mamemima – new blog!

So after this post, I kept thinking about why not starting a baby/kid blog. I’ve toyed with the idea of creating a blog where I can document all baby/kid related things for a long time, so House 36 would just focus on home projects, design, decor, diy and crafts, but the idea of keeping up with two blogs made me a little hesitant.

I worry about posting often in both blogs. Sometimes I can’t even post often in this blog! But who says I have to, right? Blogging is a creative outlet for me, it’s fun and relaxing, so I shouldn’t self-impose non-existent obligations of daily postings and stuff. And more important, I should always remember why I started blogging. In this case, I wanted to start a baby/kid blog as a diary of all my experiences raising two kids, as a testimony of my motherhood experiences, as a journal I can show to my kids someday and tell them I wrote it for them.

Why mamemima? Well, “mi mama me mima” is a very popular sentence in Spanish, one of the first kids are taught in school. It could be translated to “my mommy pampers me“. And that’s want I want to do for my boys! The whole sentence was too long for a blog name and the mister said it sounded like a riddle. He couldn’t even pronounce it without getting stuck.  I like the sentence and didn’t want to give it up. I started playing with it, took out the first word, shortened “mama” to ‘ma” (which is another short way to say mom) and that’s how mamemima was born.

I already migrated all the baby related posts (that’s why you’ll see some pictures with the House36 logo) to have the complete story in one place. Someday I’d like to turn the blog into a book to present to my kids so I wanted everything baby/kid related to be there.

Oh baby! Wednesdays, which never happened in House36, will be happening there. If you are a mom, stop by. You’re going to like it.

my pregnancy – baby G is here!

 Baby G

Born June 11th, 6:22 p.m., 9 pounds 14 1/2 ounces (4.450 kilos), 22 inches (55.88 cm.)

my pregnancy – 40 weeks!!!

• Hello due date! I made it to 40 weeks. I can’t say I’m thrilled about this. I’ll be lying if I don’t say I’m a little disappointed. For some reason I thought baby G will arrive sooner. But I guess my body and him are not ready yet.
• I know due dates are just an estimated date. They are not set in stone and they can be wrong. And they are wrong most of the time. But most people I know had their babies before their due date!
• I’m over 30 pounds (13.60 kilos). I didn’t bother to weigh myself today. I don’t even want to go near a scale.
•  We’d had everything ready since three weeks ago and that makes this waiting game a little more frustrating. I’ve been a little down all day. I know I shouldn’t but oh well, I can’t help it either. Tomorrow will be another day.
• Even though I’ve been raving all this time about my easy and healthy pregnancy, this past week I’ve started to experience the ugly face of pregnancy: two days ago I wasn’t able to sleep at all for two nights in a row, I’m just too uncomfortable, all achy and swollen.
• And talking about swelling. I feel silly about my complains about the little swelling I had before. Now swelling has taken another whole new level. I have Shrek feet! Like really Shrek feet.
• Now when something falls I leave it there. My knee joints can’t  handle it. I mean, I can go down. But I can’t guarantee I’ll go back up.
• Finally I started to feel some Braxton Hicks Contractions. They just feel like menstrual cramps. Nothing painful.
• Never before I’ve been looking forward to feeling pain. I want pain! Real contractions where are you? Please you are welcome to start anytime soon. No need to announce yourself.
• Hospital bag packed. Refrigerator and pantry stocked up. Nursery almost ready. Just waiting on one little detail to take some pictures and share.
• In an attempt to distract myself I’ve been taking walks with my mom. However, it seems that it’s not helping my swelling. I need to rest, feet up and that’s driving me crazy.
• I have my weekly check-up this Thursday. My doctor scheduled a fetal NST (Non-Stress Test) and a Biophysical Profile to make sure baby is doing good.
• I want to thank all my family and friends who are checking with us. It really makes me feel loved. And believe me, I’m as anxious and excited as you are!
• I got an email from a dear friend that totally made my day. Thanks Chabe!
• Baby G I know you are taking your time and I want you to be super duper ready, but also I want you to know that I’m dying to meet you. I want to see your little face. I’ve spent countless hours imaging who you will take after, how big will you be, will you have lots of hair? I know I said I’m going to miss your little kicks and hiccups inside my belly. But now I just can’t wait to hold you in my arms and being your mommy! I love you my baby boy and I’m so ready for you!

my pregnancy – 38 weeks

• Almost there! Baby G better come soon because I don’t know how much more my belly can grow.
• Last week at my weekly appointment I was told I’m 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. This week I’m 2 cm. We are getting there!
• I’ve gained 30 pounds (13.6 kilos) to this point. Oh boy!
• My doctor said baby G is a big baby. Again oh boy!
• He can make his big appearance anytime now, since my mom is already here and I feel more confident and secure. The mister has been so great at understanding. Of course he’ll be there with me. He’s been so supportive and I know he’d be the best labor couch. And I can’t imagine the happiness and joy that will embrace us when we hold our little baby in our arms and know we did it together.  But there is a special bond between a mom and a daughter about sharing this experience. I’m so happy I’ll have them both by my side on such an important day.
• We completed our birth plan. I was a little lazy and just got the fill-in-blanks birth plan from The Bump. It was very straightforward and I think it’s good enough.
• To be honest I’ve been trying to avoid looking at myself when getting out of the shower, but a couple of times I caught a glimpse of myself and was amazed by my body. No, I was not amazed by the extra inches on my thighs and butt or the new cellulite (although I should) but by my big, round belly. They say a pregnant woman’s body is beautiful (despite the little details mentioned above) and they are right. It’s incredible to know there is a tiny (or not so tiny) little human being growing inside. A little being that will grow up to be a complete person. Isn’t that just amazing?
• The other day I went into panic mode when I saw what it looked like a stretch mark starting at my belly button and going down. I thought my lucky days were over. Thankfully it happened to be the elastic mark from my leggings. I’m still counting my stars and praying they won’t appear anytime soon nor later. Please, please, please.
• Flip flops and a pair of flats I bought when I was about 20 weeks pregnant, are the only shoes that fit comfortably now. I was told pregnancy can change your shoe size. I hope that is not the case. What will I do with all my shoes?!
• I was starting to feel like out of this world for not having any pregnancy ailments. But I guess to be fair to the rest of the pregnant population, my feet and hands have decided to continue swelling, now to the point of being uncomfortable. They are poo-fy and numb all the time. Also my knees are starting to feel the all the pounds and extra pounds I’ve put on.
• Other than that, I’m feeling good, sometimes I think too good. I’m finishing some details in the nursery and doing some last shopping trips with my mom to get everything we’ll need.
• I’m ready to meet my little baby G!

my pregnancy – baby G’s virtual baby shower

As I mentioned before, all my family and closest friends live in Lima but they still wanted to celebrate the arrival of Baby G. So my mom and sis threw a “Virtual Baby Shower” for me last Saturday and it was adorable! We were able to see each other via  web cam (connected to both tv’s, so we had a bigger and better image of each other) and talk like we were there. Oh! the wonders of technology!

My little sis did a great job. She is an amazing baker and made yummy treats like cupcakes and brownies. But not only that, she did an amazing job with the decor! She made paper pom poms and little signs in a nice color palette. It was very thoughtful. My mom put together a delicious Tea Time party and came up with some fun games. My mother-in-law and I were able to see all the fun.

It was very touching for me to see so many of my aunts, cousins and friends together to celebrate this special occasion with us. Even from the distance I could feel the love and joy we all shared that day. I saw them laughing, playing games, taking pictures, eating. It was great to be able to celebrate with them even in this way.

My family worked so hard to put together this moment for us. Even though baby showers are women events for the most part, my dad, brother and brother-in-law stayed there, helping and sharing with us. It felt so great to see my family working together. And they did it for us! I feel lucky to have such an amazing and caring family.

So again, I want to thank all my family, my friends and my mom’s friends who were there with us for all their love and generosity. Thanks so much for all the cute and thoughtful gifts for baby G and especially for all the good wishes. Baby G is such a loved little boy! Thanks from the bottom of our hearts! It meant the world to us!

P.S. My mom arrives tomorrow night! We are so excited!

my pregnancy – 36 weeks

• This post is one day late, since I was 36 weeks yesterday.
• I can’t believe four more weeks  (or maybe sooner) and I’ll have baby G in my arms!
• Everything is going so well. I truly feel blessed this pregnancy has been a walk in the park. I’m enjoying every minute of it. I know it may sound weird, but the other day I was thinking how I’m going to miss my big belly! It has gone so fast, sometimes I wish I could have a little more time with baby G inside my belly, feeling him move, kick, jump. I’ll miss his hiccups and stretches. I’ll miss how he moves every time he listens to music or when the mister talks to him. I’ll miss that feeling of having a little human being growing inside me.
• But of course because nothing is perfect (where is the fun in that?), I’m still experiencing some swelling. Nothing major, though. My feet and hands get swollen but my blood pressure is under control so the doctor said is nothing to worry about. A couple of weekends ago, on our way back from Sesame Place, we drove home without stopping and by the time we got home I had two big sausages as feet. It was half painful, half funny since I’ve never seen my feet like that. Note to ourselves: make stops when driving long distances. Basic, right? Somehow we didn’t think about it.
• No contractions so far. Not even Braxton Hicks contractions. If I’m having them I’m definitely not feeling them.
• I pee every 15 minutes. No, really every 15 minutes.
• I’ve gain 26 1/2 (12.05 kilos) pounds so far. I was aiming to gain under 25 pounds. But hey, baby G needs to grow and if that is what he needs, that’s fine. Still 4 more weeks to go. Hopefully I won’t gain too much in this final stretch.
• Talking about food and cravings, now I’m eating carrots and celery with humus all the time. I guess baby G is going to be a healthy little boy!
• I stopped working a little more than a week ago. It felt weird at the beginning but now I’m happy I have all this time to get everything ready.
• I’m keeping up with my exercise routine. Well, at least trying. Some weights, some cardio and prenatal yoga.
• The nursery is coming along and it’s looking good! I love it! There are still many projects to finish like the DIY mobile, paint some frames for pictures, some pillow covers and the window valance I have to sew and the closet storage system.
• My mom is coming next week! I can’t be more excited.
• This Saturday is my virtual baby shower. I’m really looking forward to it!

my pregnancy – maternity photo session!

We had our maternity photo session two weekends ago, and last night I got our pics! And I love them! Honestly I was a little afraid to have the session this far along in my pregnancy (34 weeks). I read the recommended time is between 7 and 8 months, when the belly is not that big and swelling hasn’t made their appearance yet. But for different reasons we had to rescheduled. And finally did it. And I’m so happy with the results.

 

via alejandra martins photography

via alejandra martins photography

I knew I wanted something different from the bare belly (and sometimes bare everything!) traditional maternity pictures. I wanted something casual, modern and fun. And that was not a problem with our photographer Ale, whose style is precisely that! I met her through her blog. She is Peruvian as well, and very talented. She was very open to my suggestions and very accommodating. We had the session at our house and even though it rained all day we managed to get some nice outdoor pics. I think we got great results! 

 

via alejandra martins photography

If you are looking for a great photographer in the New York area, check out her site. Thanks Ale!

my pregnancy – 32 weeks

• I’m 8 months now! Time is flying! In 8 weeks, maybe earlier, maybe later, I’ll be holding baby G in my arms. I can’t wait!
• 32 weeks in and I’m still feeling good. No nausea, no puking, no pains, no food aversions, no headache, no heartburn, I’m able to sleep…ok, ok, before you start hating me, I started to experience a bit of swelling. My feet get swollen especially at the end of the day (nothing crazy just a bit) the same as my hands. I removed my engagement ring before it got stuck on my finger to save us a ride to the emergency room. I got to keep my wedding ring, though.
• I can also see a little puffiness in my face. Not happy about that.
• Baby G keeps moving a lot. A lot. And I love it! I’m supposed to count his movements, averaging 10 movements in  2 hours. He kicks me 10 times in half hour!
• I have gained 21 pounds (9.52 kilos) so far. I guess I’m still in the recommended range (25-35 lbs.) but considering I still have 8 more weeks to go, and my goal was not to get past 25, I’m not very pleased. I heard a lot of woman freak out about their bodies during pregnancy, and I didn’t understand them but now I do. There is something about losing total control about our bodies that’s scary. Because it doesn’t matter how well you eat or how often you exercise, during these 40 weeks we have no control whatsoever about what is going to happen. Of course a balance diet and exercise help, but at the end it’s up to nature’s willing. And we have to accept it.
• I continue doing pre-natal yoga once a week. I’m planning on going twice a week once I stop working.
• I finally have a noticeable, round, pregnant belly that random people can see. Yay!
• My belly button is completely out. Luke asks to see it every morning and he freaks out.
• We are making progress in the nursery. We painted it last weekend. We still have more painting to do, paint the closet and add the closet storage system. Sometime soon.
• We got the crib and bassinet. So cute!
• I’ve been dreaming about baby G. But for some reason he is always older in my dreams and he can talk. Weird.
• We were considering doing a 3D/4D ultrasound to see baby G, but we refrained. We both don’t like the way babies looks in those pictures. Definitely not for us.
• We pre-registered at the hospital. Just need to sign up for a Chilbirth Class.

my pregnancy – 28 weeks

• Hello third trimester! Oh my, this is my third and last trimester. Baby G is coming soon!
• I can’t believe how easy it’s been all this time. I feel extremely lucky and thankful for having such an easy and enjoyable pregnancy. I know that’s not always the case. If it’s this easy I may be in for baby number 3 soon enough. Well, maybe I should wait until after delivery to make any statements.
• We had our 27 week appointment with a different doctor, from the same practice though. This was on recommendation of our doctor who said it’ll be a good idea to start meeting the other doctors since we don’t know who will be there the day baby G decides to arrive. I thought we’ll have the same doctor the day of delivery but apparently things don’t work like that. Anyway, we got to see baby G and heard his heartbeat for a few minutes. Everything is going well. Baby is in good position, belly is growing in the places it should.
• I passed my glucose test. No gestational diabetes, thanks God. I’m mildly anemic though. I need to take more iron. Not easy when I’m not a meat person. But I’ll do it for baby G’s health.
• I’ve gained 14 pounds so far (6.35 kilos).  That’s 7 pounds in 4 weeks! Not what I expected. I’m not very happy since I should have gained just 4 pounds (one pound a week). And I have no one to blame but me. I know this second trimester I haven’t been eating well. Four weeks ago I was aware I was eating too much ice cream and sweets but didn’t stopped. This is the result! In my last trimester I really, really promise I’m going to cut all sweets and junk food. No ice cream for me tonight!
• Baby G moves. A lot. Sometimes he moves so much and fast that he gives me tickles. You can find me laughing at myself and smiling at my belly a lot.  It’s a great sensation.
• I’m sleeping better now.  Surprisingly I don’t need the anaconda (body pillow) to stay on my side. But I still need to go to the bathroom at least twice at night. It’s annoying!
• Every night we spend some time looking at my belly, seeing how baby G moves. It’s a really strange, weird but incredible feeling. I think now that I get to feel and see the baby move, and my belly is more noticeable I’m really feeling pregnant.
• I finally got to use maternity clothes. Maternity pants for that matter. I got a pair of maternity: skinny black pants, skinny cargo pants, black leggings and  skinny jeans. I love them all, but my favorites are the jeans and leggings. Hopefully these will last me until the end. Still wearing regular tops, sweaters and dresses. Have you noticed that the current styles of clothing are very maternity-friendly?
• A couple of weeks ago I posted a poll about what color theme to choose for the nursery. Results: We’re going with the Yellow Giraffe theme! Now I’m thinking maybe adding a third accent color. Turquoise, anyone?
• A little plush giraffe was the first toy we bought for baby G. I think we were biased for that theme. Well, seems voters were, too.
• Who would have thought looking for a stroller would be so complicated and time-consuming!
• Oh! And baby registries? Forget about it. We are going to forgo the big super baby stores. It’s overwhelming.
• Nona Dorina and Tia Janell are planning baby G a shower. Since they and my whole family and friends live in Lima, they will be having the baby shower there. I won’t be able to travel so I’ll be joining them via web camera. Yes, it’s going to be a Virtual Baby Shower! How different and fun!

my pregnancy – 24 weeks

• Today was a milestone in my pregnancy. I’m 24 weeks which means baby F reached viability. Yay!
• I started feeling baby F move at about 22 weeks. At the beginning I wasn’t sure it was him, since I felt all kinds of sensations in my belly: butterfly flutters, gas, tickles. Now I can clearly feel him kick and move. He is more active when I’m resting. I heard that’s the way it’s going to be for the first…five…years!
• I’ve gained 7 pounds so far (3.17 kilos). I’ve been consistent with my exercise routine. My diet? Not so much. I’m still eating a lot of fruits and drinking plenty of water, but I’ve indulged in a lot with ice cream and chocolate. I have to go back to eating more vegetables like in the beginning.
• I’ve been trying to teach myself to sleep on my side with my maternity pillow, but it’s hard. Somehow I always wake up on my back in the morning. The maternity pillow (or white anaconda) ends up on the floor.
• I’ve been suffering leg cramps at night. Not fun!
• Besides that I’m not having any major discomfort and can do most of my normal activities. The only thing, I get exhausted (like I-need-a-two-hour-nap exhausted) after long periods of standing or walking.
• Still no maternity clothes for me. The maternity jeans I bought are still too big for my belly. My work pants don’t button anymore but I haven’t been able to find maternity pants that fit properly so I bought a B band. It works perfect.
• I started thinking about my maternity photo session. I have so many ideas! I’m looking forward to it.
• We chose a name! So baby F is now baby G…for Giacomo. I can’t wait to meet my baby!