Ruby Ryan Bassett

Ruby Ryan Bassett was born on September 15, 2012 at 10:18 p.m. She weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 18 inches long. We think that Ruby is a precious angel and could not be any more in love with her than we are right now!

Getting there

This is me today!!

11 days until my due date. We are almost in the single-digits here, people! I look around the apartment and see of the baby things, but I still can't believe that in less than two weeks, this will be a household of three! I have not felt any contractions yet, and continue to see the doctor weekly. I am really having a hard time working now. Walking and sitting really aggravate my sacroiliac joint. I stayed home from work today to try and rest my back by laying down as much as possible. I do not even have shoes that fit me anymore. Last week I wore flip-flops, with a "back-up" pair of shoes to switch to once I got to the floor to see my patients. When I tried to put on the shoes, they did not fit.

My appetite continues to be quite fine! I continue to crave Double Stuf Oreos. Earlier Nick and I were at odd because he bought regular Oreos. NOT OK! Now we each have our own kind of Oreos. Other cravings have included peach desserts. I made a peach buttermilk pie last week, but it did not turn out so good. This weekend I made a brown sugar peach pie from scratch and it was really good! I have had an urge to bake and try new recipes a lot, which is not good because it requires me to be on my feet, but I think I know that I will not have time for such endeavors when the baby gets here. Although I have been craving sweets, we have been eating healthy foods, too! Lots of fruits and vegetables and grains. My indigestion has peaked this past week and although I hate Tums, they have become a friend.

I had a pretty good weekend, which started out with a happy hour with Elizabeth and Alicia at Z'Tejas on Friday. Had the most delicious banana cream pie with chocolate ever. Wow! Was nice to hang out with the girls, and I am painfully aware that "MY" weekends are numbered from here. Saturday I was up early when Nick had to leave for work. I had lots of ambition to clean out my car, which I sort of did and get a lot done. I went to the grocery store and that about did me in. I came home exhausted and in a lot of back pain. At 2:15, I walked over to the Spa Reveil, which is in the Domain, for my prenatal massage. Cindi and Matt gave me a gift certificate to use there, and it was the nicest most timely gift ever! I had an hour-long massage with scalp massage upgrade and it was very nice. I almost fell asleep 3 times, it was so relaxing. Sunday, we had our 3rd Baptism class and then ran errands around town. The weather actually cooled into the 90s and the pool was too cold for me to get in, so I just read and put my feet in for a while. I think I may go try again today while I am off work. Trying to seize the day in between my naps.

Labor Day Weekend

Well, we made it to Allen and back to Austin without incident. Today is Labor day, but there will be no labor for me. I am still thinking that this baby will be on time (or even a few days late), but that is just my hunch. I will go see Dr. Brown in the morning for another check-up.

We drove up to Allen on Saturday and had a good time! We packed all of our baby things...diaper bag, car seat, hospital bag, etc... just in case the baby decided to come early. I think my mom was half-hoping that she would come while we were in Allen! Anyway, while we were in town we got to see a lot of people and it made for a nice weekend. Solina and Mike came by and brought a caddy full of baby books, a breastfeeding book and other baby items. I am glad that my child now has a little library! I was beginning to feel guilty about her lack of reading materials.

Alex 31 weeks and Carly 37 weeks

We had a nice meal with my parents and Mimi and picked up a couple little things for the baby while in town. My mom bought the baby her Baby Book and that will be fun to get started. She also bought a journal for me and Nick to write in. She showed me the journal she kept for me and it was fun to see the entries about how much I was loved and how happy they were to bring me home. It is a weird feeling to be approaching that full-circle experience with my own daughter. It is a great gift to capture the memories, happiness and joy of what a child means to a family, and I am grateful that my parents did that for me and look forward to doing that for our baby, too. My mom also pulled out some blankets and things that Sarah and I both used as babies. I can remember Sarah's little Baby Dior blanket and it's just so crazy that my little one will be using it, too!

On Sunday, we went to a BBQ at Alex's mom's house. Alex and Chafin arrived in town from Las Vegas on Saturday for a 10-day visit. We hadn't seen the girls in 10 months and my have they grown! Trier has just turned 1 year-old and Siena will be in 3 in November. Alex is due with her baby boy November 1 and she and I were both looking large together. Alex's grandmother gave me a beautiful baby blanket that she knitted herself and it is so lovely. Alex gave me an adorable pair of crocheted booties that she saw me pin on Pinterest. That was fun! Her Aunt Liz is also ordering us a baby glider! The glider is really that last big thing that we needed, so I am so excited and grateful for that.



Nick and Siena Michelle



We are back home now and gearing up for another work week. I am feeling more and more swollen in my face, feet and hands. I did not get much sleep in Allen, so am hoping for a restful slumber tonight.

Hospice Austin Baby Shower



37 weeks with my cake!



I am 37 weeks today and this baby is considered full-term! It's so hard to believe that she is now good to go, and could come at any time. We are getting ready for her, that's for sure.

Today at work, the social workers had a shower for me. Here are some pictures. As I look at myself this wekk, I think "Wow! I am getting huge!" The baby is putting  on about 1 ounce a day at this point and I am hungry all the time. It was a good day at work and I came home and took a nap. Then Nick and I went out for ice cream after dinner. Tomorrow we are headed to Allen to visit the family and I am excited to see them.

Baby Shower at Hospice Austin

Great group of Social Workers at Hospice Austin

Slow and steady

“Life is always a rich and steady time when you 

are waiting for something to happen or to hatch."

~ E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

Progressing to 36 weeks!

It is a rich and steady time, indeed! As the days and weeks grow nearer to the birth day, we are getting increasingly more excited and the addition of this child to our lives and family is becoming more real. On Monday, we went to Seton Williamson Hospital and toured the maternity unit. The hospital is one of the newer hospitals in the area and the facilities are state-of-the-art. We got to see the labor & delivery room and that made things feel very real! Seeing that bed, and those stirrups....very real! After the birth, they keep the babies in the room with the mothers, with only a few exceptions, like when they take the baby for prints. Otherwise, mom and baby (and dad) are all together for good bonding and feeding time together. Hopefully things will go as planned and I will have a normal birth and will only be at the hospital for a day or two. I saw Dr. Brown on Tuesday and she did my first cervical exam. She said I was 1 cm dilated and I will now come in every week to get checked out from here on out.

This past week, Nick also packed the diaper bag for the hospital. The newborn diapers are just the sweetest, smallest things! He picked out a couple of potential "going home" outfits and I ordered a monogrammed baby cap for her to wear as well. She will be a little sweet bundle as she makes her journey from Round Rock, to her first home in Austin!

We continue to attend our classes. We have had 4 birthing classes and 2 baptism and hypnosis sessions. We are almost done with our training! Nick starts his final internship course at Texas State University on Wednesday and he will have a lot to focus on in the coming months. We are hoping that we find a good balance, and hopefully some external support to help us through the busiest/most demanding times. 

So what's left? We are planning to make on more trip to Allen over Labor Day weekend (the holiday, not MY labor day) and see family and friends. Alex and Chafin will be in town from Las Vegas, and it will be nice because we haven't seen them since Trier's baptism. This weekend I will be preparing my birth plan, and starting to pack my hospital bag. The baby's room is basically set up, with just a few odds 'n ends needed yet. I have another baby shower at work this Friday that my fellow social workers are hosting and I am looking forward to that one last celebration before the baby comes. I am just hoping that I can continue to work up until I deliver. Walking is growing increasingly more difficult, with pressure and pain in my lower-mid back on each step. Standing and walking all around the hospitals is really starting to wear me out! 

29 years and 35 weeks

Happy Birthday to Me!
Posing for a photo contest to win Coconut Water

Today is my 29th birthday and I am 35 weeks pregnant. This will be the last birthday I will celebrate before I am forever known as "Mom" to someone. Today has been a busy day. Nick and I started with our first baptism class this morning at St. Louis Catholic Church. The class will meet each Sunday for 4 weeks.  After class we went to eat breakfast and then ran some errands. What I really wanted for my birthday was a pedicure. My feet have been aching and swollen a lot the last couple weeks. Nick and I both got deluxe pedicures and enjoyed the massage and paraffin wax treatments. It was Nick's first time to have a pedicure. It was a nice treat!

 This weekend we have been busy getting more prepared for the baby's arrival. Nick finished assembling the dresser and last night finished laundering all the baby's clothes. She has a LOT of cute clothes and will be well-dressed in her infancy. We also put the Pack 'n Play together and have continued to buy diapers and wipes with our other purchases when we go to the store. Tomorrow night we will go to Seton Williamson Hospital for our tour of the maternity ward and see where this blessed event will happen. Nick is really excited about that. Oh, and what I am really happy about it my birthday present from Nick. He got me a Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag. He had the bag filled with wrapped goodies such as wipes, lotions, and other baby accessories to keep us clean and organized. Nick really likes buying things for the baby and I have to keep an eye on him because he can go a little crazy at Buy Buy Baby store.

Tortie on the outside looking in as we prepare baby's room

Assembling Pack n' Play

Nick relaxes at the nail salon

Yaso Visits Austin

On Friday, my friend Yaso flew into town from New York City. I met Yaso back at UT on the first day of classes in 2001. She and I were in the same calculus II class and she helped me get through that treacherous semester of math, which felt like a foreign language to me! Over the years, we have stayed in touch. I visited her in San Francisco in 2005 and she came to our wedding there in 2009. In 2011 we visited in her NY, where she lives and works. She has a very exciting career in the beauty industry and has come a long way since our days at the University. It was great seeing her and hanging out this weekend.

Yaso and Me at the Four Seasons, Austin

We started our day with a breakfast at Kerbey Lane and then went to campus and walked around a bit, but it was too hot to spend much time outside. We ended up at Jim-Jim's for a water ice and then came back to the apartment to spend time in the pool. That night we had dinner on the East side at a Mexican Cantina, Papi Tinos, and finished up at the bars on Rainey Street. On Saturday, Nick joined us and we had brunch at South Congress Cafe, did some shopping, stopped for Macarons at La Patisserie and then another round at Jim-Jim's. More pool time was followed by dinner at House Pizza and drinks at the Four Seasons before we went to watch the bats on Congress Street Bridge. Phew! What a weekend.

Baby Bassett will be in high fashion

Yaso came bearing gifts, too. She is very excited about the baby and loves shopping for baby clothes. She bought the most precious dress from Janie & Jack and the softest blanket I have ever felt from Tourance, a French company. And for me, she came with a wonderful stash of makeup products. What a treat!

Assembly required

Today, Nick and I went and bought a dresser for the baby and have begun to assemble. Over the last two weekends we have been getting more items, such as a pack n' play, rock n' sleeper, diapers and other odd and ends. The baby has a lot of really cute clothes. We are also on the lookout for a rocker/glider, but having a hard time finding one that suits someone tall like me. We have about 5 weeks until the due date and it's coming quick!

Head Down

Today was my 33 week appointment with Dr. Brown. She performed an ultrasound and I was delighted to hear that Baby is already in good position with her head down, ready to be born! Her heart rate is 133 bpm today and things are looking good! In two weeks I will go back and have a pelvic exam to check my cervix and after that I will see the doctor weekly to monitor my blood pressure and urine. So far I have gained 23 pounds and I think that is pretty good.

Tomorrow I have an appointment to meet the pediatrician, Dr. Miller at noon for an hour-long class. I am just checking things off the list now. Last night we bought the stroller frame and an extra car set base for Nick's car. All we really need now is a rocker/glider, dresser and breastfeeding pump. We will also get a crib, but don't plan on having it right away.

The doctor asked me how I was feeling and I told her that I am now starting to feel more aches and pains. She said "it's only going to get worse!" She said that I should do whatever I need to do now because once the baby is here, it will be too difficult to leave the house and that cars are actually the most dangerous threat to babies. After hearing her say this, it made me really glad that we are living in The Domain. I dont think that I will face the risk of isolation like I would have if we were still in Pflugerville. Dr. Brown encouraged daily walks and sunshine. I think the Baby and I will be quite content window shopping and going to the tea shop in her early weeks...and hopefully we will have plenty of visitors to keep us company!

My Wishes for You

I realized that after the shower, everyone left "Wishes for Baby" except me! So here are mine...

I hope you learn at an early age the importance of being able to say "no" (just not to Me!).
I hope you aren't afraid to stand up to the mistreatment of others.
I hope you love the arts, cooking with me, and using your imagination.
I hope you get to see all the places in the world you dream of going.
I hope you laugh all night long with your friends at slumber parties.
I hope you never forget that it's never too late to say "I'm sorry" or "I love you."
I hope you ignore any voice in your head that says "I am not good enough."
I hope you become a kind and generous woman.
I hope you respect time and being punctual & dependable.
I hope you grow up to be comfortable in your own skin.

Love, Mom

Preparing for Birth

This week Nick and I started to formally focus on birth education and preparation. I have been reading a book about Hypnobirthing and watching YouTube videos of hypnobirths and find it to be quite fascinating. Since we had already signed up for childbirthing classes through Seton hospital, I wasn't about to register for a Hypnobirthing series as well. Instead, I found a local therapist who specializes in hypnosis and contacted her about meeting with us for the specific purpose of training for birth using hypnosis as a tool for relaxation and pain relief.

When I first mentioned this idea to Nick about 6 weeks ago, he was supportive of me doing it. I called and talked to the therapist and she asked if I had a birth partner (yes) and if he was supportive (yes). I said that he wasn't really into "this kind of thing" and that I would be coming on my own. She said that it would be best if Nick came with me. I discussed it with him and he was agreeable, but was firm on the fact that I would be the one being hypnotized, and not him.

So we went Monday for our first visit. Like most therapy sessions, the hour flies by. I cant say that I was hypnotized, but the whole process felt like a meditation exercise or a relaxation tool. The therapist guided me through breathing and imagery. She tried to levitate my arm, which was not really working and encouraged me to practice every day. I am supposed to think of "safe place" images over the newt two weeks. Nick's role will be to help guide and coach me and support me with verbal and physical cues. His role in the session was basically an observer. At moments it did feel a little awkward. I would try not to laugh and was thinking about what he must be thinking! We go back in 2 weeks.

Wednesday night our 6-session childbirth classes started at Seton. They are from 7-9 p.m. every week and the first one was pretty basic. There were about 8 couples in the class and three of us all have the same due date, September 21! That was kind of funny. I was getting really tired by the end of it. We watched a 12-min birth video and learned birth lingo and stages of birth. It's hard to believe that we will be putting all of this into practice in just 7 weeks.

Today I am 33 weeks pregnant and I can officially say now that it's August, we are going to have baby NEXT MONTH!!

Tea Party Shower

Yesterday my friends and sister hosted a baby shower for me at one of my favorite places in town, The Tea Embassy! The Tea Embassy is a tea shop that is in a historic home in downtown Austin. It was a really lovely time! We enjoyed tea, french macarons (my favorite!), pastries and tea sandwiches. It was decorated so nicely and Sarah took some great pictures. I really enjoyed all my sweet friends and the loved showered on Baby and me!

Each guest wrote out a card, "Wishes for Baby" and here are some of my favorite wishes...
" I hope you respect spiritual/faith traditions."- Elizabeth
" I hope you get very few time-outs." -Alicia
" I hope you become an artist in your mind." -Emily
" I hope you ignore FOX news." - Sarah
" I hope you ignore haters."- Jess
" I hope you learn to play an instrument." - Darshana
" I hope you grow more than 5 feet tall!!"- Doran
" I hope you become as cool as your mom."- Stephanie
" I hope you respect your elders."- Lisa
" I hope you never forget your roots." -Steph
" I hope you never forget how much you will be loved."- Dad

Sarah and Me (32w1d)

Slowing Down

I am slowing down. This weekend I had such lofty goals. A checklist of things that have been begging to be crossed off.  Actually my Friday was quite slow and I did not even leave the apartment until after 5. I thought with such a restful end to a busy week, I would be energized for the weekend.

Prenatal Pilates Class

In fact, I woke up early to attend a free pre-natal pilates class at Lululemon in The Domain. The class was sponsored through The Bump Club of Austin and I was excited because I haven't done a pilates class in years. When I arrived at the store, I quickly felt like I might not belong. First, I was not dressed clad in Lululemon apparel, wasn't carrying a designer handbag, and had absolutely no make-up on. It was 8:15 on a Saturday...who has time to primp before an exercise class? And who spends $100+ on yoga pants, anyway? Evidently these people do.

Anyway, the class began and it was so hot. I was already sweating before the class began, and wished I'd worn shorts. The instructor said the mall controls the A/C so there was no way to make it cooler. This was starting to feel cruel. About half way into the class I started to feel dizzy and my head was tingling. I had to stop. I sat down on the exercise ball and tried to recover gracefully while the others continued. I couldn't believe I was the only one suffering here! I came back to finish the class and stayed to see the "fashion show" at the end, where everyone "oohed and aaahed" over the overpriced bras, shrugs, pants and tank-tops (Have these people never heard of Target?).

After class I met a friend downtown for brunch and had a nice time catching up with her. After that, I hit a wall. All I could think about was laying down, and staying down. And that is pretty much what I did the rest of the day and night. Walking is starting to feel like a chore. My belly aches when I change positions in the bed. My back is tight. Sunday wasn't much different. Nick and I walked across the street for breakfast and then set off on some errands. I would not have made it out on my own. Grocery shopping is even starting to get to be too much- and I enjoy that normally. I didn't have the energy to make my Sunday yoga class, even though the stretching would have been nice. I said I would go Monday night instead. Come Monday, and all I could think about was laying down when I came home from work, which is what I did.

Suffering from insomnia?

One thing that is probably a good source of my struggle is that I have insomnia. I wake up at strange hours, with my mind wandering, worrying. I cant get back to sleep and then I am exhausted when it is time to get up, or mid-day when I need to be the most productive. This morning I woke and went to get some cereal, checked my email. It was funny because I had just received an email from "What to Expect" about insomnia, which evidently affects 75% of pregnant women in the third trimester. That's me!

Lactation Education

Yesterday, Nick and I were invited to Lisa and John's house for a lactation consultation. Lisa and I worked together until just last month when she left her nursing position to focus on her pregnancy. She is having twin daughters and due in November. Lisa's friend, Tracy, works for the State Health Department and is a certified lactation consultant, which is her passion. She agreed to have a private consultation for us and taught us so much about breast feeding!

Me, Tracy and Lisa 

We watched two videos and went over extensive materials. I was glad that Nick was there because I think it will help us both to be prepared for the challenges and time commitment that breast feeding will bring. I am still wrapping my brain around how often the baby will need to be fed, and what that will mean for our schedules...and sleep! After meeting with Tracy, I do feel a bit more prepared and less nervous about it. It seems like so many of the people I know say how hard it is. Tracy said that it is the system that fails moms, not the moms failing themselves when they face challenges. There is help out there and hopefully things will go smoothly for us, but we will ask for any and all help we can get if/when we need it!

30 Weeks, and a Party!

On Tuesday, I went in for my 30 week appointment with Dr. Brown. I was really looking forward to this visit because I had some concern that I wasn't feeling the baby move as much as I should. She said that everything looked great! The baby's heart rate is 150 bpm and she said I have nothing to worry about and I am very low-risk. I have gained 20 pounds as of this week and I am pleased with that- I should be right on track for a good target rate of no more than 30 pounds.

Here is my profile at 30 weeks

Yesterday I arrived at work for our weekly hospital team meeting and was surprised by a Baby Shower from my teammates! It was a real surprise and was really sweet! I felt like I was 10 years old again having a birthday party when I was opening all of the gifts. I got several items from the registry, cute outfits, and diapers. They had a really great breakfast as well and I was really touched.

Baby Shower at work

By now, things are starting to pile up! I have all the baby stuff laying on the bed in the study. I think that room is starting to drive me crazy and I must do something with it soon. I have definitely identified a real sore spot for me...if anyone else asks me about my nursery theme, I am  going to SCREAM! I want to say that the theme is "chaos." That is what it feels like at this time. There is no theme, there is no crib, there are no "colors" and there really is no nursery!! I have convinced myself that it will be OK, but the more people ask me about it, the more I start to feel irritated and upset. Maybe this weekend I will at least clean out the room and I will feel better about it, maybe!

Post-Vacation Blues

After being off work for two weeks, I knew that today would be hard to go back. I am feeling sluggish and work can be, well...so much work! Yesterday after a two week hiatus from yoga, I went back for my Sunday morning class. I was really looking forward to it and got there early. 

I sat in the lobby by two girls who were also there for prenatal yoga and they were discussing their baby nurseries...paint colors, cribs, bedding, etc... I sat there thinking about our "nursery"/study which is full of boxes of clothes, knick-knacks and military garb, oh and a queen size bed. The walls are very much white, and will likely remain that way until we move out. My thoughts quickly shifted the the house we just sold- the 4-bedroom with closet space galore. Not that I wish we still had the house, but I couldn't help but think about which room I would have selected as the nursery. 

Back to class. Today's class was jammed pack, and per usual, everyone goes around the room and says how many weeks they are and how they are doing, etc... I was 3rd to go and I mentioned feeling kinda sluggish and a mental block about going back to work tomorrow, after having 2 weeks off. The instructor, who I now find incredibly annoying gave a pity-smile. I though to myself "If only you knew what I would be stepping into tomorrow!!" Then there were two different women who proudly announced that they were at 26 weeks and that tomorrow would actually be their LAST day of work. Before I knew it, my eyes were welling up. 26 weeks? Last day of work? I still have 8 long summer weeks left to go of being on my feet, going from hospital to hospital, dealing with other peoples' crises and demands, meetings and more meetings. I had to stop myself from going too deeply into my one-yogi pity party! I made it through the class, but my mind was distracted. I had a sense of dread about the demands that awaited me. I think that I realized that if going back to work tomorrow, after only two weeks away, would be hard...then how much harder will it be when I return after my maternity leave? 

I tried to pump myself up about today. That maybe it wouldn't be as bad as I anticipated. I barely slept and when I woke at 6:50 a.m., I had an hour's worth of voice mails (and that was just from Sunday) to go though and 9 patients in 4 different locations. All of them were new to me and had their own complexities. I lay there with tears streaming down my face. I did not want to go in. Where would I start? I was already tired. I made it into the office and printed off a mountain of papers to take with me on my way. When I arrived at the hospital and started to engage, it really wasn't that bad. I was reminded that I have a greater purpose than just being content with my leisure time. My work was chosen by me, and I by it. I was reminded that the people I work with are special people who are my friends and that I would not have them in my life if I did not rise to the occasion M-F from 8-5. They have to work too...I am not the only one! I have a supervisor who I respect and who knows the struggles of this work. When she saw me in the office, she said "I thought I would find you crying in here." I said "No, I already did that!." It's nice to be understood, and then I went about my day. It ended up not being that bad and I allowed myself to do what I felt comfortable with, knowing that I will get to the rest of it all tomorrow. And it will be okay.

Tomorrow I go in for my 30-week appointment, and I am excited. We are getting so close to meeting our baby daughter! Even without custom paint and coordinated nursery bedding, she will have the best life and ours will be better for it too.

Babymoon in Canada

29 Weeks at Royal Ontario Botanical Gardens

We embarked on our "last hurrah" on July 5 from Big Rapids to Toronto. Neither Nick or I had ever been to Canada before, so we were excited to do this trip together. The drive was about 6 hours and we stayed in downtown Toronto at the Hotel Intercontinental. We tackled the city right away and embarked on several days of eating our way through Toronto. It didn't take us too long to figure out the subway system, but we still had to do a lot of walking. Unfortunately the heat wave continued and the temps were quite hot.

Due to the weather and lots of walking, I was starting to feel really pregnant...my feet and hands were swollen and any liquid I drank seemed to go right through me, and through me again. The constant need to find a "washroom" became a bother. Nick did a great job in scouting out some great restaurants in Toronto and we ate like Kings and Queens! Thank goodness I was diabetes-free.

Enjoying pizza in Toronto

One of our favorite places was Pizzeria Libretto, which is an authentic and certified Neapolitan pizza restaurant. We ended up going here two times and enjoyed delicious Margherita pizzas that really did taste like Italy! Another day we ventured into an area called "The Beach" for some Pakistani food at a place called Lahore Tikka House. We happened upon a South Asian Festival en route and it was packed with people and the air full of delicious smells. The food was great, but we got a bit waylaid on the way back due to bus route changes and it made for a long night.

Carly on the Toronto Islands

For sights we took a ferry to the Toronto Islands, which was a  fun ride, but we found the actual islands to be a bit cheesy! We also went to Honda Indy Car race and had a great time. We met Emma Davies Dixon at our hotel pool earlier in the week  and she was the wife of one of the racers. We cheered for Scott Dixon, but unfortunately he was out early due to engine failure. Nevertheless it was a fun experience and a first for us as well.

Joey and Nick after Maid of the Mist

On Monday, we left Toronto and headed to Niagara Falls to meet up with Nick's brother, Joe. It was about an hour and a half drive from Toronto. Niagara Falls reminded us a little bit of Reno with its hotels and casinos and seemingly small town feel. We joined the throngs of tourists at the Falls and were amazed by their magnificence. On Tuesday the three of us went on The Maid of the Mist, which is a ferry that goes into the Falls. We also stayed in a really nice hotel with a great aerial view of the falls and I also watched a tightrope walker from my room's window. After two days in Niagara Falls we were ready to get going home. We headed out towards Nashville, where we spent one night. It was fun and we met up with an old friend of Nick's downtown. We had a nice dinner and then enjoyed the bar and music scene in Nashville. Our last leg was a 14 hour drive...Nick drove the whole way and when we finally arrived back at our apartment at 1:30 a.m., we were so happy! It was a great trip, and we saw so much, but it was time to be home to our cat and to start focusing on the next great adventure...our Baby (who still does not have a name)!

Michigan!

We rolled into Uncle Fred's place around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and were greeted by family and a nice meal. It was so good to finally be there! His place looked as good as ever and we had fun getting some pictures out on his deck and lawn.

At Croton

We went from there to Big Rapids and spent the night at the cottage. It was a full house...Mimi, Sarah and Ryan, my parents and Nick and me. We spent the night and the next day just hanging out...it felt so good to do more sitting and relaxing. I went kayaking a couple times and on Tuesday, there was a gorgeous full moon! The only bad thing about our time here was the heat. The heat wave had us miserable. There is no A/C at the Cottage and the temperatures outside were even hotter than Dallas temperatures.  Nick and I were very fortunate that my Uncle Fred let us sleep at his apartment in town. That was definitely a saving grace!

Carly & Mimi 28w4d

Kayaking with Mom under a full moon 7/3/12

Meet Me in St. Louis

Nick and I left Dallas at about 6 a.m. on Saturday and headed North for St. Louis, which is the half-way point from Dallas to Michigan. It was a great day of driving...well I didn't do anything except sit there and read or sleep! It was so nice to literally just sit back and relax! We made it to St. Louis around 4:30 p.m. and checked into the hotel, which was right across from The Arch.

28 weeks in St. Loius

We went to check out the Arch and it was so hot! It was 107 degrees...hotter than it had been in Texas when we left. I could barely stand it! From there we ventured out to find dinner and ended up having an Italian meal in Lafayette Square and the coming back to rest up for our next day's drive.

Glucose screening

Tuesday I went in for my glucose screen at 7 a.m. I was pretty worried about it from all that I read and I hate getting blood drawn. The worst part about it was having to fast and then downing the sugary drink and waiting. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated, but I was very eager to learn my results. On Wednesday morning, I got a call from the doctor's office saying that I failed the test by 6 points and I would need to come back for the full 4-hour exam.

Needless to say, I was not pleased! The thought of getting diagnosed with gestational diabetes and going on vacation out of town for two weeks was really overwhelming. I don't really know much about diabetes, so I got some books at the library. I read though them and still felt like it would be a very difficult challenge for me, especially with my chaotic work schedule and being on the go all the time. Wednesday afternoon, I had a breakdown and was just really worried. I wasnt sure that I would even know the results before we left for Michigan and that made me nervous. Should I go ahead and just live as if I did have GD?

I went in on Thursday at 7 a.m. to start the 4-hour long test. I barely slept a wink all night because I was in such a state of dread. Luckily I had talked to my friend who had GD and she helped ease my fears and other friends were supportive, too. I came equipped with plenty of reading material and my iPhone. It was actually a good time to catch up on my Twitterfeed and also wait for the SCOTUS ruling on the health care bill to come in. When it was all said and done, I headed up the road to a little breakfast cafe and in indulged in a full breakfast before I started on to work for the day. I was very happy to have that behind me, and glad I didn't pass out from hunger.

I was kind of resigned to that fact that I would get a diagnosis of gestational diabetes. When the phone rang on Friday morning, and the nurse said that I DID NOT have diabetes, I was so happy! Yay! We were leaving for our vacation after work and it was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Nick and I celebrated by stopping of at Baskin Robins! Although I am relieved that I wont have to change my diet for the remainder of the pregnancy, I do think that I will make more health conscious choices anyway.

Time Flies

26 weeks and Happy

Have I mentioned lately how fast time is flying by? Well it really is! Today is June 21, so that means exactly 3 months until Baby Bassett's due date! I went to the doctor this week and things are looking fine. The ultrasound image was not very clear, but I seem to be growing right on track. This time she measured my belly, which was 28 in. Next week I have to go in for the dreaded glucose screen and blood test. I am really hoping that I pass the glucose screening...I would  not be excited about checking blood sugars all the time, especially with vacation just days away!

Can you see my little face?

This past weekend was a lot of fun. Elizabeth and I went down to West Sixth Street on Saturday night for a little bar-hoppin', which was great for me because all my drinks (i.e. grapefruit juice and Perrier) were free. Was a cheap night out and fun to partake in some nightlife. As everyone is telling me, "enjoy it while you can!" After that I met Nick and a friend for some salsa dancing at Gloria's, which is just a stone's throw from out apartment. It was a good thing because we were out very late! I told Nick that I don't think I will ever be up that late again--unless I am in labor! Sunday was Father's Day and we slept have the day away.

It's been a long work week and being on my feet has started to take its toll on my body, my back especially. Someone told me that getting in the pool every day helped her prevent swelling and I am going to try to do that. But despite the long work week, I have been feeling pretty happy! We leave for Michigan a week from tomorrow and I am hoping that the ride is pleasant and really hope that by the time we get to Big Rapids, that this Baby will have name!

Adventures in Parking

North Austin Medical Center made my day!

On Friday, I hit the 26-week mark and also realized that we are under a 100 days to go here! Woohoo! It also marked a milestone for me in the parking department.I finally found some designated pregnancy spaces...albeit they are outside a Women's Center at a hospital, but marked clearly none the less. I was in a hurry to get to a crisis a the hospital and parking there always kinda reminds me of what the parking lot at the mall looks like on Black Friday (and it's 100 degrees). I pull up to the backside and see a whole section for "Expectant Mothers Only." Score! I felt a little funny about it since I am not a patient, but the sign had no other qualifiers, so I decided that I deserved to park there. I did take off my work badge, just to make myself a little less discrete. The roller bag and clipboard screams of "vendor" but I don't care, My dress is snug and there is no denying I am expecting! Ahh...the little joys.

Could they have made it any LESS visible?

In other parking news, I finally located the "stork parking" that my friend assured me was at the local HEB Grocery store. You would't know by the looks of it, seeing a tall dark male in a large pickup truck get out of one of the two said spaces, that they are designated for "Moms to be." You actually wouldn't know unless you like me, happened to park in the way back of the lot and walked on top of the spots in your way up to the store and noticed a faint color blue paint, and actually tried to make out the words..."MOM TO BE." Well, Alicia was right about the spaces, but I would put money on it that 99.5% of people who park there are not pregnant and probably half are men!

This week I also started to experience lower back pain. It mainly hurts when I walk or stand...i.e. my whole work day! I would like to try going to yoga 2x a week if possible, but the weeks are starting to fill up quickly. Last week Nick and I went to a Thai Cooking class with our friends, Alicia and Roberto. It was fun, but again, 3 hours of standing!  With only 2 weeks to go before vacation, I can at least see the light... I can make it through 2 more weeks of work. My next OBGYN appointment is on Tuesday. I am thinking I will probably have to schedule my glucose screening before our trip. I am so not looking forward to that!

Surrender

Birth, like death, is not fully controllable. We weren't meant to understand birth or to control it. We are meant to take responsibility for the parts of it that we can, and then just experience it... At some point, we must let go and allow the process to be. Faith is not belief without proof but trust without reservation. Nancy Wainer Chohen

I read this quote this week from Terry Hershey's "Sabbath Moment" and it echoes a sentiment that was shared with my by someone I really admire at work. Nancy describes herself as an "Earth Mama in Ann Taylor clothes." She is a chaplain, spiritual director and executive at Hospice Austin. She is one of those people who you really wish you could be more like. Anyway, Nancy loves talking about birth. She has two adolescent sons and raises her family on their Organic Blueberry Farm outside of Austin. Very cool.

I was talking to Nancy about my fears and anxiety about labor and she told me that she too had similar feelings before her first son was born. She explains that she was telling a trusted friend about this, and also about the work in hospice she was doing at the time. The friend responded, "Oh, you work in hospice? Then you will be fine." Nancy questioned her, "How do you mean?" The friend responded, "Well, because you already know all about surrender." 

Wise, wise, woman!  SURRENDER. Like the quote above states...we weren't meant to control it, we must let go an allow the process to be. So often in my work we explain this to families as their loved ones face the end of life. I have seen with my own eyes, how much patients (and families) who try to control it, end up suffering, struggling, and hanging on....not allowing the natural process to take its course. Of course resistance is often the result of fear...fear of pain, fear of the unknown, and fear of letting go of control. Conversely, those who allow for appropriate intervention, pain relief, and understand the natural course of things, usually have a much better experience. 

Nancy also told me about the morning of her birth. She attended her prenantal yoga class that morning and felt strange. She said the instructor had a picture of a large sunflower at the front of the room. She said it helped her to meditate on that image...beautiful and open for the experience that was about to rock her world!

Nothing's gonna change my world

Lately I have been noticing the ease and freedom of how we live, shop, move about this town. One thing people are quick to tell you when you announce your pregnancy (as if you really needed them to say it) is that "your life will never be the same again." I want to say "Wait...what!?" It's obvious that life will not ever be the same as it was B.C. (before children). But, there is also this tone in the way that they say it which seems like people almost delight in the presumed loss of fun, independence and traveling that you will face as soon as your baby arrives. I know that things will not be easy logistically anymore and of course we will make adaptations, but I don't like how some people act like they are martyrs once they have children.

Today in yoga class we had a substitute instructor. When I came in the class she had the Beatles song, "Across the Universe" playing. Before she started class she said that she loved how she could hear everyone kind of singing or humming the tune to themselves. I do love that song! Then she said she had a realization she wanted to share. She said "Nothing's gonna change your world." I'm thinking "Wait...what!?" She said that having a baby will rock your world, but nothing will change your world. She went on to explain that if you are a joyous person, for example, your child will reflect that joy and likewise if your life is in disarray. I thought about it for a second because this was the exact opposite thing that people had been telling me before (i.e. everything is going to change). The instructor said that we are who we are and we will share that with our babies, not change as a result of them.

I continued to think about it and about couples that I knew BC and now that they have kids. Those who were laid back, happy, positive, non-anxious BC, are still mostly that way. And the ones who were rigid, anxious and overbearing BC, are still that way! There is something comforting in knowing that we can maintain the parts of ourselves that we want, and are not forced to abandon them just because someone now calls us "Mom." And when I think about myself and the life experiences and transitions I have had, like getting married...I am still the same as I was before that! Life is enhanced, but my world is not changed. ((Sigh of Relief))

So as I continue through the remaining 15 weeks of pregnancy, I want to keep this in mind. There is so much fear and anxiety that labor and birthing evokes and this idea of being strong and not unwavering is kind of empowering!

That's the World I Know

La Zona Rosa Concert Venue

Time is flying by! Here we are at 24 weeks. This weekend Nick and I went to see the band, Collective Soul at La Zona Rosa in downtown Austin. Collective Soul was a pretty popular 90's band with several great hits. I hadn't been to La Zona Rosa since college and remember it being the best concert I ever experienced...maybe that's because when I went there were seats! We arrived after doors opened at 8:00. The band came on at 9:15 and ended at 11:30. That's over 3 hours of standing. Never again. The music was really great but I think that will be my last concert to attend where I can't sit down. To make matters worse for me, I have to go to the bathroom a lot more than usual now. Snaking in and out of a packed in concert crows is not really pleasant. Needless to say, we had a good time and are trying to take in all the live music we can before baby arrives in September.

I am still feeling pretty good these days. We have our child-birthing classes set up for August and am working on a hypnotherapy series for July when we get back from our vacation. I think that time will really start to fly by after that! We are having a little cookout this weekend at our pool with some friends and are soaking up the summer time!

Here is a little "Dad Cam" report on pregnancy thus far and here I am at 24 weeks and 3 days!

24 weeks and 3 days

Memorial Day Weekend

Best Buddies

This weekend Nick and I went to Allen for a quick visit. Diana was in town from Germany, so we were very excited to be able to spend some time with her. We had a nice brunch and then did some shopping. Diana bought the baby her very first University of Texas Apparel, a set of Longhorn onesies. Good thing Baby will be here just in time for football season!


Though we were only in Allen a short while, we got to see a lot of people. It was nice to visit with Solina and also two of mom's cousins, one who was in town from Chicago and she had never met before! Dad made the most delicious dinner on Saturday night. I can't believe I didn't take a picture: grilled shrimp, beef kabobs, mushroom & fettuccine, corn and garlic bread! What a feast! It was also great seeing my grandma, who looked so beautiful! Was good to be home.

A beautiful day in Austin, Texas!

Today is Memorial Day and Nick is working. I woke up early and went down to Town Lake for a walk. The weather was quite nice and I think everyone in Austin was at the trail. It's always fun to be on the trail because you see all kinds of people and pooches. This was the first time I had gone down there since I was pregnant. This time, passing all the Moms (or Dads) with baby joggers on the trail, I felt different. No longer will I daydream about that "one day" when I have a child or family of my own...mine reality is on it's way! I look forward to be able to come down to this beautiful place in this great city with My Baby.

Super-Mom of Three!

There was a woman there today with a triple-jogger. She passed me a couple times (!!) and I snapped a picture for my friend, Alex, who will have 3 children under 3 years-old when her son in born in November. This lady, with her very wide load, was definitely turning some heads on the trail. I wondered how she managed to get out the door, let alone in the car and down to the lake for a job with her brood. Wow!

After my walk, I went to the mall and got a maternity swimsuit top and a couple other things (Glad Nick's working today!). I am consciously aware of how I can zip around town and move with ease, when soon it won't be so easy with a baby in tow. I finished my holiday with grocery shopping and some pool time in my new suit...along with some loads of laundry. It's been a very full weekend and I am grateful for all the people I got to spend it with.

Here with Family...looking pregnant!

Meltdown

Yesterday was Monday and it marked the beginning of the week and the start of a new venture for me at work. Due to some changes at work, my territory jumped from covering 6 hospitals to 11, stretching all the way from Georgetown and Cedar Park down south to Kyle. I started out with a very busy day and many new patients that had to be seen. When I arrived at Seton Williamson (where I will be delivering) to see my first patient, I had a complete meltdown. Basically, I was leaving the office to check in when another woman was coming through the door, which almost hit me. It didn't hit me, but my reaction was totally out of control. I went and sat down and just started bawling. Luckily it is not a very busy hospital. I decided I needed some fresh air and sat outside the Women's Center and called Nick. I knew how irrational my response was. I just felt like the world was imploding and I could not stop. Finally I went to my car where there was A/C and dried my eyes and flakes of mascara wiped across my cheeks. After about an hour after I arrived, I finally went up to see the patient. Urgh! Luckily I was able to laugh about it with some co-workers at Happy Hour later that day. My friend, Lisa, who is pregnant with twins also shared her mother's day meltdown story. We blame the hormones 100%.

I'm 22 weeks and 4 days today

Today was my 22 week visit to see Dr. Brown. Nick and I went and it was a really fast visit. She did another ultrasound and the images are not quite as clear as the past few have been, but cool never the less. We did get a really good glimpse of the baby's spine, seeing all the little vertebrae. Other than that, there was not much new to discuss at this visit. We will go back in another month.

Tonight we walked over to Macy's after dinner and ventured up to the baby section. Nick gravitated to the Baby Polo section, of course. He bought his first outfit...an adorable baby blue Polo dress with bloomers. He also picked up some Nike baby socks this weekend! He can't resist and I think we may be in trouble!! :)
We also went to see the move "What to Expect When You're Expecting" over the weekend. It was a very predictable kind of movie and format. but it had parts that we could relate to. The end was touching when the babies were all born. We are so looking forward to that day for us!

Happy Mother's Day (In-Utero)!

My mom and me in 1983

I started out this Mother's Day with a pre-natal yoga class. There were lots of mom's-to-be there today. Well, before I actually went into the class I sat in the car and read the "Letters to the Editor" in the Statesman that were all Odes to Moms. I had to stop because it was getting to be emotionally too much for me. Themes of sacrifice, selflessness, unconditional love, heartache, joy, loss and memories were threaded throughout all the letters. I thought also about a couple of mothers who were celebrating their first Mother's Day without their children, who had been patients of mine. And of course all the people who have lost their mother's...days like this are hard. And then there are the friends of mine who would love to be mothers, but are struggling. I thought about them, too. Maybe Mother's Day is just too much!

Anyway, the yoga class was great. I feel so sore from the weight lifting/squat regime I did on Saturday from Fit Pregnancy magazine. It was nice to stretch things out in yoga. Some of the women have quite a lot of pains and complications. It's kind of scary to hear about things like that, especially the lady that said she went into labor at 24 weeks and had to go on bed rest until now, 37 weeks!

21 weeks in my new dress

After class, I came home and Nick and I went to Babies-R-Us to start our gift registry. It was not such a good experience. I think that a first-time-mom should only go into a place like this with a woman who has recently had a baby and knows what they are doing! Just choosing which type of bottles and nipples seemed so daunting. I kept asking myself  "but how do you know which ones are the best?" Maybe there is not a right answer, but everything just seemed so wrong. There were simply too many choices. It's not like a wedding registry, where you know exactly what kind and color of Stand mixer you want or what casserole dish would suit your needs. Bottles are not just bottles. There are components. Too many components. And then there are the larger-ticket items. We got into an argument about the Boppy, a breast-feeding support pillow. Nick thought it was frivolous. Somehow, I felt like it was necessary and that I have seen my friends with these types of pillows. (And how could Nick restrict me from getting a pillow- when he is the King when it comes to pillow purchasing. We have more pillows that we have plates!). I did not like this process. Nick clearly did not like it. We ran through the store and then left, feeling defeated. This was supposed to be fun! Right?!?

Nick does bath duty his first Baby, Tortie

We ended up going from there to Mattress Firm because we are in need of a new mattress. We spent about 2 hours in there and closed the place down. Nick, of course found the perfect tempur-pedic pillow that he will be purchasing! We left there with hopes of returning and getting a mattress tomorrow that will give us sweet dreams and non-aching backs. Lastly, we decided that we would go to Target and try their registry. The selections at Target were more more manageable and less overwhelming. It ended up being a good experience and we are happy with what we selected...or so we think! I guess we will never know what Baby will need or want until she gets here, and we have lots of time to go.