tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119911472024-03-08T13:19:56.474-08:00West Coast MommyhoodGerman transplant loving mommyhood on the west coast. Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-43489010628846380912015-10-29T14:41:00.000-07:002015-10-29T14:41:04.756-07:00Stitchfix October 2015It's been that time again....Stitchfix time. This is my third fix and I was pretty excited to receive a new box with goodies. This time around I requested an outfit for a wedding that I am going to attend in early November and I opted to stay with the same stylist this time.<br />
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If you are interested in trying it you can use my referral link by clicking<a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/5709536" target="_blank"> here</a>.<br />
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Let's take a look at what I received this time around:<br />
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1) Urban Expressions</div>
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Richie Asymmetrical Clutch</div>
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<a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5768/22594278431_edc967055b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5768/22594278431_edc967055b.jpg" width="200" /></a>I really liked the style of this and the color is totally me too. However it was a little big for a clutch and since I only get to use a clutch maybe once a month currently I didn't think that I NEED this in my life right now. Unfortunately this had to go back. RETURNED</div>
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2) Gilli</div>
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Sebsatian Maxi Dress</div>
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<a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5726/22557115836_fb56e12177.jpg%5C" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5726/22557115836_fb56e12177.jpg%5C" width="132" /></a>Thought this was a great pick for a maxi dress. As always the material is superb and the fabric feels super comfy and high quality. For my own personal sake I wish it offered arm/shoulder coverage but it works. It has a really nice dark blue hue and I love what it does for my cleavage area. I would probably love it more if it was all blue instead of the stripes but I liked them well enough. Turns out a have 2 blue maxi dresses with stripes already but had to keep this one nevertheless. I will be able to dress this up for the wedding and also use it year-round with the current temperatures here in SoCal. KEPT</div>
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3) Amour Vert for Stitch Fix</div>
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Alessandro Silk V-Neck Blouse</div>
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<a href="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/607/21961912193_b196e7502f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/607/21961912193_b196e7502f.jpg" width="133" /></a>When I first pulled out the style card I thought I was absolutely in love with this without trying it on. That didn't turn out exactly how it went down when I finally tried it. I love love love the design/pattern. It is my style for sure. It seemed a little large on the bottom part. The shoulders looked right but it made me look a little boxy below. The buttons are super cute on this...I tried everything on without looking at the prices first so when I ended up checking this was a little bit more pricey. When I checked I figured out it was 100% silk so the pricing made more sense. For the price I would have to absolutely love it and since it was a little boxy looking on me and also doesn't necessarily compliment my rather light complexion I opted that this has to go back after all. RETURNED</div>
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4) 41Hawthorn</div>
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Selfridge Cowl Neck Knit Top</div>
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<a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5737/22557147056_5875dbb26c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5737/22557147056_5875dbb26c.jpg" width="133" /></a>The hubby really liked this one. When I first saw it on the card I thought no-way. When I tried it on it was actually pretty cute and I like that it comes with a shirt line sewn in, so it doesn't reveal too much. I went back and forth on this and tried it on a couple of times but ultimately decided to send it back since I don't love the cowl neck thing. It was ok but I didn't love it since that is not my thing and so I returned it. RETURNED.</div>
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5) Market & Spruce</div>
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Char Geo Print Maxi Skirt</div>
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So when I saw this on the card I thought I really liked it. It looks good from a distance. It has amazing fabric and is good quality. I just didn't like the pattern and color combo close up. The pattern isn't sophisticated enough and the color combo of turquoise and red kind of clashes and has a clown feeling to it. Weirdly enough it looks good from further away or on the card...more light purple/bluish...Must be some optical illusion caused by the pattern. Needless to say...it went back. RETURNED</div>
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So I only kept the Gilli Maxi dress this time. Overall I wish the third fix was a little bit more my style still. What I learned is that I like to peek at the style card first but that it all changes when I actually see the items and try them on. Sometimes I think I won't like something from the card that I then end up buying. At the same time some of the items that looked great on the card (the silk blouse and maxi skirt) turned out not to work for me. It is also very important to try on items multiple times and think about it instead of sending it back right away. I have changed my mind before on the 2nd day and I think that it has to do with the fact that items are picked for us that we wouldn't necessarily pick of the rack ourselves. That way I tend to judge it too quickly before actually giving it a minute. </div>
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I love to get this little surprise in my mail box each month and I am eager to learn more about what works for me. The style cards are awesome. We'll see what next month brings. :)</div>
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<br />Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-3514280202204272172015-09-19T14:40:00.002-07:002015-09-19T14:40:42.112-07:00Stitchfix September 2015Just received my September Stichfix a couple of days ago and thought I would share what I received this time around. This is my 2nd fix and I was assigned a new stylist (Kallie). I didn't keep anything from my first box but I thought that everything was really close and it was either a fitting issue or the item fit in my general style idea but the specific item just didn't work out for me.<br />
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When I first received the box I just pulled out the style card to see what would be included without looking at the actual pieces. Judging just from the style card I was underwhelmed and thought it might not have worked out so well..BUT...I was wrong. Turns out it really matters to see the pieces themselves and to try them on. The two pieces I really loved (the Papermoon Krissie Sparkle Knit Top and the Gentle Fawn Barboza Jacket) just don't look as nice on paper as they when you try them on.<br />
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I was really surprised when I pulled all items out in the evening and loved the sparkle top and jacket right away. Totally my style - Kallie nailed 2/5 (almost 3) in the first box to me styled by her. That's amazing! But let me fill you in on what I received:<br />
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<a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5693/20926820104_97c6e488a9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5693/20926820104_97c6e488a9.jpg" width="200" /></a>1) Bay to Baules Korbyn Geo Charm Layering Necklace</div>
I liked the necklace...a mix of gold and silver but wasn't sure I would love it enough for the price. Looking back I should have probably kept it. Looks nice with the top and jacket.<br />
<b><u>RETURNED</u></b><br />
2) Market & Spruce Bernadette Lace Overlay Raglan Top<br />
This one isn't my style at all. I love a good raglan shirt, but the blue color wasn't really my speed and I don't like lace in colors other than white or black. Also this has way too much lace for my taste.<br />
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<a href="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/725/21558334461_2c50d1ebb9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/725/21558334461_2c50d1ebb9.jpg" width="150" /></a>3) Papermoon Krissie Sparkle Knit Top (see picture below)<br />
This cute little top "had me at hello". The right amount of sparkle and a nice fit. Love it. The only negative is that it is hand wash only, but since my machine has a button for that...I can deal. :)<br />
<b><u>KEPT</u></b><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">4) Gentle Fawn Barboza Jacket (see picture above)</span><br />
Love this jacket. Love the gun-metal color and how it falls. Love that it easily dresses up and down depending on what you wear with it. Nice piece for the fall weather in San Diego. It feels amazing too! Only negative is that it seems to wrinkle easily and I don't feel like ironing a lot. It was too good to pass up though...so this one was a clear winner!<br />
<b><u>KEPT</u></b><br />
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5) Kut from the Kloth Kate Boyfriend Jean<br />
A size to big for me...totally my mistake though. Changed my pants size in my style profile for next time. Wouldn't have kept it though since I have a good amount of blue jeans at the moment.<br />
<b><u>RETURNED</u></b><br />
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Overall I was super happy with my 2nd fix. If you would like to try it you can use my referral link by clicking <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/5709536" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />One thing that is really helpful to get a good fix is to share a Style pinboard on Pinterest with your stylist. You can find my style pin board for inspiration <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/anjaconda/my-style-pinboard/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Can't wait to see what will be included in my October fix.Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-66392744274849740452015-08-31T14:53:00.000-07:002015-09-18T16:40:33.290-07:00I'm back I got my first Stitchfix August 2015Okay, I've been gone for a while. What happened was...I had a baby! Easy to see from my last post right after my little man was born. Turned out to be a little bit of a life changer and between sleep deprivation and the urgent need to shower more often blogging kind of fell off the band wagon. It happens. I'm sure most of you have moved on and I might just be talking to myself but I figured I will say 'Hi' and I'm still around and hope to get back to sharing interesting things about life in suburbia. :)<br />
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So now that the little boss is 2.5 I figured the sleep deprivation isn't really a good excuse anymore for my lack of style since he was born. Most days he sleeps pretty well now and it hit me...It's time to dress better. It is so easy to get sucked into the same old outfit and as comfortable as possible. That has suited me well with a newborn and a new walker but it's time to get it together and dress nice and feel better that way. One thing that is totally out of the question is spending tons of peace and quiet time touring the mall up and down. I just don't have time for that anymore. I found a lot of nice options online and was becoming more confident and happy with my new choices.<br />
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A friend mentioned this new service <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/5709536" target="_blank">Stitchfix</a> to me at a bridal shower the other day. I actually thought I had seen it on the Sharktank tv show a while back and was going to sign up but got distracted with mommy duties during the process and once that homepage was closed...I forgot about it.<br />
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The promise it pretty easy...<a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/5709536" target="_blank">Stitchfix</a> is an online stylist service which delivers 5 outfit and accessory items to your doorstep. All items are hand-picked by personal stylist who looks at your Pinterest Style Board and checks your answers to a style questionnaire that you answer on their page. It is so convenient. I figured I will give it a try to see what they come up for me.<br />
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I received my first box in August and was so excited when I saw the package. One thing I learned the hard way is that I need to open this little box of happiness once the little one is in bed and I have plenty of time to try everything on in peace.<br />
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<a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5633/21530320591_104af719a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5633/21530320591_104af719a5.jpg" width="150" /></a>Every box comes with a little personalized note card from your stylist with explanations of what is in the box and tips on how to best wear and combine the pieces. Each item also comes with a style card with examples on how to put the outfit the together. Those cards are so helpful and I am keeping them even if I don't keep all of the items. I noticed that I mostly buy single items I like but have a hard time to put outfits together. I'm hoping that Stitchfix will help me become more stylish and can educate me on how to pair items together to create a great outfit.</div>
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My stylist for my Stitchfix #1 was Jamila. Here is what I got in my first box<br />
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1)Loveappella Saxby Scoop Neck Top<br />
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I really liked the striped top. The stripes weren't too big and it was super comfortable and soft. Unfortunately it was tight and fitted right around the biceps area and since I don't have the skinniest upper arms it was just too tight in that area for my taste. That was a real bummer since it is a really nice shirt otherwise. Sadly <b><u>RETURNED</u></b><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">2) Market and Spruce Chaplin Hooded Anorak Cargo Jacket</span><br />
I asked for a military style olive colored jacket and received this cargo jacket. I went back and forth regarding this item. Loved the color and had specifically asked for a jacket with no hoodie and my stylist did a great job of including one that allows you to take the hoodie off. As much as I liked it however it felt like it might be a tad to warm for most of my Southern California days and for the price ($88) I was afraid I wouldn't wear it enough. It also was a little more boxy (probably due to it being warmer) than I would have liked. I prefer my jackets to be tailored. <b><u>RETURNED </u></b>after a lot of going back and forth.<br />
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3) Skies are Blue Cress Lace Inset Top</div>
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Lovely colored top in a nice shade of pink with lace application on the side. Unfortunately this item had a swing silhouette that I didn't like. It looked big in the back. Also not sure that I like lace in colors other than black and white so overall I decided to return it. Loved the color though...it was really close. <u><b>RETURNED</b></u></div>
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4) Gilli Payson Maxi Dress</div>
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I love a good Maxi dress and mentioned this in my style profile. My stylist once again picked the right kind of item for me, just not one that I loved. The dress again fit fabulously and the material was super soft. Great quality item just not my style. The knitted detail in the back almost looked like big spiderwebs and I felt that it was overall a little more Boho-style than I like. Once again...very close though. <b><u>RETURNED</u></b></div>
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5) Bancroft Filigree Layer Necklace</div>
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Nice little piece of jewelry but too expensive for something I though was just ok. Gotta love it to buy it. :) <b><u>RETURNED</u></b></div>
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I didn't end up keeping anything out of my first box of 5 items but I loved the experience and fully expected it might take a little time to nail my style. I'm OK with that especially since it was so close. So while I didn't keep an item in August I loved the service and was already excited about the next box. Each time when you check out you can give detailed feedback about each item that you received so that your stylist will earn over time.<br />
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What I love about the service is that you can decide how often you want to receive a box (monthly, every other month or just for special occasions). You can leave your stylist a note for certain items you are looking for or if you are attending a special event. This makes shopping as a mom so much easier. In the meantime I already received my second box and I will blog about that one shortly. All I can say is....try it! I'm having tons of fun with it.<br />
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You can sign up to the service <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/5709536" target="_blank">here</a> using my referral code.<br />
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So much fun!Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-28043056311592083212013-04-22T14:20:00.000-07:002013-06-09T19:27:54.305-07:00Dear Brody - 2 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Brody bear,<br />
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Your mommy is still very emotional - going through the baby blues but loving you more every day.<br />
We are finally finding a little bit of a rhythm after the first week that was really hard. The check-up with your pediatrician went well. You don't really like the doctor's office though. You are fine before and after, but while we are in there, you cry pretty much the whole time. They weigh you when you are naked, I'm sure it's cold and bright for you. Your weight went from 7 pounds 15 ouz. at birth, to 7 pounds 9 ounces after 5 days and 8 pounds 9 ounces after 11 days, which is really good according to doctor. He mentioned that he assumes that breastfeeding is going well. They typically expect babys to gain their birth weight back after 10 days and we are clearly above that. :) Breastfeeding success!<br />
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<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/8717525033_717dab0c0e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/8717525033_717dab0c0e_c.jpg" width="265" /></a>You lost your belly button leftover on 4/23/2013 after 15 days. You started being really fussy and/or gassy during this week and you seem to prefer the crib over the pack n play that we have you sleep in. For the time being it is going to stay this way since we want you to be in the room with us until you are at least 4-6 months if possible. You are growing so rapidly though that I'm not sure you will fit into the pack n play for much longer.<br />
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Your grandparents were with us this week and we were so happy that they could meet you. You took your pacifier for the first time this week when we introduced it after you cried for a while.<br />
We are taking our first walks around the neighborhood - meanwhile you are mostly sleeping and don't really know yet that you have left the house.<br />
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You got your social security number and therefore your first letter addressed to you.<br />
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<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/8717523545_7a409f4619_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/8717523545_7a409f4619_c.jpg" width="212" /></a>We tried to get your passport pictures done but didn't succeed, so we decided to take them at home. The instructions say that you have to have a neutral facial expression. I think we succeeded. :))<br />
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We'll try to get your passport shortly and applied for your birth certificate also.<br />
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All in all everything is starting to go a little smoother but we are still learning.Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-50697032190495167832013-04-15T14:19:00.000-07:002013-06-05T17:36:21.385-07:00Dear Brody - 1 week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Brody,<br />
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Wow - we are making it through the first week. What a shock to the system - but we are over the moon -very tired - but very over the moon.<br />
Went to see your pediatrician and everything looks good. You weighed a little less which was to be expected for a breastfed baby a couple of days after birth but we were far from the usual 10% so you are already doing great. We are hoping for good measurements at the next appointment.<br />
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You love the car seat - just as most infants you fall asleep right away.<br />
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You hate diaper changes and cry up a storm. We try to keep you warm while we change you but it just doesn't seem to be one of your favorite things.<br />
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You started sleeping in the pack and play starting day 4 - before your dad and I took shifts to keep an eye on you all through the night and hold you. We were really nervous about you and your breathing after you spit up a couple of times in the hospital. They said it would most likely be amniotic fluid that is left over and it seems that was true since you stopped doing it here at home and we finally felt comfortable enough to put you in the pack and play next to our bed.<br />
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You have successfully marked your room multiple times already since me and your dad are still learning and tend to forget to cover your equipment during changes. You are teaching us! Aaah, the pit stops...<br />
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During the day you like to be held and prefer to sleep in mommies arms rather than the pack n play.<br />
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You became more alert already during your first week and started to 'try' to put your thumb in your mouth for soothing. You become frustrated when you can't get it back in there but it's amazing how fast you started this .<br />
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Your content face after you feed is one of my favorites. Here is a shot of your milk coma happiness (makes me happy!!)<br />
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Your skin is peeling and it sounds like this is a normal occurence for newborns. You had a little bit of a rash in the hospital that went away after a day or two.<br />
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Everything is so new and we find ourselves overwhelmed at times. We are trying to get used to you just as you are trying to get used to us and your new life outside the womb. We are happy this journey started and love you very much already!Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-42838947680321596862013-04-08T18:11:00.000-07:002013-06-04T15:04:59.619-07:00He's here! B's birth story<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/8715463925_885c8a7f46_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/8715463925_885c8a7f46_c.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our little baby boy was born on April 8th 2013 - I can't believe that he is already a week old at this point.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;">He was due on April 17th and decided to show up early. I was hoping my water wouldn't break in the middle of the night and he decided to start his journey on Monday morning at around 6:30am. I heard/felt two popping noises and noticed my panties were wet. It wasn't a whole lot though. Period like cramping started soon afterwards, but similar to what I have felt before so I stayed in bed. At one point I started to time when the cramping started and noticed a pattern of about 8 minutes apart. More water gushed out, again not a whole lot - I was expecting it to be more so I was still unsure but combined with the noise I heard I thought it might have been my water breaking. Called the OB and they asked me to come in. Looking back it's interesting that I had to sit in the waiting room for quiet a while with contractions and dialated to a 3-4 already. I guess they didn't know...cough.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;">Tested the liquid and it was indeed amniotic fluid. Checked me and I was at around 3-4cm. She sent us to the hospital but mentioned I could go home also for a while since it usually takes long for a FTM.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided to head to the hospital and I'm glad I did. I should mention that we stopped to get me a Jamba Juice (as lunch so to say). The recommendation was to eat 'light'. ;)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Checked in around 11:30am at the hospital with stronger cramping. It progressed way faster than I had thought though and they mentioned that the anesthesiologist had to attend a c-section first and would be back in about an hour and whether that was ok. I thought it was - considering that the pain was very similar to my monthly menstrual cramps at this point. It went to very strong pain fairly quickly though and even though the hour was over I tried to get the nurse back twice due to the pain. When they finally arrived they had the hardest time to set my IV. It took 5 nurses and two arms with multiple trials to set the IV and the pain was really bad by now. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get the epidural due to problems with the IV or just being past that point. I brought my little anti-stress-hand-star thingie that you can use to relieve stress. That star got a beating but by the end it did nothing for me, haha. It's a nice reminder though, so I'll keep it and it definitely kept me calm at the beginning.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;">It eventually worked and the epi brought on some sweet sweet relief. The doc that set it apparently asked me questions and recorded the answers to them, which I don't remember due to everything that was going on and mainly the pain, but Greg mentioned it to me. There are a couple things that I didn't quiet get at the time that were reported to me. Focus was definitely on pain management. They checked me and at this point I was at 7-8cms</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;">. </span><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;">They gave me some time and a little after 4pm it was time to push. I pushed around 3 times but every time I pushed baby boy's heartrate would drop dramatically. All of a sudden I had the oxygen mask on my face without warning and that definitely got me anxious about what is happening. They had me try to push without the contraction but it still was a problem. Things had to be done quickly and a vaccuum was needed to speed things up for him and unfortunately an episiotomy. Doctor nicknamed him 'stinker' since he didn't cooperate as we had hoped. I'm glad it went ok since the word 'emergency C-section' was thrown around the room in the middle of the ordeal. Luckily it wasn't necessary after all. He was born at 04:50pm and I'm still amazed that it went that fast. The cord was all wrapped around him multiple times which explained why he was in distress when I pushed. Daddy got to cut the cord.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are over the moon. Meet little Brody</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7 pounds 15 ounces, 20.5 inches</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">arrived at 38 weeks and 5 days</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His birth health code was a 9, I asked the nurse. :)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Head was 14 cm's.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pediatrician commented on big feet first thing when he saw you! :) Which is funny, since my dad said the same thing when he first saw me 32 years ago. :)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Multiple test were performed during the course of the next 24 hours and we checked out of the hospital after 24 hours also. It was an overwhelming feeling to drive home with our little bundle and all of the stress and pain washed off of me all at once which made it an interesting first drive home but definitely a great memory lodged into our hearts forever. We are two happy new parents.</span></span>Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-52134357900862083292013-03-20T21:05:00.000-07:002013-05-28T21:05:59.413-07:0036 weeks<br />
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36 weeks today! So far so good - the soles of my feet started hurting a couple of days ago. I have a feeling it's just the weight gain that put my feet into a shock-state. I started at 139 pounds and we are now close to 174. It's all in my belly though - even the midwife commented on how my legs still look the exact same. Needless to say people have started to comment on my stomach and we got some of the usual 'Aaaanyy dayyy now' comments from strangers. </div>
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The pregancy pillow is a complete life-saver. I'm not sure I would be able to sleep without it at this stage. Last night after I went to pee, I couldn't get back to sleep again. It was 3:30am. Luckily this doesn't happen often so far. Usually once a week or so. The last two days made me feel very tired and my stomach started itching like crazy. I think you had a growth-spurt. It seems to be a little better again today energy-wise. </div>
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I'm still fighting this skin infection on my tummy (ringworm) I could totally do without it and it makes me nervous that I might not be able to get rid of it until you get here. I want to make sure that it has cleared up before your arrival so that we can enjoy skin on skin time without having to worry about it.</div>
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My right ear is still clogged or popped. It's either ear-wax or water, I'm not sure - but it is very annoying. We'll see the doc again next week and I'll try to finish packing my hospital bag tonight hopefully. </div>
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We still have things arrive for you every day. For the nursery or clothes from friends. It's so very nice. Due to the lack of energy I have closed boxes standing downstairs currently. I will try to get a little further again today.</div>
Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-57630248734843813322013-03-02T17:42:00.000-08:002013-05-20T17:43:15.654-07:0033 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-1957411540382905742013-02-16T00:30:00.000-08:002013-05-07T16:21:02.810-07:0031 weeks / Baby Shower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had our follow up or second trial for the 3D Ultrasound this week and it actually worked out this time. I made sure not to eat an hour before this time and brought sweets and orange juice just in case. We were able to see his cute face right away and it was a really sweet moment. My sister in law was in town and we are so happy that we could share the experience of seeing our lil one with her. A little while into the session the cord kind of moved into the frame and it was hard to get good snapshots and views after that. We tried all sorts of things to get the cord moving but it didn't really disappear completely. It was obvious that it was hanging over his shoulders and I wasn't sure at the time whether this should be reason for concern but the tech didn't mention anything.<br />
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My baby shower was wonderful. Sarah's mum offered to host it at her house and Sarah, Carol and Heather W. planned the shower for me. It was a sunny happy day for me and I can't thank them enough for throwing my shower party. Blank onesies were offered for decorating purposes and the girls did a great job.<br />
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I absolutely love this dress from the Jessica Simpson Maternity Collection. I am looking forward to sporting it again soon - hopefully it works even without the belly. :)Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0California, USA36.778261 -119.4179323999999823.898008 -140.07222939999997 49.658514 -98.763635399999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-78416560520584037552013-02-09T11:16:00.000-08:002013-04-01T20:31:17.354-07:0030 weeks<br />
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Didn't like the 3 hour Glucose Test. I had to drink a bigger sugar drink of course and had to stay in the waiting room of the lab for 3 hours while they drew blood 4 times to measure the glucose level. This combined with the fact that I had to fast and it was early in morning made this a rather unpleasant experience but I did get through it better than I thought. I saw a lot of people coming and going during my 3 hour wait in the waiting room and met some nice people. Some people were complaining about their 15 minute wait and could not believe that I had to sit there for three hours. (That made 15 minutes sound rather easy I assume)<br />
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I could really do without this cold, but I guess my immune system is just really low like the doc said. I am trying to remember the daily vitamin at the moment and admit that I haven't been too good about taking it every single day.<br />
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We were so excited about our 3D/4D ultrasound appointment, however our little man didn't feel like it and instead was all balled up with his hands and legs in front of his face. We could see his little foot though. The technician was patient and we tried a couple of things but in the end it didn't work out. They offered us to come back in a week from now and try it again and hopefully it will work next time.<br />
<br />Mini weighs 3 pounds and 3 ounces now and his heartbeat was 146. He had the hiccups during the ultrasound and she confirmed with me that those rhythmic movements are indeed hiccups. I thought those were just kicks before but now I know how to distinguish it.<br />
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We will try it again next week when my sister in law is in town and hopefully he will let us take a sneak peek then. :)<br />
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<br />Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0California, USA36.778261 -119.4179323999999823.89113 -140.07222939999997 49.665392 -98.763635399999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-16368643523750582902013-01-30T19:45:00.000-08:002013-04-01T20:37:54.378-07:0029 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Super Bowl Weekend was a lot of fun. I decided to contribute 'Pizza Broetchen' - German pizza baguettes and we had a great time at our friends house. Aaaah, food - one of my favorite subjects during this pregnancy. It's hard to imagine this kind of hunger when you are not pregnant.<br />
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One of my least favorite things was the glucose testing. I was nervous about the one-hour glucose testing already since the only thing that kept me from feeling nauseous first thing in the morning was to eat as soon as I open my eyes. With the Glucose Tolerance Test they said I don't have to fast, but I could - I figured it would be better to fast and go in first thing in the morning. The thought of drinking the sugary solution on an empty stomach was no fun but I actually managed better than I thought. They let you pick your flavor and then I sat there in the waiting room for a full hour to get my blood drawn afterwards. Unfortunately the result came back a 143 and they were looking for up to 130 which meant that I now had to go to get the 3-hour Glucose testing done. And I was so happy to made it through the 1-hour, haha.<br />
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Oh well....shortly afterwards I was hit by a cold that just didn't want to go away and actually stayed with me for about 2 weeks. Interestingly enough even a cold can't kill a pregnant woman's appetite. :) It just makes breathing harder while eating.<br />
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The nursery renovation is still in progress and now that the French Doors were installed they are being painted white. Here is a little update on the nursery at this point:<br />
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More updates to follow soon. :)<br />
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<br />Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0California, USA36.778261 -119.4179323999999823.89113 -140.07222939999997 49.665392 -98.763635399999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-66715022222334568242013-01-11T20:45:00.000-08:002013-04-01T20:37:12.633-07:0026 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, I'm still completely behind on my pregnancy board updates here, I know! I promised to get better and then the renovation, visitor, party and moving rooms up and down adventure started. My To-do list is still really long but we are finally getting somewhere. We switched office and bedroom locations over the last two weekends and this means disassembling everything in each room and re-assembling it again. While we are at it, we also switched the bathrooms and I fell into a major nesting phase - meaning I re-organized everything and added plastic boxes and shelves etc. I think we are both nesting....<br />
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The baby preparation class was interesting for sure. Most couples were ahead of us at the time when we took the class and the amount of information is somewhat overwhelming. It helps to feel more prepared even though I'm not sure that I'll remember any of it when the time comes.<br />
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I have to say that the second trimester in retrospect definitely was the most comfortable one. The nausea was lighter and the exhaustion had left. I'm not (at 34 weeks) back in full fledged exhaustion, not to mention all the parts of my body that hurt in some way or another. I am certainly slowing down now and expect to spend the majority of my time at home in the coming weeks while 'getting ready' physically and mentally. :) Still a lot of books to read to prepare.<br />
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If you haven't heard from me in a while - I truly apologize. I'm growing a baby and it takes more energy and effort of preparation than I had anticipated.<br />
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As for the coming weeks - we are just continuing to get ready. Nothing special happening around here lately - just full blown nesting mode.Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0California, USA36.778261 -119.4179323999999823.89113 -140.07222939999997 49.665392 -98.763635399999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-5559060616516894322012-12-23T22:11:00.000-08:002013-04-01T20:33:27.102-07:0023 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Christmas in Germany = Too much food!</div>
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People around me pointed out that they could see my belly grow during our 2.5 weeks in Germany. I have a feeling that has to do with the constant eating over the holidays. Mini W must have gotten a lot of nutrients and calories through those holiday weeks. We were invited and went from one cake tasting to another. (At least that's how it feels). The flight over to Germany went well considering that I'm pregnant. I did wear my compression socks as advised by the doc and while it's not all that comfy - better safe than sorry. By the end of the travel it was a little difficult to still sit in the small seats but it went much better than expected.</div>
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People started to point out my bump in Germany - it must have been obvious enough for people to feel confident to talk about it. </div>
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I started waking up at night with my hips hurting. While I would change the side it just made me wake up with the other side hurting. As I have found out in the meantime - this also was temporary - probably about two weeks or so. </div>
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Traditionally people like to eat goose during the Christmas holiday and we enjoyed a very fancy goose meal at the restaurant <span style="background-color: #9b9fa1; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.59375px;"><a href="http://www.tueschenbroicher-muehle.de/" target="_blank">Tüschenbroicher Mühle</a></span> in the city of Wegberg with the goose being partitioned at the table. First time for G. to eat goose - he liked it. :) (Not to mention the Knoedel and red cabbage!)</div>
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Got to see some of my friends, family and spent a whole lot of time with my family at home. Time that I treasure and memories that will not be forgotten!</div>
<br />Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0Germany51.165691 10.45152600000005840.9402035 -10.202770999999942 61.3911785 31.105823000000058tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-31110209311685885822012-12-01T17:57:00.000-08:002013-04-01T20:36:20.119-07:0020/21 weeks<h3>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>It's a BOY!!!</b></span></h3>
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Still catching up with the updates here as you might notice. (We are actually in week 28 at this point). We were so happy to confirm that we are having a boy during our 20 week ultrasound. Our little guy looked great according to the technician and didn't move around too much but rather stayed in his interesting Yoga pose. We were lucky to see him swallow amniotic fluid - so adorable!</div>
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And here are some of the latest ultrasound pictures from our 20 week appointment. Not sure that we'll have another ultrasound scheduled at the doctor's office if everything goes well, however we have an elective 3D/4D scheduled for February. </div>
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Tons of books on hand and so little time - aaaah the preparation. He'll be here before we know it. :)</div>
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Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-43772983772635616742012-11-14T07:17:00.000-08:002013-04-01T20:34:45.078-07:0018 weeksI'm so behind on updating these two-weekly pregnancy boards. Christmas and travel preparations got into the way and now there is a lot to catch up to. However now at 25 weeks I'm finally ready to post the 18 week update. For some of you this might be old news if you have seen me lately or heard from us in the meantime, however the plan is to catch up with the current status in the coming weeks - latest once I'm back home and find time.<br />
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Happy New Year to all of you. One of my obvious New Year's resolutions is to update my pregnancy boards on time. ;)Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-35786382073917491052012-11-07T18:14:00.000-08:002013-04-01T20:35:29.246-07:0017 weeksI apologize for the delay in updates - I'm doing my best to take a moment from my constant food obsession to take the time for the pregnancy storyboard. I am thinking about food while I'm typing this.<br />
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Anyhow, the 16 weeks ultrasound went well - everything is looking very good - decent amount of movement which is something they want to see at this point.<br />
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Luckily the 'low-lying' placenta has moved up and is no longer a concern. (Yeah!) Baby's heartbeat was 153 and all the measurements so far looked good. Next ultrasound at 20 weeks will be the anatomy scan.<br />
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My favorite past-time is looking through cookbooks or online recipes currently. I can't go shopping without eating first. That's a rule in general but during pregnancy it's even more important if you don't want to buy the whole store. Needless to say that there are regulations currently since our fridge is still out of commission and we are operating with a 'Mini-Fridge'. Yes, it's Thanksgiving week and no - we don't have a Plan B. :) I guess we'll either cook very small amounts (mini-turkey) or will have to go to a restaurant.<br />
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My daily walks are not so daily anymore and I seriously slowed down. I'm doing great about half-way through and then it seems to become a struggle once it's uphill. Still want to keep up the walking though. No movements at the 17 weeks mark really. Could see baby move like crazy during the ultrasound and didn't feel a thing. Placenta seems to be anterior - which maybe is an explanation. Excited for the next ultrasound!!!<br />
<br />Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-15327399281688659042012-10-26T15:56:00.000-07:002012-10-26T15:56:10.075-07:0014 weeksFinally a little relief regarding this constant 'morning sickness'. Or maybe I'm just getting used to it? The fact that I can brush my teeth calmly again without the need to hurry makes me happy. Took the opportunity and got a professional cleaning today also. Energy is back somewhat - still getting tired around 8pm but I'm ok during the day now. Hoping that all of the 'sick-feeling' will disappear in the coming weeks. As long as I don't wait too long with food I seem to be ok now.<br />
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As some symptoms go other's arise. Welcome sudden nose-bleeds and headaches, stuffed sinuses. I didn't know that a warm shower can trigger a nose-bleed but now i know better.<br />
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That pregnancy body-pillow is already a life-saver. (The peppermint life saver's are also the real deal).<br />
I was asked straight-up whether I was pregnant the other day -which I think is still brave but I guess I can't deny it much longer, especially wearing tight clothes. ;)<br />
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A man offered to get me a basket at the grocery store for the first time ever and I have to wonder whether this is related to the size of my stomach or maybe just a very nice person. I was really surprised but also in a hurry to get my quarter watermelon to the cash-out. Really need my watermelon - however with just a mini fridge at hand, that makes it a little difficult to store anything.<br />
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Greg and I chose a pregnancy themed pumpkin for this year's carving. I feel that we should have won the contest with the cuteness, but 'the white pumpkin won again'. ;) Note to Self: Definitely carve a white pumpkin next year, they always seem to win.<br />
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Happy Halloween!!!</div>
<br />Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-26520484159303344202012-10-26T15:09:00.001-07:002012-10-26T15:09:26.330-07:0012 weeksTime flies! Especially when you are counting the weeks of your pregnancy. (I wonder whether I still say that towards the end of this pregnancy.)<br />
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Everything is moving along - I was hopeful that the nausea would have passed by week 12 but unfortunately that was not yet the case. In addition I got this interesting new symptom of lower back pain. I know, it's early - but it seems like this was just temporary.<br />
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The highlight of week 12 was definitely the First Trimester NT Ultrasound screening. It's a scary appointment because they are taking measurements to assess the baby's risk of having Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. Baby's with abnormalities accumulate more liquid behind their neck during a certain time in pregnancy and the clear space behind the neck is measured. Everything looks great and the blood test came back with good results also.<br />
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'Mini' was very sleepy and didn't move at first at all. The tech started pushing around on my tummy to wake the baby up and there was some movement to get a better position for the measurements. The switched the view to show the blood flow and it was very interesting to see. Heartbeat was fast and strong just like the first time but it slowed down to 166 in the meantime.<br />
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Still too early to determine gender but we'll hopefully be able to find out soon.<br />
<br />Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-36810654665148333062012-10-12T19:12:00.000-07:002012-10-12T19:13:10.439-07:008 weeksYes, it's been a while and this post is kind of late in time. Nevertheless it's a happy post. Pregnancy is a whole new adventure and it's still a little hard to comprehend that this is actually happening.<br />
I had my heart set on trying to take pictures every week/every other week and write down a whole lot about the experience, however 'morning sickness' has kicked my butt the last couple of weeks and taking pictures all of a sudden was not a priority anymore. I'm glad to say that now at 13 weeks things seem to ease up a bit, even though I'm still gagging a whole lot. I guess I have enough energy to post the first pictures and that's a good thing.<br />
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The first OB visit was such a sweet day for us. It's hard that we had to wait for weeks for the first appointment. It's kind of nerve-racking to not know what is going on and whether everything is ok. Due to all my sympthoms it's not like I was doubting there was a baby in there, however it still is a big relief to see the little soul on screen for the first time.</div>
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We were surprised and in awe about the detail at 8 weeks. The heartbeat was a big highlight of course and puts the nerves at ease a little more. It was noted that my uterus is oddly shaped....not by the tech but the midwife. I guess she is not used to seeing a German uterus around here. ;)<br />
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I'll post the 12 weeks update this weekend also to catch up with all those days on the couch. More to come.<br />
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Hugs,<br />
Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-37679773786015598882012-07-21T20:28:00.001-07:002012-07-21T20:28:52.785-07:00Del Mar Opening DayIt's summer - it's hot - so what's shakin' in San Diego you might be thinking. That's right - it's horse racing season and nobody is happier about this than me. The Kentucky Derby started it off well this year, when I correctly predicted the winner "I'll have another' and won a few bucks. Too bad it didn't work out with the triple crown this year.<br />
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With all this excitement about horse racing, I had to check out opening day here in Del Mar this year. It's famous for the over-the-top hats (there is a competition) and just general kick-off of the season in Del Mar. The weather couldn't have been better, especially with those nice reserved seats right along the stretch run and with shade.<br />
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Learned something new too. It's funny, when you walk up to the window to place your bet, they have it down to a science. Something similar to 'Del Mar, Race 4, $5, WIN, #6' and so on. This is the precise sequence they want you to place your bets in. When I placed my Exacta bet, I was asked whether I want to 'box it', which I had never heard before. I decided to not cause a scene or be identified as the rookie and 'boxed it' without knowing what this meant. Turns out 'boxing it' won me $50, so that was lucky and I learned that the horses can arrive in both sequences. (Double-the-bet, too though)<br />
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Had to wear a hat of course and introduced my mum to horse racing in San Diego. She wanted a hat too! (Who wouldn't?). We had a great time, won some - lost some and wen't home really happy.<br />
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We found our hats at Kohl's the same morning and the lady at the cash register knew exactly what we were up to. "Opening Day?" - "Yes, last minute hats"....Probably not the first ones in the store for this - the selection was kind of small. Probably the left overs but we found our match.<br />
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The parking and general arriving and leaving was such a nightmare. They had the largest turn-out this year with 47339 people attending. A record for Del Mar Opening Day. (And you could tell...it was crowded and badly organized unfortunately) One of the horses hurt its leg during race 5 and had to be put down later which is sooo sad. I just read about it today, but I saw it leaving the track early. It was bizarre when one of the horses ran by without a jockey...(she had fallen off right at the starting gate and the horse finished without her). Everything is a little over the top -including the traffic and while I love horse racing and I love Del Mar -I'll probably skip opening day next year and go on a 'normal' weekend, when it's less of a pain in general. But we'll see, maybe I'll forget about this until then and wear my hat once again next year. Never say never.<br />
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The season just got kicked off and I might be back another time this year - we'll see how it goes. I also plan to visit the race track in Duesseldorf next time I'm home in Germany to see how it compares to Del Mar. Obviously it will be lacking weather-wise. ;)<br />
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California Love......Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0Del Mar, CA, USA32.9594891 -117.265314632.9328431 -117.3047966 32.9861351 -117.22583259999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-33702075752668607932012-06-17T18:38:00.001-07:002012-06-17T18:38:09.332-07:00Deep Sea Fishing / Puerto Morelos, MexicoDuring the wedding weekend of our friends in late April we decided to try a Deep Sea Fishing trip. Never tried it before and I was a little anxious that I might get sea-sick. That has happened here and there but I have been mostly fine on earlier boat trips, however nothing compares to a rather small fishing boat on rather rough ocean waves. There was a discussion about visiting the ruins in Tulum instead but since they didn't offer the trip on Sundays we decided to join the group for the fishing trip instead. We both downed some motion sickness medicine right before we took off, however that might have been a little late for at least one of us. ;) The captain instructed us to stare at the horizon and don't go inside the boat should we have issues with sea sickness. (Ay Ay captain - I STARED at the horizon something fierce) So we took off...<br />
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It was a beautiful day (sun-screen needed and might not have it with me....yeish). The ocean just looked and smelled amazing - the boat was fast and somebody I know was lingering inside the boat's body.<br />
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The beer was cold and we girls had a great time. I decided to take it easy and stick with water though for my stomach's benefit. Didn't really know what to expect from the waves and decided to STARE at the horizon as much as possible. Not too many ladies took the fishing trip so we decided to stay strong. ;)</div>
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Soon after the first fish was caught. Happy times - quiet an experience I have to say and a lot of work for the crew and the one reeling it in. She did a great job.<br />
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My beloved husband had a severe case of sea sickness at this point and didn't enjoy the trip at all. It started with 'my stomach is really upset' and went downhill fast. He might have helped with the 'bait' and I felt really really bad for him. Hard to believe he had to pay money for this horrible experience.<br />
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He wasn't feeling well we all were super amazed about catching this bad boy. (Mahi-Mahi) What a color - very unbelievable. Hard work for sure but what an event. </div>
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We were able to pose with those two 'babies' and plans were made to eat our catch at the hotel restaurant the same evening. Hubby had to pass after his sea sickness adventure and only wanted to go to bed and drink some water. :( I met with the girls to eat our catch and what a great time we had. </div>
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This is the 'After' picture. They grilled the fish to perfection. I had never had Mahi-Mahi before but really liked it. This is also the first time what I had something that fresh out of the ocean and caught when I was on board. Pretty amazing. Something to cross off the list I guess. </div>
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If your stomach is up for it - the deep sea fishing trip is a nice adventure. If not, you might want to stick with the pyramids in Tulum or just stay at the hotel bar. ;)</div>
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Ahh, how nice it is to go through memories after the vacation/trip is over...good times.</div>
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<br />Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico20.8398489 -86.887787120.8250089 -86.9075281 20.8546889 -86.8680461tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-19227765917126276422012-06-02T16:04:00.000-07:002012-06-02T16:04:01.129-07:00Wedding in Puerto Morelos, MexicoWhew, we've been on the road for a while now and it's time to finally tell you about the beautiful wedding we attended in Puerto Morelos, Mexico in April of this year. While I have been lucky enough to have traveled Mexico quiet a bit before I have never been to its eastern coast. We flew into Cancun and took a shuttle to our resort south of Cancun, in Puerto Morelos. It's a tiny little town close to a big stretch of hotels along the coast.<br />
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The scenery is very different from the west coast and the word 'jungle' comes to mind. There is a lot of undeveloped land still available right at the ocean and the weather can only be described as too humid and too hot by someone who is spoiled by Southern California weather all year round. Most people from cold places would love the weather I'm sure. ;)</div>
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The Marina El Cid Hotel has access to a beautiful beach:</div>
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Aaah, enjoying umbrella drinks right at the water - freedom! ;) Both of us were so honored to be in the wedding. J. the bride chose a beautiful dress for us bridesmaids.</div>
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The wedding colors were really pretty - dark purple/gold. The flowers turned out gorgeous also:</div>
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I found my hair inspiration on Pinterest and it worked out great. My hair stylist highly recommended that I provide the Mexican stylist with a picture and mentioned to them that I want 'SIMPLE' in order to prevent a quinceanera-like hair nightmare. The girl did a great job and I'm glad I brought a picture.</div>
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The ceremony took place on the jetty - a very intimate and special moment with our dear friends:</div>
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One of my highlights was definitely the lit-up dance floor right on the beach. 'Disco Bolten' right in her element. I remember a full sprint through the beach sand in the dark once my eyes discovered this beauty of a dance floor. (Just can't resist the disco fever) ;)</div>
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Now, if this doesn't get you in a vacation mood I don't know what would. We took a deep-sea fishing trip the next day but that adventure deserves its own post. </div>
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<br /></div>Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico20.8398489 -86.887787120.8250089 -86.9075281 20.8546889 -86.8680461tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-87309711747622692002012-03-25T17:45:00.000-07:002012-03-25T17:45:45.346-07:00Cupcakes in EncinitasFinally got a chance to try Elizabethan Desserts and their cupcakes in Encinitas. I had read about this fabulous bakery but didn't get a chance to try them before. With basketball on TV this Sunday it was the perfect occasion for two girls to go and check out some cupcakes. We decided to buy extras for the boys and invade their basketball party with our cupcake tasting. (I don't think they minded, although they claimed it wasn't 'manly').<br />
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Here is a picture of those beautiful delicious divine cupcakes:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We tried 'Beeze Kneeze, 'The Mustachio', 'Boston Cream', 'Collin's Peanut Butter Wag' and 'Sunshine'. They boys liked the ones with peanut butter the most (Beeze Kneeze and Collin's Peanut Butter Wag), both of us girls preferred 'The Mustachio'. (Heavenly) I really thought I would prefer the Boston Cream Pie, since I love the original so much - but this wasn't as good as I had hoped. Oh well...The Mustachio made up for it. ;)</div><br />
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Living large (and sweet) in North County San Diego.Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-2995543853657092952012-03-08T20:03:00.000-08:002012-03-08T20:03:03.378-08:00Lake Hodges ReservoirMarch is an interesting time in San Diego. Beautiful sunshine and warmth one day and a passing winter storm the next. Although the last few days have been a little chilly here and there, we are still so spoiled by the almost constant sunshine. I actually enjoy that it's not too hot and the breeze is so nice.<br />
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During one of those last short storms when it started to rain we actually ran through the house like hens. It's such a rare event, that we actually run around, close windows and look out to marvel at the rain. We both love the rain smell - maybe because it happens so seldom.<br />
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The last weekend was amazing weather-wise and we decided to hike around Lake Hodges in Escondido.<br />
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I've eyed the new pedestrian and bike bridge that can be seen from the highway for a while and we finally took the time to check out the lake and hiking trails.<br />
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It's the David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge which was opened in 2009.It's been in the works for a decade and is 990-foot long. It's known to be the longest stress-ribbon bridge in the world and cost the taxpayer $10.5 million dollars. It is constructed of steel, steel cable, concrete and precast concrete panels.<br />
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Due to the bridge the mountain bikers don't have to cross the highway any longer to get around the lake. It sounds like a lot of accidents have happened there in the past and it sure makes it convenient to cross the lake.<br />
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It was a very hot day - lot's of people mountain biking and fishing in the lake.<br />
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I really enjoy walking the trails. We just took the easy walk around the lake - but had to cross some water. The trail up the hill looks very challenging, certainly something for a cooler day. It's amazing how dramatically the climate changes when you move inland in San Diego. The sun was strong!!!<br />
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</div>Walking around gave me a very eerie feeling since Chelsea King was murdered about exactly two years ago when running around the lake. A very sad reminder that women in modern day society can't exercise alone and even more sad considering that it could have been prevented through multiple channels. I wasn't able to locate her memorial but believe it's on the other side of the lake.<br />
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</div>People share the trails with horses and bikers, but it seems to be mostly for bikers really. Not just once did somebody fly by and it seems rather stressful and dangerous to walk around these trials with so many bikers around. We'll certainly be back to check out the rest of the trails and the dam. All in all a beautiful day at the lake and finally a chance for me to use my camera again.Anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11991147.post-27759213963914514642011-10-31T18:47:00.000-07:002011-10-31T19:00:15.469-07:00Happy Halloween 2011Happy Halloween to all of you! It's our first Halloween in the home and we are hoping for lots of kids in cute little costumes. :) Our neighbor just showed up in 'Flint Tropics' costume - awesome!<br />
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I have to say, I'm a little sad that I didn't get to carve a pumpkin this year, but I dedicated some time to this candy corn wreath:<br />
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While I'm writing this I had to run up and down the stairway about 12 times already and it's barely dark now...haha. This is going to be a work-out. Great costumes so far, lots of little Spider-men and female pirates. Some doggies with pumpkin outfits.....<br />
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The inspiration for the candy corn wreath came from Women's Magazine a while back (<a href="http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Home/Crafts/Halloween-Craft-Candy-Corn-Wreath.html">check it out here</a>). I have seen it in another blog in the meantime and decided to try it out. I used a Styrofoam wreath and spray painted it black. Then I used my hot-glue gun to attach each little (good-smelling) candy corn. It's a good idea to let them dry out for a couple of days in the kitchen, so that they aren't so sticky and attract less bugs. It also gives off a wonderful candy smell all through the house in the meantime. ;) Here in Cali we are lucky not to have to deal with insects too much, so I'm not concerned. There are some craft sprays that could be used to preserve this a little longer and keep the bugs away, but I decided to flip the wreath on the inside of the door in a couple of days, so it will still be a nice fall decoration for a little while.<br />
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The neighborhood is all dressed up in the Halloween spirit. For the last four weeks or so I could see the development of more and more decorations on my daily walks. One neighbor has a motorized blow-up black cat on the roof next to a pumpkin. Very cool. While I still don't get the scary parts of this festivity for the kids, I think it's pretty cool for adults. But hey- the kids are excited about the candy. I should write down what they are picking - like a marketing study. So far they seem to be reaching for the red KitKats or orange Peanut Butter thingies. The more colorful the better in packaging. ;) Alright...they are knocking again - time to go distribute more chocolate....<br />
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Happy Halloween!<br />
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Note: I just opened the door to a kid in a Sonic costume - told him how nice his 'Sonic' costume was and he told me that only the old people recognize what it is......YEISH - GIVE ME MY CANDY BACK-KIDDOAnyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360165886707389100noreply@blogger.com0