Holiday Happenings

Things have been a tad slow up the old blog uptake if you haven't noticed as of late...holidays, and shopping and prep work have been owning alot of my spare time. Also I'm growing a tiny person and that can be tiring. 


We did get the tree up after a few false starts (artificial was broken, truck wasn't cleaned out when we went to look at real trees, then delayed arrival home because of post-rain traffic made us too tired one night) but alas, she is up and she is a beauty!

Can hardly wait for next year when we have a little guy to shop for! Christmas is about the kids, afterall. Speaking of shopping, I've found it hard to not purchase a few items (okay, clothes) especially when they are on sale. We spent Saturday registering at Babys R Us (which was a bit of a melee because of all the holiday shopping) for 2.5 hours. I did good and only bought some Bio Oil , which by the way is amazing for preggos and anyone who likes their skin to feel healthy and refreshed. I went to the hood mall nearby yesterday to get some random things and spent a few bucks at Burlington Coat Factory on some Carters goods. They are my favorite children's brand by far. I was a bit nauseated to see their pricing versus half of the stuff we registered for at Babys R Us. It's sickening how they monopolize in that market. A $400.00 Medela breast pump at BRU is $250.00 at Burlington. Why are the "good" pumps so damn expensive?! It's almost like they want women to force babies into formula. It's a racket I tell ya! Sidenote, it was a true joy to register for breast pads and other leaky boob oriented goods -- like hey guys I'm going to sop up some milk with these pads, thanks in advance. I am awkward like that. 


We also went to our friends annual holiday party and got snazzed up a bit! My pals Sheena and her sister Christina spoiled me and gave me a Kardashian velvet leopard print jazzy number to wear. 

they're always baking me bread and giving me presents

This little number apparently retails for a good buck 50 online, and is not something I would ever purchase for myself, but everyone loved it! It has a nice rich luxurious velveteen finish so people were stroking the leopard spots all night. That sounds sexier than it was. 

loving this snazzy man!

Quick pic with the host!

everyone thought I was 6 months preggo

It was great to see all of our friends in one big group, and since we recently shared the news Baby is a Boy, we got alot of love. It was nice to have such great feedback from friends and know how much everyone cares. We are spoiled already and he isn't even here yet!

It's a BOY!!!!!!!!!!

Glenn and I knew as soon as we were pregnant that we definitely wanted to find out the sex. I know that it can be special to await that magical surprise but....I'm a planner. I like to KNOW things for the sake of knowing them. In fact my biggest pet peeve is NOT knowing something, I am loathe to surprises. So, that being said we researched just how soon and how to go about the business of knowing. 


Looking at wives' tails - results were mixed.....


Timing of sex - On or close to ovulation date = BOY
Chinese Gender Calendar = BOY
Baking Soda Method - GIRL
"Show your hands" wives tail = GIRL
Carrying low = BOY
Craving sweets = GIRL
Bad skin breakouts = GIRL
Necklace and ring swing test = BOY
No morning sickness = BOY
Heartrate over 140 = GIRL


Of course I always felt from the get-go that this baby was a boy. Maybe because I had an idealized view that the boy "should come first" to be the bigger brother for future siblings, or to carry on the family name. I just "felt" boy the majority of the time. Sometimes I got inklings of girl, but we felt so strongly pro-blue that we picked three top names for boys and could settle on approximately 2 that we even sorta liked for girl. WHEW. 


With all that said, we would have loved and welcomed a daughter into this world too, but a bit of me was certainly relieved to find out we will be having a son. The thing is, having been a girl all my life, I know the struggles, insecurities, societal pressures and everyday baggage of being a girl. Do I love being a girl? Of course, I just think my anxiety over parenting would be magnified thricefold should that happen as baby number 1. Of course boys will have their own special trials and tribulations and we will cross each as we get to them -- I can't wait for this experience!

Without further ado - the sonogram "goods"

two little legs and the money shot

This is obviously not a 3D image

Side profile of little face

Waving saying hello again!

And our personal favorite, as created by a friend from college....Baby Boy Lovelace getting his Steelers pride on!

We are so thrilled to be the parents of a little boy, and this knowledge has brought us even closer to this little person we haven't "met" yet but love so much. Onto the fun shopping and color scheming and naming!

14 weeks - a week and a half late

Hiyo - anyone still reading this? Anyway - a belated bump view from 14ish weeks (a week plus late)

Thanksgiving Love

Where have we been? Apologies for a very extended late update.I am excited to be in the 2nd trimester and getting bigger and bigger by the day. Last week was Thanksgiving and for the first time I ate so much my stomach hurt. It was like all the space was taken up by baby and the food had no where to go. Standing up, sitting down, laying....nothing abated the uncomfy feeling until hours later. No stretch marks yet though!


My family was able to come down from NY to visit for the holiday, and my mom put on a wonderful dinner. It was great to see everyone again and catch up, eat alot of food, and just enjoy eachother's company. 

Yorke made a delicious bird

Some of the spread, yes Jello was involved!

I made quite possibly the most deliciously unhealthy baked mac and cheese ever!

family waiting to grub!

Mom got this awesome shirt as a gift, and Jesus  H look at my belly!

Glenn got to spend some quality time watching football with the men of the family (I am so sick of football)

Jerome loves the baby's new quilt!

We loved seeing the quilt in person - the colors are gorgeous, I was so excited to get it home.

Mom and I also did the requisite "Black Friday" shopping although it was done early afternoon, none of that 6am nonsense this year. Making a baby is tiring, and although I got up at 8am, we never left til 10:30. That being said, I knocked out some of my holiday shopping and of course got some gifts for the beeb! Including an awesome bag from Fossil I shall use as my diaper bag

this sucker is huge!

I got it for a cool $90 bucks (originally $150), which I know is expensive....but I fell in love with it at the outlets, and it was the ONLY one. I was terrified if I didn't get it, I would regret it and I wouldn't be able to find it online. Well, I was right. I have looked all over since I bought it to see if it is available online in this color *Mustard is my favorite!* and haven't been able to find it. 


My favorite parts about it are not only the size, convertible straps, color, but also that it is not toooooo feminine so Glenn could carry it around if need be, and that it is a coated, almost water-proof looking fabric. 

I dig the functionality of it all...plus it will essentially double as my purse, and I already have a mustard colored wallet. It was meant to be.


Following other holiday traditions, Mom and I put up her first tree in her new place :)

Mom is so presh in her jammies!

Baby pic

I got two 8x10 frames at the outlets and am framing a photo of Glenn and I each about 1 years of age to put above the changing table. When Baby Lovelace is 1 I will update the wall to include a photo in the center. 

love!

Mom's tree

Happy Holidays!

More Quilt Craziness....

Niter's craftiness has struck yet again! She is a sewing wizard and got together this doozy in about a week or so....Loving the colors!

Loving it!

I also have been picking up some pillows here and there and got the multicolored (yes I am aware it has pink in it) chevronish for $7.50 at Pier 1. 

I thought the bird painting matched the colors of the quilt and it was only 20 bucks...before anyone is too fearful that we are going too feminine, hold tight. The rest of the room is going to be full of colors and visually appealing elements to even the most masculine of children. Ha. 


And without further ado, look how big I am this week

rocking that boom boom pow

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and with all we have to be thankful for this year, I cannot wait to celebrate with family (all in from NY!). My mom is hosting in West Virginia and I cannot wait to stuff my face and catch up with everyone!  YUM

13 weeks (!!!) Bowling and Brunch

Great news, avid viewers. We are now in the 2nd trimester! That was the slowest/fastest 12 weeks ever. Happy to have crossed yet another milestone!

This week went by super fast - and was filled with fun and friends over the weekend. Our football team won their playoff game and we celebrated by going to a party at Brett's and then did a little Baltimore Style duckpin bowling.

Bowling swag by way of Target flouncy shirt, I should buy 8 more of these

Some beer was consumed and some laughs were had

just got the punchline

We got to see Tbird and Kate for the first time in ages and it was fantastic!

Everyone was shocked at the size of Baby Bump...thus far Keri is the only person who has been "Team Pink"

ladies...and Brett

I had a new variety of non-alcoholic beer via Odoul's (amber!), and felt like such a criminal sneaking glasses bottles into the wonderful bowling establishment. Almost like I was 16 and sneaking beer into the drive in. (Not that that ever happened!) 

bowling, beer  and bumps!

Sunday I spent some time with the other loves of my life, BY, Chris and from out of town, one Brian Pizza!

this is so "them"

My Peetzy Pie!

It was nice to catch up and hear all about the fun gay club and other queer oriented shenanigans I have missed out on since becoming preggers.....thanks for still including me, boys! 

In other fantastic news I have things squared away in terms of finding a local for the Baltimore Baby Shower bonanza in April! 

My dear friend Christina "Tanner" shall be hosting, and I know she will do an awesome job! She is an event planner by trade for a large non-profit in Maryland, and having attended showers she's hosted in the past, I am confident she will blow this one out of the water!

Tan and I post-football a year ago...

Tan and I post football this year! 

Another great friend, Tom,  has allowed me to use the space of his amazing abode to have the shower, and I am super grateful! I can't wait to see how everything turns out

Tom and I at Pride 2011

Fab deals and quilt steals!

Ok so no one stole any quilts, but for the cheap cheap price of free, (minus the backing) my mom threw together quilt number 1 (of 5....thousand).


Didn't she do a fab job!? This one shall stay in WV. I call it, "An Essence of Watercolor". Or something. I call it amazing! Bravo, Niter!

Stellar work! I can't wait to see how the others turn out!

We also did some Craigslisting and got a good deal on a changing table. 

It is Storckcraft and retails for about $230-250.00

We got it for $75 bucks, ballin!! It's actually pretty large, See photo of Jerome modeling size

We intend to sand to it down and paint it minty/seafoamy/blueish a'la this

Stay tuned whilst we get our craft on!