round two!!

On Valentines Day we sent our families a little homemade scratch-off card. 

Goodbye first trimester! 
Hello, there, chubby cheek mama!
My round self is appearing much sooner than it did with Evelyn, so feel free to back off for another 10 weeks, will ya, chub?

One Week Old.

Time is already going by too fast.

I really am trying not to make every post about this beauty, but it's hard not to! Especially when she's all I do all day. 

Still Same Ol' G, but With a Baby

The past 5 days have been quite an experience for me. I've gone from a blown-up tummy that looked like it  was about to pop, to a deflation process resembling a... well, I don't know what a shrinking tummy looks like but it isn't pleasant. Luckily it has sucked itself back in rather quickly an I have a belly button again!

Wow. I never knew I could be so attached to something so little. I can't believe I've only been at this for 5 days - it feels so natural. I think it kinda weirded Jared and I out a bit at first, but now he's asleep on the couch after burping her and I'm here typing and all seems the norm.

I'm not one to share the intimate details of my birthing experience, but let me say the first 16 hours were rather smooth - the last hour not so much. We checked in to the hospital Wednesday night at 7pm. I was going to receive some drug that was supposed to "ripen" [such a distasteful way of saying soften] my cervix before starting the pitocin. Yes, my due date was Monday and she was only 2 days overdue, but we both kinda wanted her before the weekend so we checked in Wed night. So when I got there, unbenounced to me, I was actually contracting every 2 minutes so they started me on pitocin that night. Contractions weren't unbearable until about 5am, when I asked for the epidural. What an experience! Seriously, I wish I could get an epidural everyday, I would be an ADDICT! I told Jared it felt like everything was floating, even the roof of my mouth! Ah, so all was blissful until 11:30am on Thursday. I started feeling contractions again, so I increased my pitocin. 5 min later I could still feel them, so I upped it again. Still could feel them. Then I felt this pressure and I told Jared I felt the urge to push, but the doc didn't predict I would go into labor until that evening, so I felt I was acting prematurely on this feeling. So we call the nurse in and sure enough I'm full dilated and ready to go. Jared was not planning on being a part of the labor, but he got the lovely job of holding my right leg during the whole process! What a trooper. At 1:45pm on Thursday Evelyn was born. She's beautiful! Not a flaw. I've been addicted to her cheeks since day one. She is such a great baby, although the first night she fooled Jared and I and kept us up with her vocal cord testing. Wow! But now we get along great and we are one happy family!

Weird to think that a week ago she wasn't here and that I was just me. But now I'm me + a baby.

I feel ya bunny..

One of my favorite gifts that we've received during this whole baby expecting phase was a bunny given to us by my boss's client. It is seriously SO CUTE! I love it. But for the past month it has been sitting in the corner of the crib by itself, looking all lonely and stuff. The long floppy ears, the drooping arms, the downward smile and slouching posture - it all screams "I'm bored! This baby better get here soon!" Today, I echo that same feeling, bunny. I hope baby girl gets here soon. Which is why we are checking in to the hotel, I mean hospital, tonight. {Jared keeps calling it a hotel, which I suppose it is in some ways. It is a very nice facility with netflicks and all.} Hopefully we'll be Ma and Pa by tomorrow evening.

In the mean time, I've walked in to our room with this to greet me several times:

Jared thinks it's rather funny to position the bunny in the laid-back form. It actually is funny and I laugh out loud every time. Especially this morning when it was peaking out behind some pillows. This bunny has personality! Jared asked if the bunny was a he or she this afternoon. With a ridiculing face, I told him it was a lady because I would never let my baby girl sleep with a boy and two, it's pink!

I've been showered.

 I was telling Jared the other night how much I will miss Santa Monica when we leave. Sure I will miss the beach community itself, but more so the people. This last weekend I was the recipient of much love and generosity. 5 lovely ladies put on what I would say was the most spectacular baby shower in all history. Everything from the food to the company was divine. Not to mention that our little girl's wardrobe is now very well stocked! I am so appreciative to all those who took part in such a special occasion. We're ready for you baby girl! [Also, I'm ready for this chubby face to go and the extreme body temperature fluctuations.]

I like your buns.

Cinnabon's, that is. 

{Although Jared's are very nice as well.}

Saturday I went to the mall all by myself, which is only cool for the fact that I walked by a Cinnabon and I didn't even buy one. Yes, I looked at them, stared at the beautifully glazed dough topped with crisp pecans, but I walked away, folks. Just walked away. 

I bragged to Jared about my triumph, but that only lasted so long. We found ourselves at another mall that evening, where the aroma of sweet Cinnabon penetrated both our nostrils and forced us to purchase a heavenly swirl to share.

I think that Cinnabon really welcomed in the holiday cheer for the Oakdens.

Bring on the 2 months of chocolate covered pretzels, fudge, toffee and Danish cookies.

{actually, I have to admit something. I am terrified of the holidays, or more so of my obstetrician. He told me to only gain X-amount of lbs, which hasn't been hard except hello, my last two months are being spent amidst the 2 most gluttonous holidays! And I am not one to say no to a good thing when she sees it. So don't judge me if I look like a balloon come January. Wish me luck!}

Sometimes I have to stop myself from lifting up my dress at work.

All this tummy movement has me mesmerized and it's hard for me to sit there and watch all the action going on under my shirt when I want to see the flips in plain sight! If I had it my way, my hand would be glued to my bare belly 24/7. Jared is hardly as intrigued as I am. However, I do have him trained to roll over in the morning and station his hand on my ever increasing rotunda. At the request of some important individuals, behold and embrace the 31 week tummy.

Nesting much?

10 weeks and counting....

Yes, her drawers are full to the brim with cutesie tootsie things!
We only have a 1 bedroom apt, so she gets a corner dedicated all to herself.

I had a  meltdown a couple of nights ago. That's only been my second one this whole pregnancy.

I'm stellar, right?

And the timing was so odd. We just watched Phantom of the Opera, and the ending scene where the old man goes to his wife's grave just let the flood gates open. Bahahha. I thought about how I didn't want to get old, but then I thought about getting old with JO and I got happy. But then sad because we're growing up, and I don't want to grow up, Peter! I like my time with just JO. so I got scared. and I cried.

He probably thought I was a loony. But he held me anyways while I just cried.

So I decided that it's time to take more pictures of just he and I in our every day moments, hence the slamming of pictures on here. I want us to remember 20 years from now that we had a life before our

loving children came along. And that life was spectacular. 

[but i'm still super excited for little girl to arrive] 

What's in a name?

Before being pregnant, I would ask other pregnant women the infamous question "Do you have a name picked out?" At the time, it didn't seem like that big of a deal to ask. No, I wasn't going to steal the name or anything, and in all sincerity I could care less what that person names their kid. It's not mine, so no matter what the answer they gave, props to them. Pretty much just a conversational element I would toss in there. Now that the game has switched and I'm the one being asked, why do I find it such a bother? #1 - I'm not terrified that someone will steal the name, not in the least. #2 - I don't care if people judge the name, because I already know its awesome. #3 - I am going to name my child ____ no matter what, so what does it matter if I tell them now or when the child is born? #4 - I ask people the question nonchalantly all the time, so what is it if someone does the same to me? It's getting to the weird stage where random strangers are gravitating to my tummy and people less than acquaintances are asking the name of my girl. I don't think it's intrusive in anyway, just funny. I think the real factor of it all is that I feel kinda silly giving a name so openly to a child that is yet unborn. I feel right now that I'm giving a name to just a baby doll, something that isn't 100% real yet, even though she is very much alive and kicking my gut throughout the day. What if something happens and I can't carry her to full-term? Even if that tragically were to happen, then she would still be given the name. So.... yes, Jared and I have a name, a name that we love and pretty sure it will fit this girl perfectly.

...........

..........................

I'm still scared to share for reasons unknown.

Any one else have this dilemma??

Because you're dying to know. Or more so, I'm dying to share!

Well I guess I better sharpen up my crafty skills and load up the bank account because we're having

We are thrilled! Stoked! I thought for sure I was having a boy because all midwives tales told me so, but we're so happy that we have a future babysitter, chore-helper, disher-doer on the way! JK, girls are so much more than help, they are the most fun to dress up! Accessories, here we come!

Oh, the dresses I have to make, the homemade little tights I get to manufacture, the headbands [without the ginormous fake flower] and bows I need to create - creativity is endless! Huzzah!

We went to the Doc on Wed, and he said he THOUGHT it was a girl, but not to facebook it yet [which of course we did!]. But all was confirmed today! And little girl has long long legs... 

I wonder who she got that from ;)

For those who care.

17 weeks.

I promise.

While I promise, promise, promise that this blog will not become baby-hungry, I have to have just this one to say that we're ecstatic! Thank you all for your congratulatory remarks and words of awesomeness. We dig it.

Speaking of digging, yesterday I had my 13 week check up and that sonographer just dug her little ultrasound wand into my tummy for what felt like 15 min straight! A word to the wise - do not go to the OB with a full bladder! That was excruciatingly painful to hold back. But it was all worth it to see the baby flutter around and hear the heart beat! 2 things I learned. #1 - Our baby has a beautifully formed brain. The doc even drew the attention of the sonographer to the perfectly formed brain mass, commenting on its perfection. Cool. #2 - the Doc may have a crush on JO. "Now you, sir, you're quite handsome" - something like that was said and I was rather taken back. Why no comments on my attraction level? Is JO the only one contributing to the looks of this child? Why do I not merit the doctors remarks of beauty? I even brought it up that night at the dinner table. Jared assured me that I was pretty, and sometimes pretty girls are stuck with not-so attractive guys and the doc was surprised that I could find someone to match my beauty. Not buying it, but ok.

While we still have about 7 weeks until we know the little gender, my eyes have been perusing etsy and you'll just have to die like I did when you see these.

Look at the little Mary Janes!



And the loafers!


Bahh!! I think my child's wardrobe is going to be more expensive than the medical bill! Anywho, that's all the baby-ness I have to say until we find out if we're having a little lady or gent.

We're going beach camping this weekend with JO's family. It was forecasted to be a splendid weekend, until I decided to capture a sore throat and a cold. Now I am not looking forward to 3 nights on an air mattress with kleenex piling up in the corner of the tent. Boo. I never knew my body could be this exhausted until I coupled pregnancy with sickness.