I am STILL pregnant. I can't even believe it. Here I thought I was going to have a 3 week old baby by now and she is still baking away in my oven. I can't quite figure it out and to tell you the truth I am kind of tired of contemplating why she is still in there. Obviously she must be really comfortable but let's be honest, how comfortable can you really be standing on your head day in and day out.
There haven't been many changes. I am still all swelled up like a balloon and my belly couldn't possibly get much bigger without spliting right down the middle. At my doctor's appointment last week I was advised that my cervix hadn't changed much but the baby seemed to drop a bit more. Any farther and she may just drop right on out. She is so low now that sometimes I swear I can feel her move in the top of my thighs. Totally impossible I know but it is a serious case of phantom baby movement.
Last Saturday I lost my mucous plug. And yes, it is equally as disgusting as it sounds. I thought it was a promising sign and I instantly Googled what it meant. Not much really...I could go into labor within a day or within a few weeks. So, it really didn't get me anywhere. I have had lots of contractions throughout the course of each day but nothing close enough together and they always seem to stop after I get up and move around. So, the wait continues. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow evening and I am hoping some of these contractions have made progress on my dialation but I am not going to get my hopes up. Depending on how everything goes we will probably schedule me to be induced next week. But, it all depends on how far I have progressed because they would like to avoid giving me a C-section and frankly I would really like to avoid that too. So fingers are crossed and prayers are plentiful that any day she will come in her own time as God planned it.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
And the Wait Continues...
I am now 37 weeks and 4 days and if I could give you hours I would...and still no baby (sigh). The suspense is killing me. Every day I wake up and ask myself... is today the day?...and then I go to bed each night and ask myself...is tonight the night? I can't stop thinking about how the whole scenario will play out. Will I be shopping at Target and have my water break? Or will I wake up to pee in the middle of the night and realize I am having contractions. My mind just won't stop wandering and it is really giving me a headache. Plus, to top it off my doc really short changed me two weeks back when she thought I was going to give birth that week. Everyone got so excited but now all it really did was get my panties in a bunch. I mean crap...can't they give you a better idea than that. It has been two LONG weeks and nothing has changed. I am really getting antsy and so is everyone else. I almost don't want to pick up the phone and call anyone anymore because the first thing they ask is if I am in labor. Sometimes I don't even get a hello...it is just straight to the point...Are you in labor? I reply no and you can hear the let down in their voice like they are thinking...well shoot, why did you call then.
Paul is even guilty of putting the pressure on. Last night he told me he is cramming all this stuff into each day because he never knows when he will be called away for the week. He reasssured me though that the computer will be coming home with him and he has a spare box of files to work through that are already loaded in the car so he has plenty to take care of while on paternity leave. I laughed on the inside and thought...buddy, you have no idea what you are in for. I didn't have the heart to tell him that between catering to me and London he will have plenty to do and in his "spare" time I can guarantee he will want to sleep...and that is about it.
So the days go by and the waiting continues. I am really enjoying this final stage of relaxation, naps, lunches out with friends and trips to the store sans baby. I know it will all be a distant memory in no time. I have a doctors appointment Thursday and am crossing my fingers that she will take a look at me and check my cervix and send me straight to the hospital. You hear about that happening and maybe...just maybe...it will happen to me.
Paul is even guilty of putting the pressure on. Last night he told me he is cramming all this stuff into each day because he never knows when he will be called away for the week. He reasssured me though that the computer will be coming home with him and he has a spare box of files to work through that are already loaded in the car so he has plenty to take care of while on paternity leave. I laughed on the inside and thought...buddy, you have no idea what you are in for. I didn't have the heart to tell him that between catering to me and London he will have plenty to do and in his "spare" time I can guarantee he will want to sleep...and that is about it.
So the days go by and the waiting continues. I am really enjoying this final stage of relaxation, naps, lunches out with friends and trips to the store sans baby. I know it will all be a distant memory in no time. I have a doctors appointment Thursday and am crossing my fingers that she will take a look at me and check my cervix and send me straight to the hospital. You hear about that happening and maybe...just maybe...it will happen to me.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
How Are You Feeling?
This seems to be the most frequently asked question these days. For good reason of course but gosh am I sure sick of telling 20 people a day that I am feeling about as crappy as I was feeling the day before and the day before and the day before...you catch my drift. My girlfriend made a good point yesterday though when she said...you might as well enjoy everyone asking how YOU are doing for the next little bit because as soon as London arrives no one will ask how you are doing...only how she is doing. Good point I thought.
Anyway, my answer for today is...as you would expect...I am feeling about the same as yesterday. To paint a perfect picture and be a real complainer I have decided to start at the top of my head and run through every ailment on my body. Headaches...these are a new development. I get them daily now. Typically mid day and they last a few hours. Shoulder aches...as a result of the growing mammaries on my chest no doubt. Acid reflux...thanks to London rearranging my stomach and small intestine. Boob leakage...well that speaks for itself. Lower backache...as a result of London sitting ever so far down in my belly. The sensation that I could pee at any moment...again thanks to London resting her pretty little head on my bladder. Muscle strains in my lower abdomen...due in part to my ever expanding belly. Abdominal cramps...these are the early signs of labor according to my doc. Swollen legs, calves, ankles and feet...as if you can even differentiate my calf from my ankle from my foot. So there it is...the true joys of pregnancy this last month.
London is certainly getting crowded because her movements make my entire belly jump around like a firework just went off inside. It is a fun sensation and hilarious to watch and wonder what she might be doing in there. I know she is just baking away but I am ready for her to make an appearance any time now. I am ready to have my body back. I look forward to the simple things like eating without thinking I just regurgitated a ball of fire. I look forward to having my feet fit into shoes instead of the three pair of flip flops I have been forced to wear these past two months. I look forward to not being winded after making the bed and being able to fit comfortably in my car without the steering wheel resting a quarter inch from my belly. Just the little things...
So as the time rolls by and I approach 37 weeks on Friday I plan to begin the process of coaxing her out. Lots of stretching, yoga poses, walking, squats, spicy food and pressure point massage. We will see how it goes. And, in the event that she still is not ready to join us then my doctor has advised me that I can be induced at 39 weeks. I will keep my options open and just pray that she comes before then. So, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping she arrives real soon...please!
Anyway, my answer for today is...as you would expect...I am feeling about the same as yesterday. To paint a perfect picture and be a real complainer I have decided to start at the top of my head and run through every ailment on my body. Headaches...these are a new development. I get them daily now. Typically mid day and they last a few hours. Shoulder aches...as a result of the growing mammaries on my chest no doubt. Acid reflux...thanks to London rearranging my stomach and small intestine. Boob leakage...well that speaks for itself. Lower backache...as a result of London sitting ever so far down in my belly. The sensation that I could pee at any moment...again thanks to London resting her pretty little head on my bladder. Muscle strains in my lower abdomen...due in part to my ever expanding belly. Abdominal cramps...these are the early signs of labor according to my doc. Swollen legs, calves, ankles and feet...as if you can even differentiate my calf from my ankle from my foot. So there it is...the true joys of pregnancy this last month.
London is certainly getting crowded because her movements make my entire belly jump around like a firework just went off inside. It is a fun sensation and hilarious to watch and wonder what she might be doing in there. I know she is just baking away but I am ready for her to make an appearance any time now. I am ready to have my body back. I look forward to the simple things like eating without thinking I just regurgitated a ball of fire. I look forward to having my feet fit into shoes instead of the three pair of flip flops I have been forced to wear these past two months. I look forward to not being winded after making the bed and being able to fit comfortably in my car without the steering wheel resting a quarter inch from my belly. Just the little things...
So as the time rolls by and I approach 37 weeks on Friday I plan to begin the process of coaxing her out. Lots of stretching, yoga poses, walking, squats, spicy food and pressure point massage. We will see how it goes. And, in the event that she still is not ready to join us then my doctor has advised me that I can be induced at 39 weeks. I will keep my options open and just pray that she comes before then. So, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping she arrives real soon...please!
Friday, July 16, 2010
The Countdown is On!
Today I am 36 weeks pregnant. I can hardly believe the time has passed so quickly and our baby will be here in 28 days or less. There has been lots of physical changes this past week though so I know she is getting ready to make an appearance any time now.
The week started with a doctor's appointment on Tuesday. The usual procedures took place- urine test, weight, blood pressure and fetal heart beat check. Everything was good. Then the doc took my measurement and discovered I was only measuring at around 32 weeks. Next step, a cervical check. Sure thing, the baby had dropped even more and my cervix had thinned out some and was dialated 1cm. She advised me that she was really low in the birth canal and she would highly doubt that I could make it past July and she wouldn't even be surprised if I had her this week. Of course I was in a state of shock and I had a slight panic attack wondering if I was ready...like NOW. It was exciting and nerve racking and scary all at the same time. My Godmother who was with me was giddy and immediately commented that she better go home and take a nap then. Nap? I wish I could nap. I would be lucky to get any sleep going forward with all this excitement. It reminded me of that darling Disney commercial that aired a few years back when two kids who are leaving for Disneyland the next day get in trouble for being up too late and giggling in bed. When the parents come in to scold them they reply (in the cutest voice ever), "But we are too excited to sleep." Paul and I have stolen that line in the commercial and used it countless times. This would be one of those times. Instantly, I started processing everything that still needed to be done. Car seat needs installing, registry purchases need to be finished, laundry needs to be done, etc, etc.
I called Paul right away and he didn't have much to offer. I think he was caught off guard too and it took a few hours for him to process it before he called back to make sure we had really just had a conversation about possibly having a baby this week. Yes honey, that was the conversation I told him. And then he followed up by saying (and this is why I love him so much)...well are we still going to be able to go to Morton's on Friday to celebrate our 5th anniversary? My reply was...well as long as we aren't at the hospital or home with our newborn child then yes honey we will still be going.
By Tuesday night I noticed a drastic difference in my belly. It had dropped. The "girls" no longer rested so comfortably on my belly anymore. There was actually space between them now. Great progress! Especially now that it is ridiculously hot outside and the sweat that was developing from the friction of the two was getting a bit out of control. So my belly has dropped quite a bit and with that comes new challenges such as the fact that London is now resting her head on my bladder. Not a big deal most of the time but when she gets the hiccups (and she does 3-4 times a day) her little head repeatedly bumps my bladder and makes me feel like I could pee my pants at any time. I also am getting lower back pain now that she is so low and I get these wierd pulling sensations in my belly when I sit forward too fast. All sorts of fun things...and according to the doctor...all totally normal!
I think I still have a little ways to go before this munchkin is born though. I anticipate the end of next week. I am shooting for Thursday or Friday but I know she will come when she is ready. In the meantime, we are still going to Morton's to celebrate our 5 year anniversary tonight. My girlfriend put it best this morning. She said, 5 years ago you were getting married on this day and now 5 years later you are knocked up and having a baby. Amazing how times change!
This is almost the end of the journey- It is hard to believe. Since Tuesday I have managed to get all the details wrapped up. Car seat is installed, registry purchases are done and put away. Hospital bag is packed. All we need now is our beautiful new baby. I can hardly wait.
The week started with a doctor's appointment on Tuesday. The usual procedures took place- urine test, weight, blood pressure and fetal heart beat check. Everything was good. Then the doc took my measurement and discovered I was only measuring at around 32 weeks. Next step, a cervical check. Sure thing, the baby had dropped even more and my cervix had thinned out some and was dialated 1cm. She advised me that she was really low in the birth canal and she would highly doubt that I could make it past July and she wouldn't even be surprised if I had her this week. Of course I was in a state of shock and I had a slight panic attack wondering if I was ready...like NOW. It was exciting and nerve racking and scary all at the same time. My Godmother who was with me was giddy and immediately commented that she better go home and take a nap then. Nap? I wish I could nap. I would be lucky to get any sleep going forward with all this excitement. It reminded me of that darling Disney commercial that aired a few years back when two kids who are leaving for Disneyland the next day get in trouble for being up too late and giggling in bed. When the parents come in to scold them they reply (in the cutest voice ever), "But we are too excited to sleep." Paul and I have stolen that line in the commercial and used it countless times. This would be one of those times. Instantly, I started processing everything that still needed to be done. Car seat needs installing, registry purchases need to be finished, laundry needs to be done, etc, etc.
I called Paul right away and he didn't have much to offer. I think he was caught off guard too and it took a few hours for him to process it before he called back to make sure we had really just had a conversation about possibly having a baby this week. Yes honey, that was the conversation I told him. And then he followed up by saying (and this is why I love him so much)...well are we still going to be able to go to Morton's on Friday to celebrate our 5th anniversary? My reply was...well as long as we aren't at the hospital or home with our newborn child then yes honey we will still be going.
By Tuesday night I noticed a drastic difference in my belly. It had dropped. The "girls" no longer rested so comfortably on my belly anymore. There was actually space between them now. Great progress! Especially now that it is ridiculously hot outside and the sweat that was developing from the friction of the two was getting a bit out of control. So my belly has dropped quite a bit and with that comes new challenges such as the fact that London is now resting her head on my bladder. Not a big deal most of the time but when she gets the hiccups (and she does 3-4 times a day) her little head repeatedly bumps my bladder and makes me feel like I could pee my pants at any time. I also am getting lower back pain now that she is so low and I get these wierd pulling sensations in my belly when I sit forward too fast. All sorts of fun things...and according to the doctor...all totally normal!
I think I still have a little ways to go before this munchkin is born though. I anticipate the end of next week. I am shooting for Thursday or Friday but I know she will come when she is ready. In the meantime, we are still going to Morton's to celebrate our 5 year anniversary tonight. My girlfriend put it best this morning. She said, 5 years ago you were getting married on this day and now 5 years later you are knocked up and having a baby. Amazing how times change!
This is almost the end of the journey- It is hard to believe. Since Tuesday I have managed to get all the details wrapped up. Car seat is installed, registry purchases are done and put away. Hospital bag is packed. All we need now is our beautiful new baby. I can hardly wait.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
MOO-ve Over Milkman
I felt the title of this blog was so fitting for two reasons. First, I feel like I am the size of a hefty dairy cow as of late and second, I am producing liquid from my "utters" at a speed that would make the milkman proud.
Although I have always been shall we say "blessed in the chest" I had no idea what I was in for when I got pregnant. Big boobs run in the family on both sides so I really had no chance from the time I was concieved. In fact, one of my most favorite final memories with my mom happened at the hospital about 2 months ago. I was there visiting as I did everyday and so was my Godmother. My mom was in an especially spunky mood that day and she started harassing me about how big my belly had gotten and in addition, how large my boobs looked too. She then proceded to lift up her shirt and lament about her bare pancakes and how old and saggy they were. She wanted to compare hers to mine so she begged me to show her the girls in all their glory. I of course consented and lifted my top and bra to showcase my boobs...all the while the three of us are laughing hysterically. My mom flipped out over my boobs...oh my gosh...they are HUGE...aren't they heavy?...can I hold one? Sure I said, to which she replied by reaching out and palming by boob and giving it a few shakes. Then she said...wow those are really heavy you poor thing...and your milk hasn't even come in yet. Then my mom turned to my Godmother and said...okay, we showed you ours now you show us yours. She didn't go for it but it was still absolutely hilarious and we laughed about it for quite a while.
So as I said before, my boobs have grown quite a bit since I got pregnant. In fact, they have now grown so much that they actually rest on my belly and boy is it a sight to behold. In fact, the other day Paul actually expressed concern for them being too big and smothering our childs face at feedings. Gee, thanks honey. As if I have any control over their size. They also have started producing this fabulous pre-milk liquid called colostrum. Generally it is produced right after giving birth and it feeds the baby for a few days until the real milk comes in but some people such as myself get to experience the joy of producing it early and in turn we get an early lesson in boob leakage. The first time this happened was about a month and a half ago. I came home from a day out and about running errands and I started to prepare dinner. I ran my hands over my belly and hit a wet spot. Wierd I thought...what did I spill? I looked down and pulled my shirt away from my body and there was a large wet spot along with several dry spots in the boob region. By golly my boobs sprung a leak. And, they did so while I was out running errands. How embarassing. No wonder the kid at Nuggett had this funky look on his face at the checkout counter earlier. I probably scarred him for life. Immediately I dialed one of my best girlfriends/lactation consultant who informed me it was totally normal and some people just start producing early...and that meant I needed to get nursing pads and start using them. Oh joy!
So the next day, I bought the first of many boxes of nursing pads and tried them out. Not too bad actually. I also went out and bought a couple nursing bras a few days later because I quickly learned that the girls also need sufficient coverage at night in bed as well. All this after I woke up to dried spots on my sheets. The best part though is when I get out of the shower and have not yet dressed and it starts running down my belly because as I said, my boobs rest comfortably on my belly these days. I mean honestly...you really can't help but laugh about it. And I am sure when my milk finally does come in it will be an even greater sight to behold. But, these girls will be London's breakfast, lunch and dinner so I better get used to it. In fact, our Lamaze coach informed us that the baby will eat anywhere from 8-12 times a day in the beginning. So, they will be getting more action than ever before. And between feeding London and pumping on the side we should have a full fledged Ueckert Dairy being run right out of our home in no time. Mooooooo!
Although I have always been shall we say "blessed in the chest" I had no idea what I was in for when I got pregnant. Big boobs run in the family on both sides so I really had no chance from the time I was concieved. In fact, one of my most favorite final memories with my mom happened at the hospital about 2 months ago. I was there visiting as I did everyday and so was my Godmother. My mom was in an especially spunky mood that day and she started harassing me about how big my belly had gotten and in addition, how large my boobs looked too. She then proceded to lift up her shirt and lament about her bare pancakes and how old and saggy they were. She wanted to compare hers to mine so she begged me to show her the girls in all their glory. I of course consented and lifted my top and bra to showcase my boobs...all the while the three of us are laughing hysterically. My mom flipped out over my boobs...oh my gosh...they are HUGE...aren't they heavy?...can I hold one? Sure I said, to which she replied by reaching out and palming by boob and giving it a few shakes. Then she said...wow those are really heavy you poor thing...and your milk hasn't even come in yet. Then my mom turned to my Godmother and said...okay, we showed you ours now you show us yours. She didn't go for it but it was still absolutely hilarious and we laughed about it for quite a while.
So as I said before, my boobs have grown quite a bit since I got pregnant. In fact, they have now grown so much that they actually rest on my belly and boy is it a sight to behold. In fact, the other day Paul actually expressed concern for them being too big and smothering our childs face at feedings. Gee, thanks honey. As if I have any control over their size. They also have started producing this fabulous pre-milk liquid called colostrum. Generally it is produced right after giving birth and it feeds the baby for a few days until the real milk comes in but some people such as myself get to experience the joy of producing it early and in turn we get an early lesson in boob leakage. The first time this happened was about a month and a half ago. I came home from a day out and about running errands and I started to prepare dinner. I ran my hands over my belly and hit a wet spot. Wierd I thought...what did I spill? I looked down and pulled my shirt away from my body and there was a large wet spot along with several dry spots in the boob region. By golly my boobs sprung a leak. And, they did so while I was out running errands. How embarassing. No wonder the kid at Nuggett had this funky look on his face at the checkout counter earlier. I probably scarred him for life. Immediately I dialed one of my best girlfriends/lactation consultant who informed me it was totally normal and some people just start producing early...and that meant I needed to get nursing pads and start using them. Oh joy!
So the next day, I bought the first of many boxes of nursing pads and tried them out. Not too bad actually. I also went out and bought a couple nursing bras a few days later because I quickly learned that the girls also need sufficient coverage at night in bed as well. All this after I woke up to dried spots on my sheets. The best part though is when I get out of the shower and have not yet dressed and it starts running down my belly because as I said, my boobs rest comfortably on my belly these days. I mean honestly...you really can't help but laugh about it. And I am sure when my milk finally does come in it will be an even greater sight to behold. But, these girls will be London's breakfast, lunch and dinner so I better get used to it. In fact, our Lamaze coach informed us that the baby will eat anywhere from 8-12 times a day in the beginning. So, they will be getting more action than ever before. And between feeding London and pumping on the side we should have a full fledged Ueckert Dairy being run right out of our home in no time. Mooooooo!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
I left my HEART in San Francisco
My beautiful mother passed away eleven days ago. It was five months earlier than we expected but she held on for my dad's 64th birthday and my parents 38th wedding anniversary. The next morning on June 18th she passed away quick and peacefully. It has been devastating, shocking, sad, and bittersweet but we all knew her time with us was going to be short anyway and whether she lived 1 week, 1 month or 1 year it still would have been too soon. We are mostly thankful that the good Lord took her before she had to really suffer and be incapable of caring for herself. I will miss her everyday for the rest of my life and on days when the clouds are really gorgeous (and they have been a lot lately) I look up at the Heavens and know she has painted them that way for me.
Paul and I had planned a trip to San Francisco several months ago. We weren't sure if we were going to make it because of my mom but since she passed away we decided it would be especially important to get out of town for a few days to decompress and be together, just the two of us, one last time before London graces us with her presence.
I LOVE San Francisco. I always have and always will. And, what I realized this past weekend is that a piece of my heart has been left there just like Tony Bennett sang it way back in 1954. Paul and I took off last Thursday morning and other than stopping for a quick potty break :-) made great time into the city. We made our first stop at the Jewelry Center to have our wedding rings cleaned and checked. I also now have two beautiful new rings. One is a vintage platinum and diamond ring that was my grandmothers and the other is a yellow gold and diamond 20 year anniversary ring that was my mom's. Niether of them had seen a cleaner and polisher in years and my grandmothers ring had actually been cut off her finger so it had a gap in the back. Needless to say, I was looking forward to seeing both of the rings in all their glory again. After we dropped off the rings we headed over to the SF Ferry Building based on a recommendation by a good friend who recently visited. We loved it and had a great time shopping around, soaking up the usual SF quirkiness and having lunch. Then we checked into our hotel... we stayed at the W which was very funky and cool and they gave us a great room with a beautiful view of the city. After a nap we prepped for dinner at XYZ downstairs at our hotel. Following a yummy dinner we headed to the San Francisco Opera to see The Girl from the Golden West which we had won tickets to at a Weimaraner Gala we went to last November. The opera house was absolutley beautiful inside. If the chairs had not been so uncomfortable and I had not been 8+ months pregnant we would have stayed the whole time but after about an hour and a half we left at the first intermission. Which, by the way, there were two intermissions and in total the night would have been 4 hours long. Not really my thing but glad I did it anyway. We ended the the evening with a nightcap and dessert at the hotel bar. It was a great day.
The next morning on Friday I woke up early and cracked the shutters open in our room. I got back in bed and stared out the window at the cityscape. It had been one week since my moms passing. As I looked out the window though I thought about San Francisco and all the great memories I had there with my family over the past 28 years of my life. I remember fieldtrips to the Exploratorium and Natural History Museum when I was in elementary school. My mom always volunteered to be a parent driver for those fun trips and I loved it. I remember visiting Haight and Ashbury with my parents on multiple occassions because their friends daughter owned a funky hair salon there. We would get our hair done, do some people watching and usually go to dinner at this great restaurant in Ghiradelli Square that is no longer in business. It had a beautiful view of the wharf and they were famous for this fry bread rubbed in garlic that was out of this world. I also remember walking the Golden Gate Bridge with our Japanese foreign exchange students who stayed with us three summers while I was in elementary and middle school. I remember sailing on my parents friends sailboat in the bay on the fourth of July and watching the fireworks over the Golden Gate. And, I also remember an overnight girls trip we took a few years back with one of my best friends and her mom. We shopped and ate and shopped and ate and had a really wonderful time just bonding and being women. The last time I visited SF was with Paul and my parents back in October for my birthday. My mom and I have always had this interest in Egypt and the pyramids so when the King Tut exhibit came to the DeYoung Museum we got tickets and made it a birthday trip for me. It was a fabulous time topped off with a delicious dinner at Skates on the Bay in Berkley, a family fave. These are just some of the many wonderful memories I have of San Francisco. And, as I layed in bed reminiscing I couldn't help but smile and think of all the joyful times my mom and I had the opportunity to share. Everytime I vist SF I will think of her and those great memories and for that reason alone I know I have left a piece of my heart in San Francisco...and, she left a piece of hers there too.
Friday began with breakfast at this fabulous restaurant called The Grove right near our hotel. Afterwards, we headed over and picked up our rings at the Jewelry Center. They looked amazing. My mom and grandmothers rings looked especially gorgeous and I look forward to wearing them when the swelling in my hands goes away. From there we made the drive to Berkley and shopped on 4th Avenue and then followed that up with lunch at Skates on the Bay. We had a window seat overlooking the water and it was really wonderful. After lunch we headed back to our room so I could rest my weary feet. We took a nap, rented a movie and ate junk food in bed. It was perfect. For dinner we took the recommendation of our concierge and ate at a small neighborhood restuarant in SOMA. It was called La Bricciola and it was Italian. Good, authentic Italian where everything is made from scratch...even our waiter was Italian and spoke words of it in between his English. Our dinner was divine and the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend away.
On Saturday we woke up and headed out of the city. We had an absolutely fabulous trip. It was a good time to clear our heads, be together, remember my mom, and look forward to the new chapter in our lives that is about to begin.
Paul and I had planned a trip to San Francisco several months ago. We weren't sure if we were going to make it because of my mom but since she passed away we decided it would be especially important to get out of town for a few days to decompress and be together, just the two of us, one last time before London graces us with her presence.
I LOVE San Francisco. I always have and always will. And, what I realized this past weekend is that a piece of my heart has been left there just like Tony Bennett sang it way back in 1954. Paul and I took off last Thursday morning and other than stopping for a quick potty break :-) made great time into the city. We made our first stop at the Jewelry Center to have our wedding rings cleaned and checked. I also now have two beautiful new rings. One is a vintage platinum and diamond ring that was my grandmothers and the other is a yellow gold and diamond 20 year anniversary ring that was my mom's. Niether of them had seen a cleaner and polisher in years and my grandmothers ring had actually been cut off her finger so it had a gap in the back. Needless to say, I was looking forward to seeing both of the rings in all their glory again. After we dropped off the rings we headed over to the SF Ferry Building based on a recommendation by a good friend who recently visited. We loved it and had a great time shopping around, soaking up the usual SF quirkiness and having lunch. Then we checked into our hotel... we stayed at the W which was very funky and cool and they gave us a great room with a beautiful view of the city. After a nap we prepped for dinner at XYZ downstairs at our hotel. Following a yummy dinner we headed to the San Francisco Opera to see The Girl from the Golden West which we had won tickets to at a Weimaraner Gala we went to last November. The opera house was absolutley beautiful inside. If the chairs had not been so uncomfortable and I had not been 8+ months pregnant we would have stayed the whole time but after about an hour and a half we left at the first intermission. Which, by the way, there were two intermissions and in total the night would have been 4 hours long. Not really my thing but glad I did it anyway. We ended the the evening with a nightcap and dessert at the hotel bar. It was a great day.
The next morning on Friday I woke up early and cracked the shutters open in our room. I got back in bed and stared out the window at the cityscape. It had been one week since my moms passing. As I looked out the window though I thought about San Francisco and all the great memories I had there with my family over the past 28 years of my life. I remember fieldtrips to the Exploratorium and Natural History Museum when I was in elementary school. My mom always volunteered to be a parent driver for those fun trips and I loved it. I remember visiting Haight and Ashbury with my parents on multiple occassions because their friends daughter owned a funky hair salon there. We would get our hair done, do some people watching and usually go to dinner at this great restaurant in Ghiradelli Square that is no longer in business. It had a beautiful view of the wharf and they were famous for this fry bread rubbed in garlic that was out of this world. I also remember walking the Golden Gate Bridge with our Japanese foreign exchange students who stayed with us three summers while I was in elementary and middle school. I remember sailing on my parents friends sailboat in the bay on the fourth of July and watching the fireworks over the Golden Gate. And, I also remember an overnight girls trip we took a few years back with one of my best friends and her mom. We shopped and ate and shopped and ate and had a really wonderful time just bonding and being women. The last time I visited SF was with Paul and my parents back in October for my birthday. My mom and I have always had this interest in Egypt and the pyramids so when the King Tut exhibit came to the DeYoung Museum we got tickets and made it a birthday trip for me. It was a fabulous time topped off with a delicious dinner at Skates on the Bay in Berkley, a family fave. These are just some of the many wonderful memories I have of San Francisco. And, as I layed in bed reminiscing I couldn't help but smile and think of all the joyful times my mom and I had the opportunity to share. Everytime I vist SF I will think of her and those great memories and for that reason alone I know I have left a piece of my heart in San Francisco...and, she left a piece of hers there too.
Friday began with breakfast at this fabulous restaurant called The Grove right near our hotel. Afterwards, we headed over and picked up our rings at the Jewelry Center. They looked amazing. My mom and grandmothers rings looked especially gorgeous and I look forward to wearing them when the swelling in my hands goes away. From there we made the drive to Berkley and shopped on 4th Avenue and then followed that up with lunch at Skates on the Bay. We had a window seat overlooking the water and it was really wonderful. After lunch we headed back to our room so I could rest my weary feet. We took a nap, rented a movie and ate junk food in bed. It was perfect. For dinner we took the recommendation of our concierge and ate at a small neighborhood restuarant in SOMA. It was called La Bricciola and it was Italian. Good, authentic Italian where everything is made from scratch...even our waiter was Italian and spoke words of it in between his English. Our dinner was divine and the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend away.
On Saturday we woke up and headed out of the city. We had an absolutely fabulous trip. It was a good time to clear our heads, be together, remember my mom, and look forward to the new chapter in our lives that is about to begin.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Willy Wonka Comes to Town
I think my mom has been planning my baby shower from about the time I hit college. Not that she wanted me to get pregnant in college but the vision came to her then and has been thought about, discussed and tweaked many times over the years. Even my best girlfriends remember her talking about this shower at Paul and my engagement party...so needless to say my baby shower has been in the making since before London was even in the making.
In my eyes there is no greater movie than Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Made in 1971 well before I was born this movie was my all time favorite growing up and to this day whenever they play it on TBS I still can't resist the temptation to watch it. I probably have seen it close to 100 times...and each time it still makes me smile, laugh and imagine the possibilities of life. The movie also has a lot of great lessons to offer about greed, hard work, and family. I just love it and it makes me feel good. And surprisingly enough, my mom met Gene Wilder who plays Willy Wonka many years ago when the movie was coming out or had just come out. She was doing window displays for a store in the mall before they opened and he was there doing a promotional gig and he came and watched her through the window until she came out to meet him. At least that is how I remember her telling me the story...I should double check that so I can retell it to London one day.
In any event, when I found out I was pregnant my mom began the monumental task of planning my Willy Wonka baby shower and having always had the most amazing parties for me while I was growing up, I knew this one would be equally as awesome. As a sidenote, in honor of my mom and all the amazing parties she has thrown for me over the years I hereby promise to do the same for my kids when they are growing up. I definitely got the party planning/decorating gene from my mom and I love, love, love her for that. In fact I already have two birthday parties in the works in my brain for London. One will be a Mary Poppins party (which is my second favorite movie of all time) complete with umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, chalk drawings and kite making. The other an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party.
So back to the Willy Wonka Shower...it started with sending out invitations. We found these great cards with lollipops and candy printed on the bottom in fun colors. The card invited them to a Scrumdidilyumptuous Baby Shower at Danielle's Creperie in Sacramento. The restaurant has been a family favorite for years. When I was little they used to be located in Town and Country Village and we would walk over Sunday mornings for brunch. The best item on the menu is the spicy avocado crepe. Delish! Also, included in the invitation was a golden ticket. It was an exact replica of the one Charlie's Grandpa Joe reads out loud in the film with a little tweaking to adjust the date, time and location. Super cute though!
Saturday, June 12th was the big day. I hope I can do justice to the decorations so I will give it a shot. When you walk up to the restaurant there is a patio where the shower was held. Just outside the entrance was a giant pole wrapped in bright ribbon and hanging from it a giant sign that said Wonka in purple and white Wonka font. There was also another sign just beyond that which said Kindraville and was printed with fun colors and candies. At the main entrance a giant arch covered in bright colored pinwheels, candy garland made from tiny balloons covered in celophane and strung together and tons of bright colored giant lollipops 2-3 feet tall coming out of the ground. My mom made all the lollipops with circles of styrofoam, paint and poles wrapped in ribbon and they are out of this world cute. There were giant umbrellas covering most of the patio and from them were bands of brightly colored balloons and strands of ribbon. On the tables at each place setting was an old fashioned colored swirl lollipop tied with ribbon and a place card. All the place cards had a persons name colorfully printed in Willy Wonka font. There was also a white napkin held together by a candy napkin ring made from the candy dots that come on paper. Down the centers of the table were the centerpieces. Exquisitley made by my mom as well. They were clear buckets filled with different colored celophane and sticking out the tops were all of the Wonka candies...from Wonka bars to Nerds, to Gobbstoppers and so on. Candies were sprinkled down the tables like confetti and giant golden goose eggs found thier way into the mix as well. In the background we had the Willy Wonka soundtrack playing and on the dessert table were two tiered cupcake stands also wrapped in ribbon with swirled lollipops coming out the top. Lemon and Carrot Cake cupcakes filled the stands. All in all the sight was amazing. We had people from the surrounding shops stopping to stare and take pictures.
Everyone had the option of 4 crepes for brunch and we were also served a bowl of fruit and a croissant. We played three fun games...the first was finishing nursery rhymes, the second was guessing my circumference with yarn and the last was determining the type of attributes Paul and I would like for London. We gave fun gifts to the winners, a cookie cookbook, a cupcake mug and a candy dish. After we ate and finished games I opened a plethora of beautiful and thoughtful gifts. Of my favorites for sentimental reasons were London's first pink bible stamped with her name, a beautiful necklace for me that says Mom, and a cup and saucer that my Nana had purchased and that has been passed down through the family. There were many other wonderful things too and lots of practical gifts which are necessities.
All in all it was a great day. It was nice to be together and love each other and celebrate baby London. Everything pulled together just as my mom envisioned and she managed to make it the entire party which was extra special too. I am just so thankful she was there. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and had a nice time. I look forward to telling London all about it one day.
In my eyes there is no greater movie than Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Made in 1971 well before I was born this movie was my all time favorite growing up and to this day whenever they play it on TBS I still can't resist the temptation to watch it. I probably have seen it close to 100 times...and each time it still makes me smile, laugh and imagine the possibilities of life. The movie also has a lot of great lessons to offer about greed, hard work, and family. I just love it and it makes me feel good. And surprisingly enough, my mom met Gene Wilder who plays Willy Wonka many years ago when the movie was coming out or had just come out. She was doing window displays for a store in the mall before they opened and he was there doing a promotional gig and he came and watched her through the window until she came out to meet him. At least that is how I remember her telling me the story...I should double check that so I can retell it to London one day.
In any event, when I found out I was pregnant my mom began the monumental task of planning my Willy Wonka baby shower and having always had the most amazing parties for me while I was growing up, I knew this one would be equally as awesome. As a sidenote, in honor of my mom and all the amazing parties she has thrown for me over the years I hereby promise to do the same for my kids when they are growing up. I definitely got the party planning/decorating gene from my mom and I love, love, love her for that. In fact I already have two birthday parties in the works in my brain for London. One will be a Mary Poppins party (which is my second favorite movie of all time) complete with umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, chalk drawings and kite making. The other an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party.
So back to the Willy Wonka Shower...it started with sending out invitations. We found these great cards with lollipops and candy printed on the bottom in fun colors. The card invited them to a Scrumdidilyumptuous Baby Shower at Danielle's Creperie in Sacramento. The restaurant has been a family favorite for years. When I was little they used to be located in Town and Country Village and we would walk over Sunday mornings for brunch. The best item on the menu is the spicy avocado crepe. Delish! Also, included in the invitation was a golden ticket. It was an exact replica of the one Charlie's Grandpa Joe reads out loud in the film with a little tweaking to adjust the date, time and location. Super cute though!
Saturday, June 12th was the big day. I hope I can do justice to the decorations so I will give it a shot. When you walk up to the restaurant there is a patio where the shower was held. Just outside the entrance was a giant pole wrapped in bright ribbon and hanging from it a giant sign that said Wonka in purple and white Wonka font. There was also another sign just beyond that which said Kindraville and was printed with fun colors and candies. At the main entrance a giant arch covered in bright colored pinwheels, candy garland made from tiny balloons covered in celophane and strung together and tons of bright colored giant lollipops 2-3 feet tall coming out of the ground. My mom made all the lollipops with circles of styrofoam, paint and poles wrapped in ribbon and they are out of this world cute. There were giant umbrellas covering most of the patio and from them were bands of brightly colored balloons and strands of ribbon. On the tables at each place setting was an old fashioned colored swirl lollipop tied with ribbon and a place card. All the place cards had a persons name colorfully printed in Willy Wonka font. There was also a white napkin held together by a candy napkin ring made from the candy dots that come on paper. Down the centers of the table were the centerpieces. Exquisitley made by my mom as well. They were clear buckets filled with different colored celophane and sticking out the tops were all of the Wonka candies...from Wonka bars to Nerds, to Gobbstoppers and so on. Candies were sprinkled down the tables like confetti and giant golden goose eggs found thier way into the mix as well. In the background we had the Willy Wonka soundtrack playing and on the dessert table were two tiered cupcake stands also wrapped in ribbon with swirled lollipops coming out the top. Lemon and Carrot Cake cupcakes filled the stands. All in all the sight was amazing. We had people from the surrounding shops stopping to stare and take pictures.
Everyone had the option of 4 crepes for brunch and we were also served a bowl of fruit and a croissant. We played three fun games...the first was finishing nursery rhymes, the second was guessing my circumference with yarn and the last was determining the type of attributes Paul and I would like for London. We gave fun gifts to the winners, a cookie cookbook, a cupcake mug and a candy dish. After we ate and finished games I opened a plethora of beautiful and thoughtful gifts. Of my favorites for sentimental reasons were London's first pink bible stamped with her name, a beautiful necklace for me that says Mom, and a cup and saucer that my Nana had purchased and that has been passed down through the family. There were many other wonderful things too and lots of practical gifts which are necessities.
All in all it was a great day. It was nice to be together and love each other and celebrate baby London. Everything pulled together just as my mom envisioned and she managed to make it the entire party which was extra special too. I am just so thankful she was there. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and had a nice time. I look forward to telling London all about it one day.
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