Ehlers was tentative at first....
But then dove right in and Lynnie came to help out.....
Grilled Mini Meat Loaves
4 years ago
Friday, February 27, 2009
Doggie kisses!
Ehlers and Lynnie got a little practice for their new sibling this week. Nephew Liam came for a visit and was a good sport introducing a baby to Elhers. She did quite well - and he loved the kisses from both dogs!
A few 26 week observations
**I think I spend half my day, and a good portion of the night, in the bathroom. Now I have always been known to have a small bladder, and do drink a significant amount of liquids during the day from tea, to diet pepsi (loving my caffeine free stuff, I swear it tastes like the real thing!), and lots of water. But lately, my ladies room trips have taken a major upswing! Maybe I should move my desk and laptop in there?
**The secretaries at work and I are new best friends. I can't tell you how many of these women stop me in the halls or more often the ladies room (since I practically live in there) to discuss how I am feeling, am I eating enough, how to avoid getting sick, what my husband thinks about having a girl, and of the course the commentary on how I look. Some love to tell me how big I am getting and others tell me I am so tiny and they can't believe I am so far along (I like these women better, of course!). It's been entertaining to see who has suddenly taken an interest in my life.
**I have been a notoriously horrible, light sleeper since childhood. Didn't sleep through the night as a baby, refused to take naps once I hit kindergarten, insisted on staying up to my older brother's bedtime as little girl, and required that every single person in the house turn off all lights, TV's, radios, etc in high school. Ryan tells me I have not changed one bit as an adult and still insist on having everything perfect in order to sleep. And while I don't require much shut-eye, I attempt to get seven hours each night and if that means Ryan needs to shut the TV and the lights off, then so be it! Well, lately sleep has been hard to come by - for both of us. Me, because I CAN NOT get comfortable (oh how I miss sleeping on my back), and Ryan because I toss and turn enough to wake him up (and the guy could sleep through a train going through his bedroom, I swear). Guess this is preparing us both for those sleepless nights ahead!?!?!?! And regarding not sleeping as a baby - I fear payback is on the way!
**My favorite thing about pregnancy so far is feeling the little lady move. And just this week, I can physically see her moving – as in, my stomach is bouncing up and down when she really gets going. Poor daddy though, every time Ryan comes near me or puts his hands on my stomach, she immediately holds still. I tell him he calms her down, so maybe this ability to relax her will continue after birth? One can only hope….
**The secretaries at work and I are new best friends. I can't tell you how many of these women stop me in the halls or more often the ladies room (since I practically live in there) to discuss how I am feeling, am I eating enough, how to avoid getting sick, what my husband thinks about having a girl, and of the course the commentary on how I look. Some love to tell me how big I am getting and others tell me I am so tiny and they can't believe I am so far along (I like these women better, of course!). It's been entertaining to see who has suddenly taken an interest in my life.
**I have been a notoriously horrible, light sleeper since childhood. Didn't sleep through the night as a baby, refused to take naps once I hit kindergarten, insisted on staying up to my older brother's bedtime as little girl, and required that every single person in the house turn off all lights, TV's, radios, etc in high school. Ryan tells me I have not changed one bit as an adult and still insist on having everything perfect in order to sleep. And while I don't require much shut-eye, I attempt to get seven hours each night and if that means Ryan needs to shut the TV and the lights off, then so be it! Well, lately sleep has been hard to come by - for both of us. Me, because I CAN NOT get comfortable (oh how I miss sleeping on my back), and Ryan because I toss and turn enough to wake him up (and the guy could sleep through a train going through his bedroom, I swear). Guess this is preparing us both for those sleepless nights ahead!?!?!?! And regarding not sleeping as a baby - I fear payback is on the way!
**My favorite thing about pregnancy so far is feeling the little lady move. And just this week, I can physically see her moving – as in, my stomach is bouncing up and down when she really gets going. Poor daddy though, every time Ryan comes near me or puts his hands on my stomach, she immediately holds still. I tell him he calms her down, so maybe this ability to relax her will continue after birth? One can only hope….
Monday, February 23, 2009
Nursery!
After three coats of primer, two coats of light green paint, one coat of white on the ceiling and trim, and a rather entertaining issue with a door handle (I will let Ryan share the story for those interested, but let's just say we were locked in the nursery for about an hour and had to be rescued by a friend down the street!) we are FINALLY done painting the nursery.
Ryan had a great idea to finish painting the ceiling and trim Saturday night, but he (and his cocktail) took a few breaks!
Ryan had a great idea to finish painting the ceiling and trim Saturday night, but he (and his cocktail) took a few breaks!Tuesday, February 17, 2009
25 week pics
As requested, here is a picture of my belly at a little over 25 weeks.
My new favorite gear is the belly band which has allowed me to wear my "skinny" jeans in this pic. I highly recommend for all fellow prego gals!
Best Hus Ever!
Three coats of primer and we are finally ready to start "painting"...Ryan, being the best husband ever, has decided that one coat of primer was enough for this prego gal and is wrapping up the rest all by himself!Sunday, February 15, 2009
Gifts!
Oh how cute! I came home Thursday night (or more precisely Friday morning) after a long 16 hour day at work to find a present for the little lady. Ok, gotta be honest - I saw a box with the address written in Uncle Tom's writing and thought to myself "sweet, new running gear!" (Ya, I'm spoiled). But when I opened the box, I found the cutest little sneakers and stocking cap....and it made my day!!! Thanks Tom, she will definitely be running 'Brew to Brew' with us someday! Not so sure about this new Oprah nickname though....we need to discuss as your nicknames tend to stick around. :)
Ryan also received a Valentine's day gift from his little lady and has decided she will be wearing her onesie every time he is in charge of dressing her.
Projects Update
Over the past few weeks, the Osterhaus household has been busy completing a few of the major projects - we have new upstairs windows, new gutters, no more mold in the basement, and have just started painting the nursery.
Here is a "before" pic of the soon-to-be nursery. Some ingenious person (me!) has loved the idea of a black room since I was in high school and was told I could decorate my new room any way I wanted....but when black was my choice, I was immediately shot down, and decided on 'blood red' instead. Thanks Mom! When Ryan and I bought our house, I again thought of my black room and decided our small office would be perfect. My oldest friend Bryn and I spent a couple evenings going through the painful task of painting this room - and I have been so proud of our feat since then. So I'm a bit sad to see my black room go....
Here is a "before" pic of the soon-to-be nursery. Some ingenious person (me!) has loved the idea of a black room since I was in high school and was told I could decorate my new room any way I wanted....but when black was my choice, I was immediately shot down, and decided on 'blood red' instead. Thanks Mom! When Ryan and I bought our house, I again thought of my black room and decided our small office would be perfect. My oldest friend Bryn and I spent a couple evenings going through the painful task of painting this room - and I have been so proud of our feat since then. So I'm a bit sad to see my black room go....However, last week, Ryan and I once again began the painful task of painting....black walls to a light pastel. Here are a few pics of the first round of primer.
Round one down, and as you can see, at least two more primer coats to go before actually "painting" the nursery. Ugh, whose idea was a black room again?!?!?!?!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Baby O...in Utero
My grandmother will soon become a great grandmother for the first time, and she is thrilled. She recently sent Ryan and I a Dr Seuss book to be read to Baby O while in utero and included a sweet note about how she was so excited to meet her. The first night we received the book, Ryan read to my expanding belly and wow, our little lady LOVED hearing his voice and all the fantastic Dr Seuss rhyming. She tossed and turned, and kicked up a storm! Thanks Mema….what a great memory we have because of your gift.
Group Therapy
In a couple of my previous posts, I have made a few running references, and while this might seem insignificant, running is a huge part of my life and has been for years. Some of my closest friends come from running - from high school cross country and track, to losing that freshman fifteen running with my sorority sisters, and now running with an all-gal's group on Saturday mornings.
I look forward all week to meeting my group on Saturday for our long runs - it's my free therapy session in which all topics of conversation are free game. From venting about work, to complaining about our husbands' bad habits of leaving laundry on the floor (seriously honey, the laundry basket is the blue plastic thing in your closet!), to sharing your goals, hopes, dreams and fears. There is something intimate about running - maybe it's the adrenaline, or the endorphins, or maybe it's the fact that we spend three hours struggling through a 22 miler and talking takes our minds off the pain. I spend more time with the girls I meet each Saturday (and sometimes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday!) than I do with my 'best friends', and sometimes even more than my own husband and family. Running is my passion, a huge joy in my life, and also allows me to eat that extra cookie and glass of wine!
So I am struggling with a few things as I wrap up month five of this pregnancy - all of them sounding very selfish to me. First, I am struggling with the fact that I am slowing down and running is becoming so much harder - even though I know it's for an amazing reason, and it's good for Baby O for me to take it easy. I worry that I am slowing down and won't be able to run with the 'fast' girls in my group once I get back in shape. But even harder, I am struggling with what feels like a loss of myself - I identify myself as a "runner" - it's been such a huge part of my life for so many years, and over the past few weeks I've felt like it's slowly slipping away. I worry that after Baby O is here, many sacrifices will need to be made, and running takes time that I wouldn't be able to, or want to, spend away from my family. I worry that the running portion of my life might be over.
However, I believe that each sacrifice I will make after the arrival of Baby O will be worth it. I also know that I have an incredibly supportive husband, who has travelled the country with me for races, not been too irritated when I head out in negative wind chills and icy conditions, and who will continue to support me in my passion as our family expands. And I believe that continuing to run post-Baby O will make me a better mom, wife, and friend. So I have to believe that sometime in the future, though maybe slower and a few pounds heavier, I will be back out there on the roads with my girls once again attending those Saturday morning therapy sessions.
I look forward all week to meeting my group on Saturday for our long runs - it's my free therapy session in which all topics of conversation are free game. From venting about work, to complaining about our husbands' bad habits of leaving laundry on the floor (seriously honey, the laundry basket is the blue plastic thing in your closet!), to sharing your goals, hopes, dreams and fears. There is something intimate about running - maybe it's the adrenaline, or the endorphins, or maybe it's the fact that we spend three hours struggling through a 22 miler and talking takes our minds off the pain. I spend more time with the girls I meet each Saturday (and sometimes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday!) than I do with my 'best friends', and sometimes even more than my own husband and family. Running is my passion, a huge joy in my life, and also allows me to eat that extra cookie and glass of wine!
So I am struggling with a few things as I wrap up month five of this pregnancy - all of them sounding very selfish to me. First, I am struggling with the fact that I am slowing down and running is becoming so much harder - even though I know it's for an amazing reason, and it's good for Baby O for me to take it easy. I worry that I am slowing down and won't be able to run with the 'fast' girls in my group once I get back in shape. But even harder, I am struggling with what feels like a loss of myself - I identify myself as a "runner" - it's been such a huge part of my life for so many years, and over the past few weeks I've felt like it's slowly slipping away. I worry that after Baby O is here, many sacrifices will need to be made, and running takes time that I wouldn't be able to, or want to, spend away from my family. I worry that the running portion of my life might be over.
However, I believe that each sacrifice I will make after the arrival of Baby O will be worth it. I also know that I have an incredibly supportive husband, who has travelled the country with me for races, not been too irritated when I head out in negative wind chills and icy conditions, and who will continue to support me in my passion as our family expands. And I believe that continuing to run post-Baby O will make me a better mom, wife, and friend. So I have to believe that sometime in the future, though maybe slower and a few pounds heavier, I will be back out there on the roads with my girls once again attending those Saturday morning therapy sessions.
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