2nd Trimester Thoughts

I’ve been thinking back over the 2nd trimester as I enter into the final 3 months.

the joys:
* the absolute burst of energy. although I still haven’t felt totally like myself.
* the growing bump that’s turned into a belly. I’m still comfortable and thanks to my body pillow am sleeping much better.
* the attention. now that I am noticeably showing I don’t have to tell people I am pregnant when I see them, they just know and ask me about it
* the planning. I love to chance to decorate and figure out how we are going to adjust for this little guy’s arrival.
* the anticipation. I have never felt such anticipation for anything in my life. Both the birth and the arrival!

the woes:
* the weight gain. I know everyone says it is for a good cause but I am seriously getting the belly blues.
* the uncontrollables. Having to pee and then getting to the bathroom and not being able to go. Moments where I just have to cry but don’t want people to feel sorry for me. Constipation – need I say more?
* blood work. Since I am low thyroid I have to be checked all the time to make sure my system is keeping up. Thank God…it is!
* brain dead. Seriously I feel that my mind has left me. I have trouble sometimes with remembering the simplest thing or carrying on a full sentence conversation. I hope my brain comes back to me once the baby is born but I am told that it won’t. Oh…I need my brain back.

This photo is for my mother and sister-in-law. The prego outfit is made up of gifts and I got lots of complements on the sweater and the skirt yesterday! Thanks Jennifer and Christi.




















Oh...and Merry Christmas everyone! Our tree this year is actually a wonderful little bush. We went to the nursery to get a tree and left with a evergreen 5 gallon bush that we plan to plant in our yard when we are done. (When I told Mike it will have little blue blooms in the Spring he was sold) Since we aren’t around for the week before Christmas we thought it would be more practical. We’re funny!

26 week update

My 26 week update can finally include some photos. Yeah! I had my 6 ½ month Dr. appointment today. I saw a new Dr. that I was not too pleased with (who was an old man and reminded me of my Dr from growing up). I think I prefer a women Dr for these things. I continue to grow on target although I seemed to put on a few extra pounds (thanks to the holiday I think) going to scale back a bit. This month I start having appointments every 2 weeks so I will post updates more often.

Here is better shot to the size on tummy in contrast.

My baby furniture is together. We have a theme for the baby room. Mike wants to go with a jungle/animal motif. I love the idea of the music from Jungle Book and Lion King playing while our baby going to sleep. I don’t know if you can nurture your kids to love animals but if you can we are going to. I love the black furniture in contrast to the bright colors that are soon to come.




Most common cravings so far have included: molasses cookies, red meat especially a good hamburger but hold the fries, apples and apple juice although it gives me wicked gas and lots of dairy including, ice crème, milk, eggnog and yogurt.

I am starting to have trouble sleeping. I don’t feel that big until I see my picture and then I think…yikes…there’s the belly girl. I fall asleep no problem but then wake up at 4am and toss until I get up. Ahhh! However, I am only getting up to pee twice a night which is a nice chance from 4-5 times.

Mike’s nickname for me is “bumpy”.

I went to a breathing class today where the instructor had me prop one leg up on the table, extended, and then roll my tongue while inhaling then stretch my tongue to the back of my throat while exhaling. Strange? I guess it helps you relax while in labor, I think because it takes so much thought to do all of that while in pain. ?? I am going to prenatal yoga and swimming classes from now on. All other classes are becoming too difficult to augment so that I can keep off my belly. I am compelled to stay in the best shape I can but whew…it is hard work.

I would love any suggestions on birthing classes or books people have found helpful (especially when attempting a nature birth).

Cheerio for now…

Can we say...update!

Hi readers! Well, pictures or no pictures I’ve decided to post. Our home computer has been down for several weeks with a computer virus and come to find out we need a new hard drive. Thanks Dell! I hope to re-post this update with some photos this week. Even though we’ve not been out of town or had any big projects going on it has still felt as though life is so busy. I think the pregnancy really is making me more sensitive and tired that usual. But the holidays have energized me and I am looking forward to some time off soon.

I am SO thankful for the holidays! It serves as a month long reminder to be thankful for the important things in life. Large and small.
My top thankfulness list includes
1) peace. God has given Mike and I in the midst of all that’s going on in the world as it seems we are in some crazy times.
2) my marriage. an strong and supportive husband and a fulfilling loving and healthy relationship.
3) health. A very healthy, easy pregnancy and the wonderful anticipation of our son.
4) blessings. In the form of our friends, warm house, working cars, good food and job security.
It seems simple reading through it but seriously I am counting my blessings everyday.

Our Thanksgiving was cozy and relaxing…spent with my family at my parents house. Lots of turkey and my dad’s 1st vintage of Johannesburg Riesling wine. Delics...we went to see 4 Christmases which was surreal and kind of reminded me of holidays at either of our family’s houses but was equally hilarious. We got all the Christmas decorations out and listened to carols and Charlie Brown Christmas music while cooking and decorating on Saturday. We decided to get a live small tree since we are going to be in Florida for the week around Christmas. I don’t know how it happened but when we went to the nursery looking for a tree we decided on an evergreen bush instead. We will plan it in our front bed in January and Mike liked that it blooms little blue flowers in the spring. We’re wired! It reminds me of the Christmas tree on Charlie Brown.

Mike and I have been in a history mood lately. I would highly recommend a couple of DVD series including HBO’s “John Adams” a great production telling the story of early American history through the eyes of President Adams. It’s about 6 hours long and is so well done. Also “North and South” an 80’s production (so not so good but still very entertaining) about the Civil War times and the love and hate between 2 families. Young Patrick Swazye stars in this one so what’s not to love.

The baby room furniture is all together. The theme is going to be jungle animals and we hope to have my mom paint a mural on the walls. More to come soon on this.

Week 22 Update

Well here is my belly photo update for the 5.5 month mark. I've been charting on the half month mark month because that is when my Dr. appointments have been scheduled. This past week I went to see my Dr. about the ultrasounds and tests we've had done. Everything is progressing along great. The baby has the lowest levels of risk for the birth defects they (make us) test for. (uhh!) And the growth charted from the ultrasounds showed solid progress of baby boy Jacobs growth. My Dr. let me know that she is also pregnant and is due just shortly after me so I am seeing some of the other Dr.’s in that office to solidify what I will do.

I am feeling the baby moving all the time now. Very fun!

This past week I put together the baby furniture all by myself which was a huge accomplishment as many would tell you. However towards the end of the project I discovered that there were some missing pieces and I must admit I sat on the floor of the baby room and cried in disappointment that I could not complete my project. Overall, it was so fun and such an essential act of nesting. And dispite the missing pieces for now – I will look wonderful! I must say, I have become much more sensitive to the world around me; some would call this being emotional. I feel it is God softening me for what is too come.

In other news, Mike sold his motorcycle and declared he had NO intent of buying another one next spring. It was a great feeling to see it go, trust me. Mike has been cooking like a mad man since whole ducks started being sold at the store for the holidays. I swear our house smelled like a thanksgiving roast for 4 days straight while he cooked all the different parts of the 3 ducks he bought. Needless-to-say, it was delicious but I am sick of DUCK!

Enjoying the time of year.

 
 

In true holiday form, we carved up some pumpkins this weekend with neighbors and friends, Chris and Sheena. All the pumpkins had their own personalities by the end of the night. (Smarty, Evil, Cheesy and Friendly)

And officially, Mike has walked across the stage, accepted the applause and graduated from culinary school. All the recent celebrating has dulled the memory of early 5am mornings, 5 days a week - late nights, a sometimes fragily exhausted husband, late night black box cooking practice and in the end the feeling that we had missed the summer together. But it was a journey that only some travel and it will most likely be the best financial investment I will ever make. Congrats to Chef Mike!

What people will do for a pumpkin

Does anyone watch the how LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WORLD? Well thanks to the show this pumpkin patch is buzzin with anxious perfect pumpkin hunters at this time of year. We had such a great time with the two baby girls who I am sure had no idea what was going on. We waiting in a long line of cars just to park, then waited for tickets and waited in line. We were at the pumpkin patch for 4 hours. We took the Roloff Farm tour on the tractor drawn carts, searched for pumpkins and visited the petting zoo. I can't wait until our little boy arrives as I am already looking for a Halloween costume for next year. Does anyone plan on having a Halloween party this year?

Celebrating the Chef

Saturday night was our graduation party to celebrate Mike's completion of culinary school. It was such a fun success! The food was fabulous, the company entertaining and the memory priceless.

Chris, the red bearded man on the left, was Mike's culinary partner during the program. Chris is such a neat guy and it was amazing that he joined the festivities by helping Mike in the kitchen. I think they must have put in 20 hours of prep time. And to start the party the tradition is to begin with shots of Rumplemintz, peppermint snaps...refreshingly minty!

This weekend was pleasantly busy as Jennifer; Mike's mom flew in from Oklahoma for some maternity shopping, trip to the spa and the grand party on Saturday night. The completion of an accomplishment like the dream endeavor of culinary school must be celebrated so Mike took us on Friday night to the Joel Palmer House for dinner out. Now as the wife of a chef, it is hard not to be spoiled forever when it comes to eating out but I must say the experience and the food was a joy. Before our departure and late into the evening we got a tour of the kitchen and wine cellar and in this photo you can kind of make out the front of the restaurant (back of the historic house) that is the Joel Palmer House.

We're having a...

I want to know...who was the lone ranger who voted for a boy? I own you a prize so reveal yourself!!! On October 8th which was Mike and my 4 year anniversary we went in for the big ultrasound. We were lucky enough to get a very sweet technician who spent lots of time checking out the baby. When she first squirted the hot jelly on my tummy and we saw the baby he was super active...kickin' around and waving his hands. Within minutes it was like he had camera radar and he stopped moving and got really stubborn. He curled up in a ball put his hands in front of his face and crossed his legs so we could see very little. When the "manly parts" were finally discovered after much prodding of baby to "MOVE" we got a shot from underneath. But Mike really wanted a profile shot with the little thing popping out like this.
What is it with men? He said we need a photo like AJ got when their ultrasound was done. Alas, no such luck. This is what we got.But she did take several shots to appease Mike and was sure to point out and label in case it was not clear enough that we are HAVING A BOY! At only 18 weeks I will be going back in for a 2nd ultrasound at 22 weeks which will give us a chance to check the heart out in further detail and say hi to our boy again. Maybe we'll get that profile picture next time. (SMILE)

Here are the monthly belly pictures and evidence of how quickly my hair style changes.

I will be posting further updates on the baby and the belly to this blog since my news is now out in the open. To difficult to maintain 2 blogs these days. Stay tune for more photos.

Washington DC

 

DC Trip

I went on my first business trip this past week to Washington DC for the National Black MBA Conference. You might be asking why I was going to a Black professional’s conference. Well...they didn't discriminate and actually promote diversity. What a great cultural experience for me to spend 4 days with such an energetic crowd.

It was awesome to be in DC for the second half of my trip because Mike joined me for a long weekend of sigh seeing and good eats. We toured the Capitol Building, the Surpreme Justice, National Library, National Archives, National Art Musuem and all the momuments. Such a great get away considering we have not gone on many trips this year. It felt like exactly what we needed. A little adventure!

Changed the oil

Mike insisted that I blog about changing the oil on the mini cooper last night. Sorry for my cheesy photos. Hehe. I jacked the car up, unscreewed the bolt underneath the car (which was no small task) and drained the oil. The car was still fairly hot so I was being a chicken about the hot oil spraying out on me once I got the bolt loose. Mike kept saying "There are women who do much more on their cars everyday...now you are going to change your oil"! And actually it was easy in the end. I could do it again by myself.


These are just the final moments when I was happy again and was tightening the oil filter and putting the new oil in. I wouldn't let Mike take any photos when I was under the car with dirty oil on my hands being a chicken.

Family Photo

The is the first KNOLL family photo in history. We are a unusual but fun crew.

Last week I had the chance to go to Salishan Resort at the beach with the whole crew from Nike.
We spent a few days going to sessions, workshops and eating great food. As of last Monday, I am an official employee of Nike so my whole team is FULL TIME now.


This is my team, Design and Marketing Recruitment!

All that has been going on...

(This photo is from my sisters 25th Birthday dinner with family.)
What a crazy couple of weeks. I have not had time to post and unfortunately I can't post it all. Last weekend my mother had 7 of her cousins and aunts to our house from all over the states including New York, Flordia, California and Chicago. Everyone spent the week at the beach and touring ALL over Oregon. It was quiet the hosting experience for my mom.
Friday was Mike's LAST day of culinary class. Now it’s not over yet. But he does get a 2 week break before starting his externship. However, he was going to be doing the externship at Mothers Bistro. But due to an unforeseen turn of events revolving around Mothers, he decided to change it up. He called up the owner of the Joel Palmer House in Dundee. This is the wonderful historic place and if you have not been there, you should between August 19th and September 28th. www.joelpalmerhouse.com/ We ate at the JP House the night that we eloped, so it holds a special place in our hearts. Plus, they were thrilled to host Mike’s externship, (after hearing our story) what a blessing. But Mike has been so worn out and exhausted for weeks. So these few weeks off of school will be a huge relief. Now if only he could take a vacation from his day job.

This past weekend was my sister Megan’s 25th Birthday celebration. Plus on the same day my grandmother died. Her service is this week. Also this week, I will be accepting a permanent job at Nike after a long negotiation and weeks of discussions. Whew! It will be great to finally be an employee.

Needless to say, I’ve been feeling extremely worn out, tired and in need of a break, myself. But for a month now we had been planning to paint our house. And we are the “do-it-yourselfer” types, so of course we spent 18 hours this past weekend…PAINTING. I think it turned out really well.




And I will post some further updates with more news later this week.
Until then…be blessed my blogging friends.

From the Table. From the kitchen.

 

WE LOVE OUR OLD FRIENDS FROM THE TABLE, Imago Dei's sister church where Mike and I went for the 1st 2 years of our relationship. We had these guys over on Sunday for a mexican bbq.
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Just a few fun photos from Mike's international cooking class. Brian (left) and Chris (middle) have been in his class from the beginning and they have become good friends (awe, sigh). They choose to be in each others groups every kitchen course cause they cook so well together. Sounds like they are all hilarious too. Chris is the beer brewer who I wrote about a few weekends ago. The guy in the tall white hat is the chef, caught in the middle of biting into someones dish. Just thought it would be fun to show some picts from the kitchen where Mike spends the better part of his day.