Relaxing

We spent Friday night at Bear Island, a summer retreat owned by some friends of mine from Westborough that I have been going to since I was Spike's age. It's only 45 minutes from here and I wish I hadn't had to work this weekend so we could spend more time there. Here are a few sunset pictures from the deck. Thanks to the Williams' for inviting us out again and providing a spectacular dinner.

I got home last night and Spike was wedged in some crazy position in my pelvis. So I propped some pillows up on the floor in front of the couch and sprawled out with my hips up as high as I could. I highly recommend this position to anyone with a foreign body in their uterus. Soxy also joined the relaxing party. It did wonders and I felt so much better. Rob took pictures at my request.

From the bleachers:

Hello Again.

I realize that it has been a rather long time since I last posted to this sight. So you may have been thinking to yourself:

"I wonder why Rob has not posted in a while? I rather miss his inane and observational humor that will no doubt lead to a successful career as an author."

OR

"He must be so terribly busy with his preparations for the arrival of his firstborn child that he just hasn't had the time to post."

OR

"What a self-involved twit! He has probably completely forgotten that he is having a child at all."

OR

"Pepperjack cheese can make virtually any meal just THAT much better. It's like the bacon of cheeses."

While all these thoughts would be valid, and the first and fourth possibly accurate, it is really most adequately defined as:

As the father-to-be, there hasn't been that much to write about. Really.

When we started this adventure (or pre-adventure), I assumed there would be mood swings, nausea, swollen feet, hot flashes and weight gain. In addition, Christy's body would be changing slightly as well. But really, we've been blessed with a completely boring pregnancy to date. (Which is the kind of pregnancy I highly recommend and am grateful for, but hardly great fodder for a blog, or good for story telling.)

As a result, I am forced to write about pillows. That's right: pillows. Why? Because PILLOWS ARE TAKING OVER OUR BED!!!!! For you men out there who have yet to experience a pregnant wife, I have found that it takes no less than 36 pillows to wage a pregnant wife's war on a changing body shape in the quest for a good night's sleep.

You may ask yourself, "Rob, with a wife with an ever expanding uterus, and 36+ pillows, one body sized, and one African Bull Elephant sized, how is there room in the bed for you?"

Answer: There isn't. Much like the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk, I have been confined to a small piece of coastland, back to the ocean, facing a Panzer Brigade of pillows threatening me with annihilation. The weak Maginot line of sheets I had established failed long ago, and now my only hope may be a sealift to the Island of Couch. (Or perhaps the Land of Guest Bed In The Basement.) (Of course, I DO feel awful that Christy is becoming more and more uncomfortable at night. At least I will write that in a desperate refutation of thought number three above.)

The Pillows Advance

Otherwise, to continue with WWII analogies, I remain like the United States in the early, early 1940's. Sure, under the Lend Lease agreements, I may help with the purchase of baby equipment and supplies to convince myself I am doing something, but I operate mostly under the denial that the battles will truly affect me. In the back of my mind, however, I fearfully recognize that the day of my full involvement is looming...

November 9, 2010

Spike tries Yoga

Amy Eubanks, a friend of mine, is downsizing (<--see her blog here) and in the process, gave me her prenatal yoga DVD. Since it's 85 and humid out today, running was out of the picture so I thought I'd take my workout to the basement and try out some yoga. I'm not really big into "energies" and "breathing" which is what most yoga is about, so I was a bit skeptical to start out. Turns out I was right, this woman probably is using cloth diapers and not using pain meds during labor (...wait a minute...). Anyway, once I ignored the hocus-pocus, the yoga part was quite relaxing. I'd rather have some good ska music in the background, but I don't think they make ska prenatal yoga DVDs. (Maybe I could market that...).

In a related story, I attempted to take some pictures of myself trying out various yoga poses. The camera died after just three poses, but, I posted them for your viewing pleasure anyway. Thanks again, Amy! (notice the concentration in my face as I try to contort my body like the woman on the video)

This is the "I can't reach that tupperware on the top shelf" pose

"And hurt my back trying"

"I'll sit down, Rob will get it"

28 Weeks

I realized I haven't posted my belly shots in a few weeks.

Here's 27 weeks.

28 weeks....starting to pop again I think.

28 week belly shot...still have an innie...for now

Before work one day. The pic is crooked because the camera was on the hood of my car on timer.

Run, Spike, Run

On Saturday, August 7, I accomplished one of my top goals for pregnancy: I ran the Beach to Beacon 10K. It was the first day of the summer that has been below 85 degrees and 100% humidity so it was perfect for a morning run. I ran almost the whole thing, walked one hill and was probably going faster walking than I would have been if I ran it. I got constant cheers from spectators yelling "Go Mama!" and "Way to go, Junior!". I heard at least two people say to the person standing next to them, "I think she's pregnant! I couldn't have done that!". I had a huge glowing grin plastered to my face throughout the run, so much so that my cheeks hurt more than my legs at the end. I came in at 1 hour, 19 minutes which is 2 minutes faster than the last time I ran the B2B. I felt great the whole time. Rob ran as well and finished in 57 minutes which is 4 minutes faster than his previous 10K record. Our friend Aimee Lake also ran and broke her record. Here are some post run pictures and a short clip at about mile 6.1.

BJ and Aimee in their last weekend on the east coast.

Our running Family of 3

Spike meets Mini P

My college roommate, Jessie, was in town today and came by for a visit. She is also 26 weeks preggo and we had a little photo shoot in Portland.

Biking videos

We spent quite a bit of time on our bikes in Michigan (rentals of course for us, everyone else brought theirs since they drove). According to most "literature" biking is one of the things preggos aren't supposed to do...something about lack of balance and falling. Anyway, here is this preggo's obvious expertise in biking demonstrated by my ability to film WHILE biking, talking, and gestating all at the same time.

Jack and Lexi have these great Tag-a-Long bikes that attach to mom and dad's bike but still allows the kid to pedal and contribute. I never rode with one of them (I had my own kid to tow) but Rob said he could really feel them pedaling. On the ever-growing list of future kid items we must have...check.

26 weeks

I think we missed a few weeks of belly shots during all of our traveling, but here is what I found. I realize I look bigger at 22 than 23 but it's really the right order, notice the higher pile of Spike Stuff in the 23 week pic. The printer and stand has moved out of Spike's room by 26 weeks in preparation for a crib...part of which can been seen in the last picture (not assembled of course). Do you think it's weird that my face and hair look exactly the same in every belly shot??? I do.

22 weeks (after a big meal apparently)

23 weeks

26 weeks

Last Saturday night, after working all day (and the 3 days before) Rob, Spike, and I went to our friends Maureen and Michael's wedding. I found this cute maternity dress and Rob happened to wear a shirt that matched. We had a great time dancing all night, Spike had a hard time with the twist but got used to it after a while. We didn't bring our camera so I made Rob pose for a shot in our fancy clothes when we got home.
I happened to look particularly preggo in this nursing tank that I found on sale at Target. This is about 25.5 weeks.

July Happenings

So I realize I haven't posted in a month but it's been a busy month! We spent the first weekend in Toronto visiting some friends and watching the Sox lose to the Blue Jays. Then we flew to Michigan to be with Rob's family for a few days and enjoy biking, walking, going to the beach, and other fun summer vacationings. It was great to see everyone and show off my growing belly. I have worked almost every day that I have not been on vacation in order to save as much PTO for maternity leave as I can. Here are some highlights from the vacations:

Niagra Falls on our way to Toronto

Rob, me, Brandon, Cathy, Melissa, Wade, Grace, and Edward at their church in Toronto

The Reed Family in Michigan

Rob, Spike, and I at the Beach in Michigan (PS. the water is not salty...weird)

Teaching Spike good lessons about Dogs

The blog only let me upload 5 pictures to this post so I'll have another one with the belly shots soon!