Waiting on the World to Change

Only three more days until the calendar page flips to January. Time flies when you're having fun...or getting ready to have a baby. Matt and I can't believe that we get to meet our Bunky in just three weeks (or less...hopefully not more!).

December has been a blur, which is the main reason why we haven't provided many baby-related updates on the blog. So, allow me to catch you up:

• We have sailed into the home stretch; I'm now at 37 weeks and counting!
• In early December, Bunky was in a breech position. Feeling that it was highly unlikely that the baby would turn before delivery, the doctor scheduled me for a C-section on January 6th.
• In mid-December, we visited the doctor to find that Bunky had turned into head down position. The doctor was as shocked as we were and responded to the news by canceling the C-section. Matt and I responded by having celebratory doughnuts. Our due date responded by returning to its original schedule: January 15th.
  
• We made some final preparations for Bunky's arrival: installing the car seat, washing the clothes that will be needed in the first few days (thanks, Mom!), attending a four-part childbirth class, and packing the hospital bags.

Here are a few photos from December:

36 weeks, 6 days...what a belly!

A family photo in Bunky's room. My mom and dad came in early December to pitch in on baby- and house-related projects such as washing Bunky's clothes and painting our hallway. Boy, were they a HUGE help!

Celebrating Bunky's diving abilities, a new head down position, and a canceled C-section.

The hospital bag...a work in progress.

Pardon the computer terminology, but Matt and I now feel like we're in "Standby" mode. We're just waiting for Bunky to come along and start up our new family. We're nervous, to be sure, but we're looking forward to meeting our little one far more than we're scared about the challenges that lie ahead (and we know there will be plenty).

We can't even begin to wrap our brains around what it will be like to see that sweet face, hold those little hands, and kiss those precious feet. Perhaps that's how it's supposed to be, though...we can't picture those things now because they will be far better than we can imagine. So Bunky, please know that mommy and daddy are waiting for you to change our world...for the better.

A letter to my soon-to-be ex ... Sleep.

Dear Sleep,

We've had a good run, you and I, but it's over between us.

Naturally you're going to have some questions as to why I'm ending things, so I'll be honest. There's someone else in my life. Well, not yet, but soon. It's not fair, I know, but I have to make a choice. I can't give you both equal attention.

I thought we'd be together forever. Sometimes it seemed I could never get enough of you. Inevitably, I took you for granted. I neglected your needs. I ran out on you. But you were always there for me, day or night.

I still love you. Now that we're ending things, I realize I love you more than I even knew. Hopefully you'll find it in your heart to forgive me. Maybe we can even hang out again sometimes. But I know it'll never be like it once was. I'm going to miss you.

 Love,
-Matt

The Countdown Begins: One Month to Go!

If plans stay the way they are right now, Matt and I will meet our son or daughter exactly one month from today. Wow!

Although my due date is technically January 15th, our little one is currently in a transverse/breech position (head up and body across the belly). Because of a certain condition I have, it is not extremely likely that the baby will move between now and my due date. And if he or she doesn't move, the safest delivery method will be through c-section. Given my situation, the doctors feel that it's best to deliver the baby around 39 weeks instead of having me wait the full 40 weeks.

So, I'm tentatively scheduled for a c-section on January 6, 2011. If the baby turns and assumes the head down position between now and then, my surgery will be canceled. If he or she stays put, then we'll likely be parents one month from today. That reality is almost overwhelming.

Matt and I are both excited to expand to a family of three. We've both wanted this experience, and we're one month away from it happening. The next few weeks will be filled with anticipation that will be unlike any I've ever experienced, so I'm going to try to soak every moment of it in.

Let the final countdown begin!

A Snowy Saturday

We used the occasion of an early December snowfall on Saturday to capture some photos outside the house. With her baby bump and white shirt, Erica  looked like a snowman. She completed the look by adding the traditional "lumps of coal" for buttons.

Showered with Love

During November, Matt and I visited a total of 4 airports: Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Reagan National (DCA), and Nashville (BNA). The main reason for our airport tour was a good one: Matt and I traveled to our hometowns for baby showers attended by both of our families and many dear friends. All of our travel was tiring, to be sure, but it was worth it.

Our first trip was to Catonsville, Maryland, for a shower hosted by Matt's sister-in-law Michele. We were blessed to receive lots of great things for Bunky, including plenty of clothes to outfit him or her during the first few weeks of life, several blankets, and tons of children's books to add to our library. It was great to see so many people, including those from as far away as Schenectady, New York. Here are just a few photos from that event:

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" was the theme for the Catonsville shower.

Me with Michele, Denise, and the great food they made for the shower.

A quick photo op with the shower attendees.

Matt and I posing for a quick photo once he returned from his guys' lunch during the shower.

The very next weekend, we flew from Raleigh to Nashville, Tennessee, for a baby shower hosted by my sister and cousin. It was another great event at which we received lots of other great items to jump start our life with Bunky, including our stroller, high chair, and swing. Once again, it was great to see so many people there, including some from as far away as Chicago, Illinois. Just a few photos from our Nashville shower are below:

Me with my sister and cousin Karen (the hosts) as well as my cousin Darlene (who was a big help before the event).

Me and My Mom at the great table of shower goodies.

Me with my cousin Kayla who is having a little girl a few weeks after me (in February 2011)!

Guess who's excited about getting a bottle set?

Coming off of both weekends, I was a bit overwhelmed by the generosity that so many people showed us. As I looked around the room at both showers, I couldn't help but think of how blessed our little Bunky is to be surrounded by SO many people that love him or her already. Matt and I count ourselves thankful to be bringing our child into an environment like that and know that he or she will be all the better for it.

Bunky's Room is Ready

Lessons learned while transforming the office at our home into a nursery.

1. It helps to have help. (Thanks, Dad & Denise.)

2. Putting together a crib is not as difficult as I imagined.

3. Putting together a changing table is considerably more difficult than I imagined.

So now our child has his/her own room. I can't even say as much.
 

Dad hard at work.

Notice the false sense of optimism.

I also learned what an "accent wall" is.

Dad loves the pictures over the crib.

The glider. No assembly required.

Showing off the monkey clock from Spain.

Catching Up: Weeks 26 - 30

Well, it's clear that things have gotten a little busier lately. I've had less time to do lots of things, including updating the blog. Today marks Week 30 of my pregnancy. I still remember the days of Weeks 8 and 9 when Matt and I were getting excited about getting close to double digit weeks. Now, it seems crazy that we have experienced 30 weeks and only have 10 left to go.

Based on ultrasounds and what I'm feeling, Bunky looks really healthy and is extremely active. So, we feel blessed. And overall, I have been doing pretty well, which is another blessing. I've definitely started to feel the physical effects of the third trimester, but those things are annoyances at this point rather than setbacks. Here's an attempt at getting all caught up:

Weeks 25 - 29:

• Bunky had the hiccups for the first time (and it definitely wasn't his or her last time!)
• We registered at Babies R Us. What an overwhelming experience!
• I discovered that I couldn't see my feet when standing straight up
• We visited Nashville to have some fall fun with my family
  
• We went to our first baby class (which Matt posted about below)
• I hit my third trimester!
  
• We finished getting the basics for Bunky's room with a crib mattress and changing table
• We had two ultrasounds with good reports
• We found out that Bunky was in the 80th percentile for weight (as of Week 28)
• We took a tour of the Labor & Delivery unit at the hospital

What's happening with Bunky in Week 30:

• His or her eyes are fully formed and are blue in color (they may or may not change after birth)
• The eyes are also gaining the ability to track light from inside the womb
  
• About 1 1/2 pints of amniotic fluid surrounds Bunky, but as he or she grows in the coming weeks, that amount will decrease
  
• Baby is around 16 inches long (about the length of a laptop computer) and weighs nearly three pounds.
  

As I write this, Matt is busy painting Bunky's room with his dad and Denise. Crib and changing table assembly will be next on the list. By the end of the weekend, we should have Bunky's room painted and set up with furniture.

Things are getting VERY real for us these days. My belly is much bigger (photos to come), and we're able to feel Bunky much more now. It's also November, which sounds lots closer to January than previous months have. We're trying to soak in our last few weeks before Bunky's arrival, but we're also looking forward to the day when we get to see that precious face for the first time.

More to come!

Class No. 1: Baby Care

Poop, boobies, boogers. Yup, we had our first baby class this week.

I'm clearly not ready to be a father. Oh, I can handle the tasks we learned at Baby Care. That's not the issue. Rather, I'm concerned that each of those words made me laugh. This brings into question whether I possess the requisite maturity level for this rather significant life experience.

To be fair, you would've been laughing, too.

About Iris, our instructor. She  was a rather squat woman with a down-home accent and a highly energetic demeanor. Iris's already animated voice seemed to rise with excitement as she anticipated sharing what I can only assume were her own original phrases. "Make a boobie sandwich." That's one of them. There's more, but this is was should be a family blog.

Iris was the type of person who would be perfectly cast as "Happy Consumer No. 1" in a late night infomercial: "Doggie Poop Helper (tm) Changed My Life! Now I have more time to make boobie sandwiches!!!" And you'd believe her. What was that number to call again?

Close your eyes and picture a younger version of your grandmother. Now imagine grandma talking excitedly about parts of the human anatomy and body functions using elementary school terms. That was Baby Care in a nutshell.

Poop, boobies, boogers.

Now as far as my efforts to use hand shadows to pick the baby's nose during the slideshow, that's another story.

[I should mention that Erica and I liked Iris and found her to be endearing. She reminded us in words and in actions that it's supposed to be fun. And we'll always have Iris-isms to make us laugh when things get stressful.]

Buy This Book

We're very proud of our friend Jon, whose book American Wasteland was released last week. We celebrated the accomplishment at a recent party held in his honor. Jon's wife, Emily, organized a great gathering at Rue Cler in Durham. They both deserved a chance to celebrate after the many sacrifices they've made in this process.

Jon's given a lot of himself to this book. Watching him work provided us with a new appreciation for just how difficult it is to have your writing published.

The book grew out of his master's thesis at UNC in 2006. I can remember having breakfast with Jon and Emily in D.C. when he told us his plan to take a year to try and turn his thesis into a book. We respected his determination and willingness to take a risk then. That respect has only grown over the past four years.

We picked up our copy of American Wasteland on Saturday afternoon. Jon's book is in good company, appearing on the shelf next to authors like Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.  You can secure your copy here or at one of many fine book sellers near you.

Here's a link to Jon's blog and the many press clippings he's earned.

Kudos to Jon. Buy his book!


American Wasteland blurb

What Tom Vanderbilt did for traffic and Brian Wansink did for mindless eating, Jonathan Bloom does for food waste. The topic couldn’t be timelier: As more people are going hungry while simultaneously more people are morbidly obese, American Wasteland sheds light on the history, culture, and mindset of waste while exploring the parallel eco-friendly and sustainable-food movements. As the era of unprecedented prosperity comes to an end, it’s time to reexamine our culture of excess.Working at both a local grocery store and a major fast food chain and volunteering with a food recovery group, Bloom also interviews experts—from Brian Wansink to Alice Waters to Nobel Prize–winning economist Amartya Sen—and digs up not only why and how we waste, but, more importantly, what we can do to change our ways.

Celebrating Four Wonderful Years

Four years ago today, Matt and I shared a day we'll never forget. Surrounded by family and friends, we committed our lives to one another and became Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. What a wonderful experience, and what amazing memories we've created during the last 1,460 days. My prayer is that God will continue to bless us as we continue our journey together.

Week 25 Update

Well, I sailed right into Week 25 this past Saturday. It's hard to believe that I only have 15 weeks to go! Things are going really well these days, so I certainly can't complain about that.

Highlights of Week 24:

• We ordered and picked up the glider and ottoman for Bunky's room. It's super soft and comfy, so I certainly like that! It's so exciting to imagine all of the time we'll spend with our little one in that chair, whether it's reading, feeding, rocking him or her to sleep. Given what we've heard about parenting, we may do our fair share of sleeping in that chair as well.
• Bunky continued to be very active with lots of kicks. He or she has now added rolls and other squirmy moves to the repertoire. It certainly makes for some interesting feelings in my belly! Although baby has spurts of activity throughout the day, he or she is definitely most active at night. The magic time is right around 10 p.m. It's so funny how predictable he or she is in that regard!

What's happening in Week 25:

• Bunky continues to put on weight (and boy can mommy tell based on the size of her growing belly!)
  
• Baby can touch and hold his or her feet and make a fist.
• More and more hair is growing on baby's scalp.
• Baby measures about 13 1/2 inches and weighs about a pound and a half.
  

The reality that we're having a baby is slowing hitting Matt and me. We'll be in the middle of a conversation or driving down the street, and one of us will turn to the other and say: "We're having a baby!" It's just funny how, although we've known this for several months now, it's hitting us in a new way lately.

Exciting things are in store for tomorrow: I have another ultrasound! Although it's a diagnostic ultrasound to make sure that I'm not at risk for pre-term labor, we should be able to get another glimpse of our sweet baby boy or girl. More to come later!

Working on Week 24

I'm 3 days into Week 24 of my pregnancy, and things are still going well. I've finally grown into my maternity clothes (full panel pants, anyone?), and the baby seems to be growing each day.

Highlights of Week 23:

• Matt and I saw Bunky kick for the first time. Up until last Saturday, we were only able to feel him or her move around by pressing on my stomach. Last weekend, though, we were able to see the movements just by looking at my belly. Crazy!
• My appetite continued to increase. It seems like I'm hungry all of the time now. I'm trying to balance things so that I don't overeat, but it sure is hard! (Side note: One of my weaknesses at the moment is french toast. I can't get enough! I've now sampled the crunchy sweet slices at several Durham and Chapel Hill area restaurants, so I'm becoming quite the expert. If you're ever in town and need a recommendation of the best place to get french toast, I'm your girl!)

What's happening this week:

• Bunky is starting to plump up!
• As the fat packs on, his or her skin becomes more opaque. And, it's developing a fresh pink glow!
  
• Baby has gained around 4 ounces of weight since last week. This puts him or her at more than a pound and more than a foot long (the length of an ear of corn!).

Matt and I are beginning to realize all the work we have left between now and Bunky's arrival. There's moving and painting and organizing galore. I'm sure it will all get done, but it's starting to become a bit overwhelming. Given the weekends we've planned to be out of town during the next couple of months, we're left with limited time for room prep. So, we've got to get moving. Wish us luck!

Something Magic Happens

We recently enjoyed a great weekend in Catonsville, which gave us a chance to see Madelyn play soccer, to spend quality time with all three of our nieces, and to relax in the newly renovated upstairs bedroom at Dad's house.

It seems Dad, Denise, and Pete are ready for "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" given how quickly they turned around that room. Impressive stuff.

The girls had a sleepover at Denise's on Saturday night, which provided Pete, Michele, Erica, and me the opportunity to visit Canton for dinner at Nacho Mama's and dessert at Vaccaro's. The trip has become an annual tradition for the four of us. We moved things up this year since Erica and I won't be visiting Baltimore for the holidays (something about a baby being due). It was nice to spend quality time with Pete and Michele. We certainly don't take it for granted.

There were a few great options for Sunday afternoon; we ended up at Camden Yards to watch the final game of the Orioles - Yankees series. I'm sure glad I made that decision.

It was my last baseball game before becoming a father, so it's fitting that we went with my dad. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of attending baseball games with him. We added another great one on Sunday.

Outnumbered by Yankees fans in the home ballpark, we watched the Orioles slog through several uninspired innings before mounting a comeback that culminated in Luke Scott's ninth-inning home run off perhaps the best closer in baseball history, Mariano Rivera.

The O's then improbably held off the Yankees in extra innings - even after New York put a runner on third base with no outs - and won the game in the 11th inning with a double by Scott and a game-winning hit by Ty Wiggington. Afterward, I continued my campaign to name our child Luke, regardless of gender.

Sunday's game added to Erica's remarkable hot streak. The Orioles have won two of the three games she's attended in the team's final at-bat. She now understands the classic song "Orioles Magic" - "Something magic happens, every time you go ...."

Doctor's Report + Shoe Woes

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Matt and I went to the doctor for our 24-week checkup yesterday. After peppering the doctor with all of the questions we'd noted since the last appointment (and getting sufficient answers), the doctor reviewed our ultrasound from last time and measured my belly. We were told that all is well with our little one and that everything looks to be on track so far. We also got to hear the precious heartbeat again. That's quickly becoming my favorite part of the non-ultrasound doctor's visits.

Fast forwarding to this morning, I experienced a "first" in my pregnancy. I had difficulty putting on my shoes! I still got them on, so no worries there, but I could barely reach my feet. I couldn't believe it! To be fair, I was standing up and trying to put them on, but that's never been an issue before. It looks like it's quickly becoming one, though.

More later!

Week 23 is Here!

So, I'm in the midst of Week 23. It's hard to believe that we're little more than four months away from meeting our little one!

Highlights from Week 22:

• Bunky continues to kick, punch, and otherwise be active. So far, it seems like he or she is a night owl, as I can feel more movement at nighttime than I can during the morning. Matt is able to feel the kicks almost daily now, and he's really enjoying it.
• I discovered that my belly button is getting closer and closer to being even with the rest of my stomach wall. Based on how things look right now, it won't be long until it pops to the outside of my body. It will be quite odd to have an "outie" for the first time in my life!
• My belly is getting rounder by the day. The below photo is proof of that...I'm a bonafide pregnant lady!
  

What's going on during Week 23:

• Bunky's face is now fully formed (minus the baby fat...that's coming soon).
  
• Blood vessels in the lungs are developing to prepare baby for breathing.
• He or she has grown to be a little more than 10 inches long (about the length of a Barbie doll) and weighs just over a pound. Bunky looks like a tiny, thin newborn now (but not for long!).
• Baby is transitioning into his/her job for the rest of the pregnancy: putting on weight.

Matt and I are headed to the doctor today for my next check-up. We hope all is well with our little one, and we'll post another update once we hit the 24-week mark. And...updates about our trip to Madrid are still to come!

Caught Up: Week 22

This past Saturday, we reached the 22-week mark in my pregnancy. So, below is a summary of what’s happening these days. For those of you who missed the earlier post, Bunky is the nickname we're calling our little one from now until the time we're formally introduced. : )

Highlights of Week 21:

• We ordered Bunky’s crib! Upon our return from Madrid, Matt and I realized the need for us to focus on baby preparation. We know that January will be here before we know it. So, we headed to Babies ‘R’ Us on Labor Day and placed an order for Bunky’s crib and bed rails.
• Kicks, kicks, and…punches? Bunky seemed to be a karate guru in training! I felt lots of activity during the entire week, including movements on both sides of my belly button. My guess is that I was feeling kicks on one side and punches on the other. Watch out, Bruce Lee!

How Baby Taylor is growing in Week 22:

• Baby’s lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct. Eyes have formed, but the irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment.
• Tiny tooth buds are beginning to develop beneath his or her gums.
• He or she is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. I’m sure there will be all kinds of sounds that Bunky will hear now (football games, music in the car, etc.), but one of the sounds I’m most eager to introduce him or her to is the sound of Matt playing the piano. For those who don’t know, he’s been taking lessons for nearly a year now and plays quite well. So, I want daddy’s piano music to become familiar to our little Bunky.
• His or her weight is around one pound with a length of slightly more than 10 inches. That’s about the size of a papaya. Baby will grow during the next two to three weeks and will reach a length of nearly 12 inches and a weight around 1 pound, 8 ounces!
  

Now that we’re all caught up on the baby, we’ll try to post some updates about our trip to Spain. Until then…

A Review of Week 21

In Madrid, we also passed the Week 21 mark. Here’s how Week 20 went, and here’s what happened with Baby Taylor during Week 21:

Highlights of Week 20:

• We reached the halfway point in the pregnancy! With a normal pregnancy measuring 40 weeks, we’ve only got 20 more to go.
• Matt got to feel Bunky kick lots more in Madrid. Many of the instances came at night in our hotel room as we finished our daily dose of gelato. I guess that means our son or daughter will like ice cream. : )
• My belly became increasingly bigger and I started to look decidedly pregnant. In fact, there were several people in Madrid who offered me their seat on the Metro. I can’t lie, being obviously pregnant made me very happy.

How Baby Taylor grew in Week 21:

• He or she is now gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And…those taste buds actually work!
• He or she now weighs slightly less than a pound and is around 10 ½ inches in length. That’s about the size of a large banana.

Next up: Week 22!

Catching Up on Week 20

As I mentioned in my last post, I passed the 20-week pregnancy milestone during our recent trip to Madrid. So, I wanted to catch up on lost time and let you know how Week 19 ended up and what happened with Baby Taylor during week 20.

Highlights of Week 19:

• Matt and I had our 20-week ultrasound on Wednesday (8/25). Our little guy or girl cooperated beautifully and allowed the ultrasound technician to get some amazing photos, including the traditional black & white ultrasound photo as well as a 3-D photo. Matt and I were blown away by how much the baby has grown. Seeing the precious photos and hearing the heartbeat yet again helped make things ever more real for both of us.
• Matt got to feel our little Bunky (Baby Taylor’s nickname for the time being) kick for the first time during our plane ride to Madrid (8/27). It was an overnight flight during which neither of us slept much. I was awake and either reading or watching a movie, and Bunky started kicking. I had Matt put his hand on my belly, and for the first time, he got to feel the sweet little movement of our baby. I was so excited that he finally got to feel something, because I’m so eager for him to share in this pregnancy with me.

How Baby Taylor grew in Week 20:

• His or her digestive system is busy creating meconium which, as all the parents out there know, will fill the first diaper after birth.
• Baby weighs between 10 and 11 ounces and is around 6 ½ inches long from head to bottom. That’s about the size of a cantaloupe.

On to Week 21!

Back from Vacation

On Sunday, Matt and I arrived back in the U.S. from an amazing vacation in Madrid, Spain. While we were there, I passed the 20- and 21-week milestones in my pregnancy.

Matt and I had a wonderful time in Spain and got lots of photos. We'll try to summarize the trip and provide some photos when possible. We'll also try to catch everyone up on what's happening with our sweet little baby.

More to come!

Starting Week 19...with a Bump!

Week 18 is now in the books, so we're headed into Week 19. I said it last time, but the 2nd trimester is really flying by.

The highlight of Week 18 was definitely watching as my bump seemed to appear out of nowhere. I was talking about not looking pregnant one day, and the next, I suddenly did. In fact, when Matt got home from work last Thursday, he said "you look like you're growing by the minute!" Now ladies, before you get upset that a man would have said this, you should know that Matt is well-aware of my desire to have a bump. So, I was actually encouraged by his comments. : )

So that you can see what I mean, here's my latest photo. I guess I know what people mean when they say that one day, you just "pop."



As for our little one, here's what's going on with him or her this week:

• Hair is sprouting on the head.
• The brain is in the process of designating specialized areas for the five senses (smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch).
  
• Weight has increased to 8.5 ounces, and he or she is now around 6 inches long from head to bottom (not feet). This is about the size of a large mango.
  

We have our 20-week ultrasound this Wednesday, so that should be lots of fun...even though we won't be finding out our baby's gender. It will be amazing to see how much he or she has grown in the 12 weeks between our last ultrasound and this one. Can't wait!

Being Bump-Conscious

In case you're wondering what the term "bump-conscious" means, it describes this woman's worry over not looking definitively pregnant. If you've never heard this term before, it's because I made it up to describe myself. Many women worry about weight gain during pregnancy; I want to have a bump and look pregnant.

I haven't been able to fit into my regular clothes for quite a few weeks now. So, I've definitely noticed that I'm bigger than I used to be. The problem is that no one else has been able to tell that I'm much bigger, so I don't yet strike people as someone who is definitely pregnant. I'm in a funny in-between stage that has made me very "bump-conscious."

I put together a photo collage to prove to myself that I've grown in visible ways and to help me become less bump-conscious. For those of you who've been asking for pregnancy photos, here you go (click on the photo to see a larger version):


I feel like I've really started to "pop" here in the last couple of weeks, which is a good thing, so maybe this feeling will finally go away soon.

Before any moms reading this say anything, I know that I'll be bemoaning the size of my bump (and the back pain and discomfort it causes) in just a few weeks. I will look back on this post and laugh at myself for ever being bump-conscious in the first place. So it goes for a first-time mom.

A Milestone in the Countdown

I log into a Web site each day that keeps a "baby countdown." Today, I was surprised to see the following:

"Hi Erica, you are 18 weeks pregnant. 150 days left!"

Wow. On one hand, 150 days seems like a lot. On the other hand, it seems like so little (especially when we have a baby's room to get ready)!

Either way, only 150 days until we get to meet Baby T!

17 Weeks in the Books

Yesterday marked the beginning of Week 18 in my pregnancy. The 2nd trimester seems to be flying by much more quickly than the 1st one did.

There were few new developments in Week 17. I did feel the baby kick a couple more times, so that's always an amazing experience. I'm eager for the kicks to become strong enough for Matt to feel them, as I know he's looking forward to feeling our sweet little one move.

Here are some highlights of what's going on with the baby this week:

• Mobility is increasing, so he or she is now able to pass the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, punching, and swallowing.
• He or she weighs around 7 ounces and is around 5.5 inches long from the head to the bottom. That's about the size of a sweet potato.

More to come!

Unexpected Food Developments

So far, pregnancy has had a major effect on my food preferences and eating habits.

During the 1st trimester, I could not stand the thought, sight, or smell of Mexican food. Chips and salsa are listed among my top two foods (along with cereal), so my early dislike of Mexican really bothered me. Thankfully, I've moved out of that stage in the 2nd trimester, so I'm back to eating food from Moe's, Torero's, and other such Mexican faves.

The 2nd trimester has come with unexpected food developments of its own, however, as I now like a food that I haven't liked in YEARS. What is it, you ask?


Yes, that's right...I like watermelon again. I used to love it as a kid, but as I recall, my tastes changed around middle school and I haven't liked it since. I never thought I'd eat watermelon again, but thanks to pregnancy and the crazy effects it has on a woman, I was wrong. I am enjoying those juicy red slices...at least while they're still in season.

I discovered my renewed interest in watermelon through the community-supported agriculture plan (better known as a CSA) in which Matt and I participate. As part of our CSA, Matt and I have gotten a box of fresh fruits and vegetables from a local farmer every week since April. It will continue through September. The past couple of weeks, we've gotten watermelon in our box. As I've been cutting it up to store in the refrigerator for Matt, I noticed that it smelled REALLY good to me. One night I got up the courage to taste it, and to my surprise, I thought it was fantastic.

So, pregnancy continues to surprise me. I'm just waiting to see what will be next.

16 Weeks Down, 24 To Go!

Yesterday (Saturday), I hit the 17-week mark in my pregnancy. Week 16 was fairly memorable for a couple of different reasons. First, I felt the baby kick for the first time! That's right, on Wednesday morning (August 4th), I felt a tiny kick in my lower abdomen. It was different than the other feelings I've had, so I put my hand over the area where I felt it...hoping that I would feel it again. Sure enough, I felt that sweet little tiny kick again. It was amazing.

The other memorable part of this week was our doctor's appointment on Friday. Matt and I got to hear our baby's heartbeat again! At my last appointment, the nurse told me that we'd be listening to the heartbeat at every appointment until my delivery. So, Matt came prepared to this one by bringing the recording device that he uses for work interviews. The doctor quickly found the heartbeat and said that it sounded great. I have to admit, it did sound GREAT. I'd even go so far to say incredible. Thanks to the recording device, we can listen to that precious sound whenever we want. : )

So, now we've begun Week 17 and have around 24 more to go (including this one). Here are some highlights of what's going on with the baby this week:

• The skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone.
• He or she weighs around 5 ounces and is around 5 inches long from the head to the bottom. That's about the size of a large onion.

Although I've been able to tell for weeks that my belly has grown, people continue to tell me that I'm not showing that much. This week, however, I do feel that my belly has popped out and become more visible. I'll be posting photos soon so that you can judge for yourselves.

Our Exciting News

As most of you have now heard, Matt and I are expecting our first child in January 2011. We waited to share our news until I was safely out of the 1st trimester. I'm now in the midst of the 2nd trimester, so we're thankful for that.

I know that many of you have had questions for us. To take care of the most common initial questions at once, here goes:

Due Date: January 15, 2011
Gender: Unknown (and will remain unknown until the big day!)
Names: Undecided
Preference for Boy or Girl: No preference. Although it's thought of as cliche, Matt and I truly just want a happy, health baby.

How have you felt? I've felt lucky so far, as I've avoided full throttle morning sickness. I have, however, dealt with nausea and nasty food aversions. I've also experienced fatigue, a heightened sensitivity to smell, and some other strange symptoms.
What food aversions have you had? You name it, I've had it. During the first trimester, a particular food sounded fine one day, and I couldn't stand the thought or sight of it the next. In fact, because of my food inconsistencies, Matt and I changed restaurant plans at the last minute on several occasions and even switched plates once our food came a few times. Although I'd rather have food aversions than full-on morning sickness, they were more difficult to deal with than I thought. I normally love eating, but I didn't enjoy eating or meals for the first 14 to 15 weeks of my pregnancy.
Have you had any cravings? Yes. My main cravings have been pickles, beef, and fresh fruit (although not together or at the same time). I've gone through quite a few pickles thus far, and as someone who hasn't traditionally eaten much beef, I can't believe I've had things such as a mushroom swiss burger, carne asada tacos, and a French Dip sandwich.

Because this experience will be such a unique one for us, we'll start blogging on a more regular basis now. So, be on the lookout for new posts!

Where have we been?

As those visiting this page may have noticed, it's been a long time since we've provided an update. That's pretty much my fault.

Matt asked me to take the reins on our blog posts a couple of months ago, and I clearly haven't done a good job since that time.

I could point the finger at everything from my work schedule to traveling to changing the bookmarks on my internet home page, but nothing really explains why I've been away this long.

So, I'm just going to chalk up the past couple of months to forgetfulness and press ahead. To hit the highlights of what we've been doing the past couple of months, I'm going to do a series of "Spring in Review" posts during the next couple of weeks. I hope to start them by early next week.

So, stay tuned...and thanks for your patience!

March Sadness, Part II

Right about the time that Erica's wounds from Vanderbilt's last-second loss in the NCAA tournament were starting to heal, or at least scab over, Michigan State inflicted a fresh wound on one of my favorite teams, the Maryland Terrapins. And in equally excruciating fashion at that.

Maryland had just mounted an unbelievable-had-I-not-seen-it-with-my-own-eyes comeback with a 10-0 run in less than a minute's time. The incomparable Greivis Vasquez scored on a runner to put the Terps ahead by one with six seconds left, and there was much joy in my brother's home as I jumped around and clapped feverishly to my three nieces' amusement/befuddlement.

And then Korie Lucious brought it all to a thundering end with a three-pointer at the buzzer that eliminated the Terps' Sweet 16 hopes.

Why again do we do this to ourselves?

If there's an upside it's that the presence of my impressionable nieces forced me to abandon my typically immature sports reactions and accept that the game was still thrilling even if the result was personally disappointing.

It was nothing that a little hula hooping in the spring weather couldn't mitigate if not altogether heal.

March Madness and Sadness

As I write this, I'm still adjusting to the fact that Vanderbilt just lost in the NCAA Tournament. For the second time in three years, Vanderbilt (a #4 seed) has been defeated by a #13 seed. Wow.

Although I didn't think Vanderbilt had enough to make it deep into the tournament this year, I definitely expected them to last until the Sweet Sixteen. I guess my expectations were out of line with reality. Although I'm upset that their year is over, the fact that they're only graduating one starter gives me a little hope for the chances of next year's team. Unfortunately, I have to wait several months to see if that hope is realized.

As many of you know, I've been a Commodore fan all of my life. People often call me and a handful of my other relatives the "Black & Gold" sheep of the family. It's been a long road--usually with more downs than ups--but I don't regret it one bit.

Although I can't prove it, I'm confident that Vanderbilt fans have more patience and heart than fans of most other teams. It's almost a necessary ingredient of being a VU fan, especially since their records in major sports have been underwhelming throughout the years. You can't be a bandwagon fan of Vanderbilt (at least, not yet). Those of us who cheer for the 'Dores do it because we love the university.

And I do love the university. I love what it stands for. I love how it recruits true student-athletes...and is still competitive in the SEC. I love how it has fans who exemplify the word "loyal." And, even when its sports teams don't win, I love that I can call it my alma mater.

Now that my 'Dores are out of the NCAA tournament (and my Heels never made it in), I'm sending my love and support to Maryland, the team that Matt grew up rooting for. Go Terps!

Is That The Sun?

This weekend, the sun made a brilliant appearance in the North Carolina sky.

On Saturday and Sunday, our weather warmed up (finally!) and helped us remember what decent temperatures feel like. In fact, I was tempted to wear open-toed shoes to church on Sunday, but decided not to after remembering the unwritten rules of what to wear and not to wear before Easter. Once I got there, however, I realized that most of the other women had thrown caution to the wind and pulled their open-toed shoes out of the closet. Oh well.

Rewinding things a bit, we got our Saturday off to a great start with a nice breakfast at Mad Hatter's, a great Durham cafe we've recently discovered. We left there and headed to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park to take part in the Bulls' Fan Fest, a pre-season event where the community is invited to food and fun. While there, Matt and I walked on the outfield grass and soaked in the sun. Matt even made a couple of "grass angels." His stunt must have caught the eye of the promotions staff, because shortly thereafter, they did an on-camera interview with us and asked us some Bulls-related questions. We've been told to look for ourselves on the Jumbotron this season. I've never been on a Jumbotron, so I'm pretty psyched about it. :)



















After leaving the DBAP, we headed to the YMCA to see the Eagles (Matt's 2nd and 3rd grade basketball team) take on the light blue team (unnamed as far as we know). It was possibly the most exciting non-college basketball game I've ever been to, as there was a near "buzzer beater" (with 7 seconds left) that broke the 28-28 tie. Unfortunately, it broke in a not-so-favorable direction for the Eagles. Even still, I'm so proud of Matt and the job he's done with his team. They are the most teamwork-oriented group in the league, as Matt's emphasis on passing the ball and getting everyone involved has really stuck with them.

This weekend, the Eagles have their last game of the season. Afterward, we'll all go to AMF Bowling Lanes for an end-of-season team party. I'm not sure if we know what we're getting into there (young boys and bowling balls seem like a scary mix), but nevertheless, it should be fun.

Date Night

Erica planned a Date Night for us on Saturday. My only instructions were to be ready by 5:30 and to dress "snappy casual." After a quick Google search, I changed into a nicer pair of blue jeans and prepared for a fun evening.

We had dinner at Four Eleven West in Chapel Hill before heading over to Memorial Hall for an outstanding performance by the UNC Jazz Band with artists in residence Jason Marsalis and Ivan Renta. The show was part of the 33rd annual Carolina Jazz Festival.

The Jazz Band director explained that the current group was his version of last year's senior-laden UNC basketball team. Hopefully that doesn't mean next year's jazz band performance will stink.

The Eagles are Soaring

I am having an absolute blast lately coaching my YMCA basketball team. I've written about them on a couple of occasions before, so I figure it's time to share some photos of the Eagles. Erica took the pictures in the collage above during this weekend's game.

For as much as the kids get riled up (and occasionally out of control) during practices they're genuinely playing like a team during games with great defense and excellent passing. For me, those are the two most important skills they can take away from the season.

I'm so proud to see the kids apply what they've learned and work together to get everyone involved. All but one of the 11 team members have scored this season, which is a significant accomplishment. I get such a kick out of seeing each player's enthusiasm when the ball goes through the hoop, not to mention the genuine excitement of the parents.

In short, the Eagles are soaring. Here's to two more weeks of fun before we call it a season.

Alumni Clubs

We're 0-for-2 when it comes to recent basketball outcomes for our undergraduate alma maters. Nevertheless, we enjoyed Vanderbilt's down-to-the-wire loss to Kentucky on Saturday and Rutgers' failed comeback attempt against Seton Hall on Tuesday thanks to the good company provided by the members of our local alumni clubs.

The Kentucky game watch party was our first local Vanderbilt alumni event. We met some friendly people including one of Erica's former classmates and her husband, who played college basketball with a guy I know from Catonsville.

The Rutgers crowd was filled largely with familiar faces since we've been involved with that club from the start. I attended the group's formation meeting a week after moving to Durham and have served ever since as vice president and webmaster. (Check out our website: http://rutgersclubnc.com/. ) 

It turns out that one of our neighbors is a fellow Rutgers graduate. He beat me home last night by nearly two minutes according to his own - surely biased - estimate.

Fear the Turtle

After a busy midweek evening that included a Durham Literacy Center meeting, church activities, and YMCA basketball practice, Erica and I rushed down to the RBC Center in Raleigh on Wednesday to catch the Maryland - N.C. State basketball game. After a very sluggish first half the Terps found their rhythm in the second half and won 67-58. Fear the Turtle!

We attended the UConn - Kentucky game at Madison Square Garden earlier this season; however, this was our first local game of the season as well as our first visit to the RBC Center for a hoops game (we'd been there previously for, believe it or not, wrestling matches). Given that you can purchase two N.C. State basketball tickets for the price of one UNC ticket, it was too good of an opportunity to miss.

We had some Maryland fans in our section, which made us stand out less among the locals. It's such a mixed bag when it comes to college sports fans in the area, but most folks cheer for one of the many North Carolina-based teams, ACC and otherwise. Believe it or not, there is basketball played outside of the Tar Heel state.

Having missed the chance to see Rutgers play at Carolina earlier this season I was glad to catch Maryland in action as they passed through town. All the better that they earned the win.

Now if we could just get Vandy to play locally for Erica. The Dores scrimmaged UNC in the pre-season, but the game was closed to the public and NCAA rules prohibited any specific details about the game from being shared.

"All My Sons"

Erica and I visisted Playmakers Repertory in Chapel Hill on Friday to see "All My Sons," the third of the four productions included in the ticket package I received as a birthday gift from my father last April.

As has consistently been the case during each of our visits to Playmakers, the actors were fantastic. Many of them have appeared in all of the shows we've attended yet they manage to retain the authenticity of their respective roles each time. These are clearly very talented people.

During our previous show - two separate installments of Charles Dickens' (very long) "Nicholas Nickelby" - we marveled at one actress who, when she wasn't shuffling between multiple demanding roles on stage, also provided musical accompaniment on various instruments.

Whereas "Nicholas Nickelby" took a rather circuitous route to its alternately grisly and uplifting conclusion, "All My Sons" charged more directly to the point, reaching its forceful resolution in a relatively tidy two hours time.

Clearly Miller, who also penned "Death of a Salesman," wasn't one for subtlety as the the story illustrated the perils of greed and the related consequences that result when one measures his value in profits rather than integrity. Miller shows that though ideals may sometimes perish in relative isolation the effects of their loss extend well beyond the man himself.

My favorite line from "All My Sons" also served as something of a theme for the production: "Every man does have a star. The star of one's honesty. And you spend your life groping for it, but once it's out, it never lights again."

House Calls for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day came early for me this year. I was close to wrapping up my work day on Friday when I heard our doorbell ring. When I opened it, I was greeted by none other than Wool E. Bull, the Durham Bulls' mascot. He had a host of goodies for me, including a dozen roses, a pink Durham Bulls hat, and two tickets to Opening Day.


Wool E.'s visit to our house was short-lived but extremely memorable. I gave him a hug, talked to his handler, and snapped a couple of photos with him. As he was heading out the door, it hit me that a cartoonish, locally famous bull had just been in our house. The realization made me overjoyed, so I quickly grabbed my camera to get video proof of the events. As you can tell from the footage, the Valentine's Day surprise that Matt planned for me completely made my day.




I tried to return the favor yesterday by giving Matt a "Kissing Bandit" Snoopy, a gift card for a 60-minute massage at Massage Envy, and a mix CD of love songs. Our Valentine's Day celebration continued last night with a wonderful dinner at Pulcinella's (and some great conversation over cannoli and coffee) and a night at home watching the premiere of The Amazing Race and the Winter Olympics.

All in all, we had a great Valentine's Day weekend. We hope all of our family and friends did as well.

High Winds and Valentines

As others in our family deal with snow and rain, we're getting high winds here in the Triangle today. In fact, they're estimating gusts of up to 50 mph. The sights and sounds from our backyard tell me that those estimates are right. Our trees have quite a bend in them; I'm just praying they don't break. And when the wind rushes in, it sounds like I'm at a NASCAR race. It's crazy.

In other news, Valentine's Day is approaching this weekend. Matt and I plan to celebrate with dinner on Sunday night at Pulcinella's, a quaint little Italian restaurant near our house. Valentine's Day will cap off a fairly busy weekend for the Taylors; we'll be attending a Playmakers production on Friday night and Matt's YMCA basketball game and a friend's birthday party on Saturday.

We hope everyone is well. For those of you braving your second round of heavy snow, stay warm and be safe!

46-2

As we talked over breakfast late Saturday morning I shared with Erica my concern about the possibility that my YMCA basketball team might not win many games this season. I missed our first contest, a 16-8 loss that took place while we were in Colorado, so all I had to go on was the scrimmaging I saw in practice, which wasn't very promising. Would a .500 record be too much to ask?

My two primary objectives for the team are to have fun and to learn some basketball fundamentals. However, I feared the kids would become discouraged by losing and that somehow I might not be teaching them what they need to know. I suppose these are the anxieties of a rookie coach. (I don't count my 14-and-under coaching experience as part of this equation. Second- and third-graders are a completely different ballgame).

As it turns out, my concerns were very much unfounded. My kids suddenly morphed into the 1990 UNLV Running Rebels on Saturday, winning by a score of 46-2. One boy alone scored 24 points, i.e. 12 times as many points as the other team.

Suddenly I had a fresh set of concerns: What's the proper etiquette in a YMCA League blowout? Should I stop pumping my fists, giving the other team the choke sign, and yelling "Get 'em a body bag" a la Karate Kid? (All kidding, of course.)

We tried unsuccessfully to get the scoreboard operator to clear it to zeros once we went up by 20 points. (League rules for this age group dictate as much, not that anyone's actually following the league rules.)

I talked in team huddles about good sportsmanship and being nice when you're winning, which one of my players translated into non-coach speak: "We should take it easy on them because they're not as good."

Finally, at the wise suggestion of the parent who coaches with me, we instituted a "three passes" rule whereby the kids couldn't shoot on offense until they had made at least three passes. It sorta worked.

For all my concern about the other team, I will admit to being thrilled that my kids had such a good time. Also, the mismatched competition allowed some players to score who typically wouldn't have the opportunity to do so. Watching them raise their arms triumphantly and glance to the sidelines to make sure their parents were watching was great fun.

So we're 1-1 on the season, and I'll admit that I have no idea what to expect next.

A Taste of Home, and Away

An Old Bay bagel with egg and a Greek coffee. Every day should start so well.