “The calming reflex” that all babies have. He believes that babies are born 3 months too early. But, they have to be born because they are too big to stay in any longer. Because they are so immature for the first three months, its important to imitate sounds and movements that they have felt in the womb for 9 months.  It all really makes sense. But, is it too good to be true?

I also read a book called “Becoming Babywise” which says a lot of the same things that the two book above say.

Right now I am in the midst of reading a book called, “The Vaccine Book.” I have to admit, with all the hoopla surrounding vaccines and autism, it really makes me dig a little deeper into it all.  We don’t have a stand right now, but we will make sure we are completely educated before we put any vaccines into our little guy. It kind of freaks me out.

How is John dealing with my pregnancy?

I’m not sure he could be dealing better. He is such an amazing husband, and will be an incredible dad. He constantly reminds me to slow down, and that I can’t do everything I could do before, now that I’m pregnant. He reminds me to eat well, makes me great meals and really supports me in every single way. I could not ask for more. It’s especially cute when he talks to Baby Asbaty. He talks to him as if he’s a real person. He forgets that he’s inside of me, and forgets that I’m even there. He talks to him about his day, about me, and about how it will be when he joins us. It might be the sweetest thing in the entire world. That is, until I see him with our son.

Am I registered anywhere and when is my shower?

My shower is being held at the restaurant right across the street from where I live. Convenient! I joke that after the shower I will say, “Thank you SO much for coming, now if you could just grab the gift you brought and bring it on over to his room, that would be awesome.” Of course I won’t say that, but it would be cool if my guests read this blog and agreed it was a super cool idea to do that.

I am registered at:

Babies R Us (www.babiesrus.com)

Giggle (www.giggle.com)

Any favorite registry items?

Yes! I absolutely LOVE the glider that we chose. Although a bit expensive, we can definitely get a lot of use out of this glider. It’s one of those chairs that in 7 years, people won’t say, “Hey, isn’t this the chair that you breastfed in?” It’s a great piece of furniture that will be used for a long time.

Introducing our Grano Glider Recliner:

Also, a great item that we have already purchased is our stroller.  I was amazing at how overwhelming looking for a stroller would be! After careful consideration, we decided on the Uppababy Vista Stroller.  I loved the bassinet feature. It’s a great city stroller. It’s lightweight, safe, and pretty much awesome.

Our Stroller: (Silver)

Our High Chair is pretty futuristic. Again, after a careful consideration, we’ve decided on the Bloom Loft Fresco. There are a few reasons why. 1. It’s a 3 in one high chair.  It can be used from birth until toddler! 2. It’s a great piece of furniture. 4. It’s pretty dang cool. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s 3 chairs in one!

I want to send out a BIG THANK YOU to John’s amazing family. They held a shower in New Jersey (without us ) I really tried to make it possible to be there, but when it came down to it, we just couldn’t get there. We appreciate his mother’s efforts more than we can ever say and because of his amazing family, we were able to buy the glider and stroller that were on our wish list. Thank You Asbaty Family!!

My feelings on giving birth:

The more research I do, the less scared I feel.  The 2 birthing classes we are taking are helping me understand what exactly happens in your body when laboring starts. I’ve learned a lot of very important information during The Bradley Method classes. One piece of information that stands out is the idea of not getting to the hospital too early. A lot of women rush to the hospital when they feel labor pains start. If you do, and you are there early, and they don’t send you home- then you risk a lot of medical intervention. That is not what I want. So, with the help of our great doula, Mrs. Bond, we will be able to determine at what point is best to get to the hospital. I’ve learned that a lot of C-Sections happen in hospitals because the laboring doesn’t happen as quickly as the hospital staff would like.

The one thing that is discouraging is all the women who look at me like I’m crazy for wanting to do this naturally. Like I said, I don’t know what will happen that day, but we can all have our goals when it comes to birth. Whenever I tell anyone that I am really wanting a birth with no intervention, they look at me like I’m crazy and say, “oh, yeah.. I wanted that too.. you think you can do it, but when it comes down to it- you won’t. It’s just too much pain.” Rarely do women say, “That’s really great that you want that.. it will be hard, but it’s been done many times before so you can definitely do it.”  I want to be that woman. I want to be the one who after birth says to other women.. “If you prepare yourself enough for what will be happening, then you can manage the pain. It’s not easy, but it’s possible. I know it because I did it.” If I can’t do it, and something happens that day to change my mind, I won’t be disappointed. I won’t feel like I failed. I’ll know I did everything possible. I’m not doing this to be a hero. I’m doing this to have a baby that is alert, aware, and ready for this world.

How’s my sleeping?

Not that great. I wake up a lot to go to the bathroom. I have to move around a lot to get comfortable. Some nights I sleep great– some nights I can’t sleep at all.

What am I wearing?

I still haven’t bought a maternity shirt. I buy normal shirts, that I don’t care if they stretch out- and they fit perfectly around my round belly. I do, however, still have to wear these awesome maternity jeans with the elastic waist band.  I highly recommend them. To everyone. Perhaps around Thanksgiving time.

Food of choice:

Pretty much anything that John makes. We have been grilling a lot lately, which makes for some awesome meals. As I blog right now, he is making us Grilled Swordfish with a sauce that he’s making up as he goes. Sicilian inspired. Turned out to be: Marinated Grilled Swordfish with a sauce of spring onions, fresh tomatoes, capers, pistachios, and an arugula salad with lemon and olive oil.

For lunch today we had a grilled scallop salad with corn, spring onions, shaved cucumbers, avocado, tomato, basil, lime juice, olive oil, and arugula. It was awesome. So awesome- I took a photo

Baby Asbaty Nursery:

Since I posted my last blog I have been busy getting Baby Asbaty’s room together. I am soooo excited that his room will be pretty much complete tomorrow! I decided to ask  the best graphic designer I know, Sherif Adel who resides in Egypt! (And, is a big bowler and bowling fan!) to do the wall art for his room. I really gave him no direction. I only told him I 1. Don’t want anything to “boyish” or “baby-ish” I wanted something modern, fun, but still have it look like a baby room. I didn’t give him any more than that. What he created was even better than I imagined he would. He nailed it. Here are a few glimpses of his amazing artwork that will be featured on two of the main walls in his room. More photos of his room to come. (When complete)

Design by: Sherif Adel —–WEBSITE: http://www.chubbystudio.com—- EMAIL: design@stonegrafx.com

Vinyl for the wall with Sherif’s awesome design printed by: http://www.wallmonkeys.com

You have to check them out! Such a cool concept.. great quality! Thanks to Jason Weisenthal for providing such a great, creative product!

Sherif’s Design:

Our sweet Crib and Changing table: Argington Sahara Crib and Sahara Changing Table

The next blog update? Quite possibly may be to introduce our little one! 6 More Weeks! Thanks for all your great thoughts, and support!

Until next time,

diandra and Baby Asbaty