Monday, August 20, 2012

Back in Business!

Finally! I found some inspiration as well as time to act it out! Made some cool things recently and actually put them in my Etsy shop! Much more is to come, but here is a sneaky peeky...


Mini Chalkboard Trays!



Lovely Wire Coil Bracelet




Lots of earrings!

Be sure to head on over to the Heart Felt Esty site to check everything out! More items will be added hopefully daily this week. It's nice to be back!


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Bye Bye Dreadlocks



 Some of you may be wondering why I decided to cut off my dreadlocks. Not that I want to make a big deal about my hair... because that's just the thing I'm trying to embrace, the fact that it is just hair :-)



I remember the day I got my dreadlocks, I felt like I looked how I always thought I should. I felt like myself. I liked how easy it was for people to instantly see that I'm unique and a bit strange. I loved how in Germany, a couple of my very closest girl friends also had dreads. I loved all the attention and questions (at first...) that people back in the States gave me. I did love my dreadlocks, and I do miss them... but I don't regret my decision to get rid of them.



I went from loving dreadlocks, and the fact that I felt beautiful with them even though many people thought dreadlocks as not very attractive... to not feeling very beautiful anymore, but feeling like I HAD to keep them because other people thought they were cool. I don't know if that really makes sense to you... but it totally did for me. Therefore... time to cut.

Anyway, I'm embracing the fact that it's just hair. It will grow back and I definitely do plan on getting dreads again in the future! Me deciding to cut them off had nothing at all to do with the fact that we're having a baby soon. I'm not trying to seem more adult/motherly/grown up by getting rid of the dreadlocks... I don't buy into that crap, quite honestly. I'm just trying to focus on my needs and what makes me feel most beautiful, free and confident.


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Falling into place

I was telling Ryan the other day about how I have been feeling so much more confident in my ability to deliver this baby. Seeing how this baby inside of me is growing and developing perfectly and totally naturally has given me this new found confidence in my body and it's crazy cool abilities!

We had my 20 week ultrasound a couple weeks ago and were so thrilled to see that our baby BOY (yyyaaaayyyy wooohoooo!!!!!) is totally healthy and developing wonderfully and on track! I'm very low risk and am doing great as far as health wise, so Ryan and I have seriously been weighing our delivery options (and thankfully we now live in a place that has MANY amazing options!). I went from check ups at a normal OB office in Illinois where everything exciting turned into clinical routine, to a great midwife office here in Napa (who works through the local hospital) where check ups were exciting and I felt warm and welcomed.

Ryan and I feel comfortable there with the midwife office, but were still holding out for one other option. In Santa Rosa (about an hour away from us) there is a free standing birth center that I have been looking into for a few months. When my midwife here in Napa asked me last week if I had decided where we want to deliver the baby, I told her that we were still waiting to see the birthing center. She was so encouraging and even excited about me possibly delivering the baby there! She said she is very familiar with the center, knows and respects the owner/ head midwife, and thought that would be a great place for me! Ryan and I were almost surprised with with her lack of concern- but also thrilled and even more excited to go check out the place! Last Monday I went with my aunt (She delivered one of her children at the same center) to go on a tour of the center. Unfortunately Ryan had to stay behind to work, but I promised we would talk everything out once I got home before any decisions were made.  And thankfully I have a a crazy amazing and supportive husband who value the same things in birth that I do and totally trusts my instincts and judgment. Love him. Anyway... thankfully the owner/ head midwife was free so she took us on the tour and I got to speak with her about many different things. Long story short, it was amazing and everything I had hoped it would be! We have yet to officially make the switch, but Ryan and I both feel like this would be a great place for us to deliver our son! Ah, it's so exciting!

We are so blessed to live in a state that allows birth centers to exist and operate, and even more blessed to be so close to one (yes, an hour away is super close, especially considering how far some mamas are willing to drive to be able to go to a birthing center!). Thank you God!




 And now for the fun little pregnancy update questionnaire thing :-)

How far along? 22 weeks, 2 days

Overall Emotion last month? Peace with where we are, stress over starting a new job, and most of all...thankful for a healthy BOY!!!

Maternity clothes?  Sometimes, but not usually. Still wearing my normal jeans with the rubber band trick to keep them comfortable!

Sleep: Terrible. I'm SO restless and always uncomfortable. Midwife OK'd melatonin to help with falling asleep- and that aspect has been better.... but I feel like I spend more of my time changing positions and rolling around at night than sleeping. Sucks. 

Best moment this month: Finding out were are having a SON! (He was very proud of his boy parts and the technician was 100% sure it's a boy haha!)
Weight Gain: Yikes. ehhhhh like +16 pounds. Hoping to slow down on the gaining! 

Movement: oooohhhhhhh man YES! He is so active! I can feel him all the time and I can even feel him from the outside with my hand when he's moving around! Ryan has felt him many times too! And just this evening we could SEE the movement. His little knees and elbows poking up- so amazing! 

Food cravings: Pizza and fresh tomatoes. ooooo and those tacos from the taco truck that comes to Yountville from time to time!
  
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope! I'm feeling great!

Have you started to show yet: Yep! Still not a whole lot though.

Wedding rings on or off? on 

Looking forward to: Starting to see my midwife at the birthing center! Taking control of my weight gain.

One thing I did well this month? I walk all the time now that we live in the most beautiful location in the world :-) And our pup doesnt have a yard to be loose in, so we're always talking him out on walks. I've been great at taking all my daily vitamins (prenatal, calcium+vitamin D, fish oil, sometimes B12 and melatonin at night). I have been drinking at least one cup a day of my pregnancy tea, and I have been trying to go to bed early so I can get as much sleep as I can.

Protein intake this month: Good 

Book Currently reading: The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Sheila Kitzinger (one of the books I borrowed from the birthing center on Monday- I'm excited to read more from their library!).