39 Weeks & More Off the Bucket List

So since our lives will be changing pretty drastically here any day now (hear that Baby? ANY DAY NOW!) we've continued to fill every spare second with something we know we won't be able to do for a while in the future... well, very easily anyway. Or, very spontaneously.

Saturday was supposed to be a lazy day. It was supposed to be a stay-at-home-and-get-things-done-around-the-house sort of day. Sam was going to organize the garage, I was gonna catch up on laundry. Ya know... standard Saturday activities.

We sat in bed until around 10 (when will we EVER be able to do this again??), eating breakfast and watching the news and thinking about what we could do for fun. Next thing I know, Sam is looking up Blazer playoff tickets on Craigslist and finds a deal we couldn't pass up. In a matter of 15 minutes, we were Portland bound flying down I-5 trying to make 12:30 tip off. Crazy.


We didn't think the Blazers had a chance, but thought a playoff game would be a blast anyway. Neither of us had ever been to a playoff game and thought it would be fun. Much to our surprise, Brandon Roy was suited up and looked like he would be playing... just EIGHT days after knee surgery. It was incredible and somehow the Blazers pulled off the win. The energy in the Rose Garden was electric. So much FUN. (Thanks for going with us on such last minute notice Jodi and Jason!!)

I took quite a few videos of the game, but it doesn't come close to capturing how loud it was in that building. It was nuts. This is one of my favorite clips. I love you Steve Nash, but I'm sorry... this was not your game.



39 Week Update


We had our 39 week appointment on Thursday. Baby Boy doesn't show any signs of coming any time soon. I actually committed to another week of work this week (why? why? why??) and we set up a date to be induced, if it comes to that. 41 Weeks. Cinco de Mayo. Yup... Mexican food it up, then head to the hospital for a late night induction. Let's just hope he decides to come on his own before then.


My belly has gotten pretty big, and I'm starting to think about what it's gonna take to get him out. I kinda hoped he would come early and just be a little guy... but now I have all these thoughts (nightmares!) of pushing out a little monster.

Ah well. I suppose this is the first of many many things to come with having kids, and experiencing things that are beyond my control. Oh boy.

Happy Earth Day!

What kind of Ecologist would I be if I didn't dedicate today's post to Earth Day!? My B.S. degree is in Wildlife Ecology, for pete's sake.

That's right, I'm a greener. A tree hugger. Granola. A hippy. Whatever stereotypical term you want to apply, I'll own up to it... I love the Earth. I love the environment. I "believe" in climate change. And no matter what your views are on "saving the Earth", I see nothing wrong with promoting a few super easy lifestyle changes that will help make us better stewards of this beautiful place we've been given to live.

So here we go.

5 super easy things YOU can do to help preserve our planet:

1. Ditch the Plastic Part 1 - Reusable Shopping Bags


This is SO easy. And SO practical. And beneficial. And oh my gosh, why are you not using these?? They cost like $0.99 at any grocery store and are so much easier to use and they carry so much more than nasty plastic bags that pile up around your house and use millions of barrels of oil to produce.

In fact, according to abcnews.com, about 12 million barrels of oil are used nationally to produce 30 billion plastic bags in the United States. (reference: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2935417&page=1)

So make the switch. Today.

2. Ditch the Plastic Part 2 - Reusable Water Bottle


There are all kinds of environmental benefits to using a reusable water bottle. Again, oil consumption to produce the bottle being one of them. It takes an equivalent of about a quarter of the bottle's capacity in oil to make that one bottle.

And, the chemicals that leech out of the plastic into your water can be harmful too.But another reason is how quickly plastic water bottles are filling up the world's landfills. According to msnbc.msn.com, water bottles are the #1 type of drink bottle filling up landfills, where they will spend hundreds of years just sitting there. (reference: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5279230)

3. Brighten Up Your Day With - Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs


This one is seriously so easy. And so practical.If every American home replaced just one light with an Energy Star light, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars. Yikes.

AND, an Energy Star qualified fluorescent light bulb will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. (reference: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=LB)

This is such a no-brainer people. Moving on.

4. Plan Out Your Day With a - Programmable Thermostat


I'm probably preaching to the choir on this one. Who doesn't have one of these now-a-days? But if you do, have you actually spent time programming it?

And did you know that properly using a programmable thermostat in your home is one of the easiest ways you can save energy, money, and help fight global warming?

The average household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills - nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. Homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings. (reference: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=TH)

Get out your manual, and go program!


5. Not Yo' Mamma's Cloth Diapers

So I haven't come out and said this on my blog yet. But we're going cloth. And I know this conjures up images of old cotton nappies, and ugly diaper pins... but trust me, we've come a LONG way since then.Today's cloth diapers look just like your average disposable.

The only difference is you wash them rather than toss them to be destined for an eternity in a landfill! They can be all-in-one, with no separate liners or covers... just soft cotton that is super sensitive to baby's bum.

And the benefits are endless. Money savings ($500 for baby's lifetime vs. $2,000 with disposable), no nasty chemicals in contact with baby's bum (there are chemicals and pthalates in disposable diapers that have been outlawed for use in feminine products!), and although early studies (funded by disposable diaper companies!) tried to show that the amount of water used to wash cloth were just as harmful to the environment as using disposables, recent independent studies show the environmental benefits are HUGE.

And don't even get me started on the cuteness factor. Here's a few shots of our cloth diaper stash so far:

And one of the coolest things about cloth diapers is once Baby N #2 comes around, we'll already have all the diapers she needs and diapering cost = $0!! Now that is being economical.

I'm sure not everyone is gonna jump on the cloth diapering band wagon today... but this is something I'M super excited about. Diaper rash is much less, leaks and blow outs are reportedly much less, COST is much less, and waste is... well... zero.

39 Week Update...

Due to technical difficulties... 39w update will be added tomorrow. Argh. Blogger.

Having Fun in the Meantime

So what if Baby Boy feels like taking his sweet time getting here? (Yeah, I know, I still have a WEEK until my actual due date... let's not get ahead of ourselves here.)

Sam and I have come up with a pre-baby bucket list that includes doing a whole bunch of things we love doing as a couple. It hit me (hard!) the other day that we have the rest of our entire lives to be parents to this baby boy, but we have like T minus 7 days left for it to be JUST "Sam and Amy"... the only thing we've known for the last 6 years.

Yeah, that's right. Sam and I started dating May 2004. And now, almost exactly 6 years later we are welcoming our baby. It has been an AMAZING 6 years and I will always always cherish the time we've had alone to grow together as best friends and form this amazing partnership.

He is truly my best friend and I couldn't ask for a better husband and father of my son.


So to celebrate the last remaining days alone as Sam and Amy, going to a Mariner's game was a MUST. The game was perfect. M's won 4-2 and we had SO much fun. It was a perfect game and a perfect day.

But don't think Baby Boy wasn't in our thoughts. Sam picked out this little souvenir for Baby N. Could it be any cuter? I think not.


So until Baby N gets here, Sock Monkey will be wearing the cutest little Mariner's hat I've ever laid my eyes on.

And Sam and I will continue to enjoy our last few moments of alone time, and try to comprehend this enormous change in our lives that we are just DAYS away from experiencing.

We can't wait... but that doesn't mean we can't have fun in the meantime.

38 Weeks & Why I Love that Spring has Sprung

There are so many reasons why Spring is one of my four top favorite seasons. I'm not sure exactly where it falls in line... cause I really do love the Fall. And the Summer. Winter has its perks too. But today we're focusing on the greatness of Spring.

There is something therapeutic about seeing the brightness of the sun and feeling its warmth. Maybe it's as simple as the dose of Vitamin D the sun provides? But that doesn't explain why I LOVE wearing sunglasses and driving with the windows down. Or why flip flops make me giddy and the sound of a lawn mower is like music to my ears.

So here are some of the things I L-O-V-E about Spring:


Ahhh, pedicures and flip flops. They go together like peas and carrots, I always say. I had my first pedicure of the season a few weeks ago and felt whole again. I love you painty toes and flip floppity shoes... you complete me.


Mariners Games. Sometimes I liken the Mariners to a bad boyfriend, who I keep going back to even after he's hurt me so many times. Being an M's fan isn't easy.

But Spring is the time when a Mariner's game graces our TV most nights and frequently requires trips to Seattle for a game in SafeCo Field... aka: My Happy Place. There's nothing like taking in the gorgeous views of the Puget Sound with a hot dog in hand and baseball on the field. Love it.

And lastly, this is something I love to hate.


Hello blog reader, I'd like to introduce you to Sam's yard-work shorts. Ahhh, these things are atrocious. I even went so far as to hide them under our bed for a good few months. But alas, he sniffed them out somehow and now wears them more than ever. Sam loves these things, and now I've come to love them too. With that, love-to-hate emotion.


I'm sure most husbands have an article of clothing that just rubs their wife the wrong way. These shorts are my nemesis.

Thank you Spring, for bringing them back into our lives.

38 Week Update

We had our 38w appointment today. Nothing going. This boy is very content to keep his head locked and loaded right in my pelvis and camp out a few more weeks, I'm convinced. But I'm actually doing alright.

Dealing with the daily uncomfortableness is becoming normal and I don't really remember what it felt like to not hurt all the time, so I guess we'll just keep doing this.

The mention-worthy pain of the week (on top of previously mentioned ones) is the constant pain in my ribs. Not sure if it's because he's pushing on them with his little feet, or if my ribs are expanding to make room for his growing body, but they feel as though someone has grabbed onto them and is slowly pulling them apart. So that's fun.


How lame is this week's picture? A leek? That's what baby boy is like this week? How did he go from a water melon to a leek, is what I want to know. But whatever, this is your picture this week. Lame.


I don't think I grew much this week. I didn't gain any weight, and "they" say these last few weeks it's normal to just maintain your weight or maybe even lose some. Baby can still gain like an ounce a day though, so he's continuing to get chunky, which will be cute I'm sure... if he ever decides to come out.

Welp, that's it for this week. Just think, there will be THREE more of these updates MAX. But let's just hope for one more. Max.

37 Weeks & Some Progress

Not the kind of progress one might think of when referring to a pending due date. No dilation, no effacement for those who are interested. Nope, I'm talking progress in being READY for Baby N.

Things are coming together. The nursery is taking shape and I think a baby could probably actually live in this house if he had to.

I'll give you a sneak peek into what's goin on in the nursery, I know you're all dying to see. I actually ordered his bedding this week and have been watching the UPS tracking info like a hawk. This is his bedding:


And my mom is working on some art to put up above the crib, which I'm super excited about... it's gonna look something like this:


Freakin cute, right? Don't worry, if you like it I can hook you up. She does this stuff for a living.

Oh, and this week's splurge/source of excitement? I bought Baby Boy a sock monkey. I couldn't be happier with him.

37 Week Update - FULL TERM


If I was to go into labor today, this baby would be considered fully baked. All his vital organs are fully developed and all he's doing in there from now on is getting fatter. Just like his momma. So... any day now Baby Boy!!


At 37 weeks, needless to say... I'm uncomfortable. Sleep is the worst, followed only by walking. Oh yeah, and standing up... and getting out of bed... and getting out of the car... and... you get the idea.

I found a new source of happiness this week. SWIMMING. It felt amazing to glide through the water feeling completely weightless without any sort of weight or pressure on my back/pelvis. I went yesterday, and am counting down the minutes til I go again tomorrow.

I was a bit nervous about walking out into the public pool amongst onlookers of all sorts at 37 weeks prego, but I got over it quick. I love my big bump. The real self-confidence tester will be doing the same thing a few weeks post-prego... oy vey.

36 Weeks & Some Long Lost Friends

I have LOVED being pregnant. It's been a great experience and I am so grateful to spend the last 3/4 of a year growing a baby in my belly. It's seriously been incredible. But, there are things about having my body back to myself that I am definitely looking forward to. And something that has been on my mind for months (but way more now that the weather is starting to look like Spring) are the following:


Ahhh, to train again. To push my body to limits of exhaustion. To program my iPod with an awesome playlist, strap on my runners, and take off through the front door. To jump on the seat of Tess (my bike) and speed down the road at 18-20 mph with nothing around but country roads and a new route. Yeah, I miss that.

And there a few things laying around the house serving as a constant reminder of this part of me that will soon get the dust blown off of them and put back to use. I hope.


My wetsuit. To be used again this summer for lake swimming and training and for a triathlon... hopefully September?


Tess. My road bike. (Named "Tess' b/c it's a Scott Contessa Speedster... but she goes by "Tess" for short.) I see her every time I pull in the garage and reminisce about spending my Saturday mornings with her for hours on end.


My runners. There's nothing like the feeling of accomplishment after you return from a good run. Good because you completed your distance in a faster time, or good because you went further than ever before, or just good because you got through it when you were convinced you couldn't do it that day. Yeah, running, I miss you.

And those are my long lost friends.

36 Week Update

Here we are, a week from full term! Wow. Baby N is pretty close to fully baked and ready to make his appearance. But not so full that I'm holding my breath expecting him any day. I'm fully attempting to mentally prepare myself for 4 more weeks and beyond. Anything earlier would be a bonus, but completely unexpected.We're getting pretty dang close to ready for this little boy. I really feel like we've created a nursery that we could actually care for a baby in (although the walls still need some last minute decor touches) and I feel like the essentials are all just about complete.

This last Saturday we had the last of our showers. It was SO much fun, but can you believe I didn't take a single picture?? I didn't even realize it until it was over, I guess I was just having too much of a good time to mess with photography. Bummer. It was great though, and I was once again, showered with so much love from the girls who came and Baby N got some very much needed essentials that I am super excited about. THANK YOU to all who came... it was a blast.


At 36 weeks Baby N is about the size of a Crenshaw Melon. What is that? Who knows. But apparently it's about 18-19" long and weighs about 5.5 lbs because that's what the doctor told us Baby N's looking like these days. We've started on our weekly doctor visitation schedule and the home stretch is near.


Same ol' same ol' pains. Nothing new, nothing exciting to report except that Baby's definitely getting bigger. He moves constantly and his favorite thing this week seems to be sticking his butt out as far as he can and making my belly completely lopsided. I think I have a booty-shakin' little boy in there. What will his Daddy think of that?