Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Totally bummed...

My good friend down in Maryland has just informed me that because she is under the weather, she feels it best that we cancel our 7th annual Pumpkin Carving Weekend festivities. I feel badly for her, because being sick totally sucks, and God knows I don't want to catch anything nasty being pregnant and all... but I am absolutely heartbroken.

I look forward to our pumpkin carving adventures for MONTHS. I'd even go out on a limb and say it's my favorite weekend of the entire year. I start planning for it in the summer, when pumpkins haven't even begun to grow in the patches yet! I think I even made them mark this date on their calendar back in the winter! It's just such a fun and special time for me... a weekend spent with some of my dearest friends who are practically like second parents to me. We always go to the farm, take the cheesy hayride out to the patch, and spend way more time than needed selecting the perfect orange subject for our carving mastery. Then we go back to their house, feast on hearty, comforting fall foods, make delicious apple pies and other delectable desserts for late night snacking, and then we carve into the wee hours of the night. Suzi and I always end up staying up until we can barely see straight we're so tired, and we set up the four pumpkins and take a zillion pictures until we get one that captures the four of them just right. This year was going to be extra special because we were going to carve our pumpkins the night before Halloween, and then have them all aglow for the kids when they came around trick-or-treating on Saturday. But alas, we will not be going down to Belcamp this year.

And I think part of the reason this is making me so upset is because I was looking forward to this last year of our tradition being the way it is. This is our last year for it to be just us, and we will have to learn how to make life work as a family of 3 in a few short months. I am a sucker for tradition as it is; and I have very few that are THAT important to me. Every other year we go up to Albany NY for Thanksgiving with my side of the family, and that is a major one for me. And Christmas morning is always spent at my parents, feasting on a big breakfast my Dad has prepared for us. And of course we always do the Race for the Cure on Mother's Day in honor of my Mom. And then there's Pumpkin Weekend in Maryland.

Next October, we will have an 8 month old baby girl on our hands, and I'm guessing that life as we know it will be non-existent. Doesn't mean we won't be able to still participate in our favorite activities, and of course we will be able to uphold these traditions that are so important to us, but... well, this one was extra special to me. And I feel like maybe it's over now. Like a good friend said to me this morning, "perhaps it's time that Dave and I practice starting new traditions," and while she's absolutely right, I'm not quite sure I was ready for that. I was SO looking forward to this weekend, and spending time with these friends and carving my pumpkin together with them. And although I know Dave and I will still have fun on Friday at Varner's Farm here in Collegeville, and we will certainly make the best of our amended pumpkin activities... I'm still really sad that it's not going to be the way it was.

But I suppose I should get used to life not being the way it was.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

My Little Banana...


How far along? 21 weeks today!

Total weight gain/loss: up 6 lbs as of my last doctor's appt. on the 12th of October

Maternity clothes? wearing maternity pants almost every day, haven't made the switch to shirts yet

Sleep: sleeping MUCH better but when I do wake up in the middle of the night, I sometimes have trouble getting back to sleep

Best moment this week: our ultrasound this past Monday, and feeling her kick at night!

Food cravings: nothing specific these days... trying to eat healthier, actually!

Gender: it's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Labor Signs: Haha, not yet, thank goodness...

Belly Button in or out? In, but seemingly more shallow than before

What I miss: wine and sushi

What I am looking forward to: our next ultrasound on Nov. 16th

Weekly Wisdom: I am being told on a daily basis to get the flu shot!

Milestones: hitting the halfway point at 20 weeks :)

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Dear Baby...

My darling Tyler or Natalie,
This is the first of many letters I plan to write to you; while you are inside my tummy, and then once you are here with us in the world.
Today is the last day that I will have to refer to you as "it." Tomorrow morning, providing that you cooperate, Daddy and I will know you in a whole new way, and begin bonding with you on a new level. I don't think I've been this excited since the night before I married your Daddy! I am writing to ask you to please be a good little baby tomorrow morning and show us what we want to see! With parents like us, you are bound to be a stubborn little monkey, so I figured, let's nip this in the bud ahead of time. But, I need you to know how much Daddy and I are absolutely in love with you, and no matter what parts you reveal to us tomorrow, we can't wait to find out... even if you decide not to show us! I hope you've been hearing Daddy talk to you every night and every morning - he is SO excited to be your Daddy!!!
We are going to give you the most amazing life that we possibly can... you will be born into a wonderful, supportive family filled with love, and you will have the most incredible Grandparents you could ever ask for. Both your Nanas are going bonkers over you in their own ways... and I can't even imagine what it's going to be like once you are actually here. Granddad Pete and I are going to start teaching you how to play soccer (or football, as your Granddad might teach you to call it) as soon as you can walk, and Daddy can't wait to share all of his knowledge and skills with you too!
Daddy and I have agreed that we won't make it a habit of always calling you by your name, until you're actually here... but it sure will be fun to be able to pick out cute Flyers outfits, or purple dresses for you! (yes, baby, you hear that? If you are a girl, Mommy is joining Team Purple, NOT Team Pink!)
Anyway, I just wanted to make sure that you that we love you, and I can't wait to hold you in my arms and give you kisses and snuggles, and introduce you to your big brother Sammy! He is going to adore you too!
With all my love,
Mommy

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Whoaaaaaah, we're half way there...

Man, who'd have ever thought I could actually use a BON JOVI lyric in my blog post title?! SWEET!


And much to my true surprise, I have come to find out that (multiple!) people are actually reading this blog! And requesting that I keep it updated! So to my faithful followers (all 4 of you, haha), let me bring you up to speed:


We are officially (well, OK, on Thursday) HALF WAY to Baby Rolston's arrival!!!!

It's kind of hard to believe we're in our 20th week... time has flown! And I'm sure it'll go even faster after next Monday when we find out just what kind of baby we're gonna have! I am SO excited... at first I really thought I wanted to try to keep it a surprise... but now that I've committed to finding out, I am obsessing! I have polled several friends, and it seems to be pretty evenly split down the middle in terms of people's predictions of boy or girl. I truly have no idea. For the longest time, I was convinced it was a boy... but now for some reason lately I've been leaning towards girl, and for no good reason. I wish the 19th would just hurry up and get here!!!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday... I'm up about 5 pounds since pre-pregnancy, which the doctor seemed totally fine with. My blood pressure was OK, and the baby's heartbeat was strong... so all good stuff there. After the appointment, Mom and I went shopping and it was killing us not to indulge and buy lots of baby stuff... though it's probably better we didn't know the gender yesterday because we could have done some serious damage!

Dave is down in Florida at WEFTEC until tomorrow night, and I miss him a ton! I know 4 days really isn't all that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, but especially now that it's so damn cold at night, I miss having him around to snuggle up to! Though I must say, Sam is doing a great job of filling his Daddy's shoes and cuddling with me on the couch at night!

Well that's about all for now... I'm sure if I don't post before, I will have a lot to say come next Monday! TTFN!