Cutie Pie

Stealth Mode

Matt: Is Felix hungry? Has he eaten recently?

Erika: I just fed him.

Matt: Whoa. You're like a breast-feeding ninja!

I love my life.

Baby's First Vegas

Last weekend Matt and I took a quick roadtrip to Vegas on a whim, as our dear friend Rachel was going be there for a few days. We figured there couldn't be a more appropriate place to take a newborn for his first vacation, right? It was my first time to the famous "Sin City" and it was pretty much as I imagined it to be--one giant, magnificent, overgrown, well-lit facade.

We found ourselves a perfectly seedy hotel just off the strip to stay at and our first order of business was giving our darling Mr. Felix a bath, as he'd pooped EVERYWHERE just as we arrived in town.


We hung out with Rachel for a few hours at the Venetian Hotel, munching on overpriced chips and salsa while an over-eager pontoon paddler loudly serenaded the crowds behind us. In the evening we toured the strip for a few hours, stuck a couple dollar bills in a slot machine at Harrah's, and called it a night at 9:30pm. Matt had hoped for Felix's sake that we'd run into some topless dancers, (as that's pretty much all Felix is into these days--boobs!), but I guess it just wasn't in the cards for us.





The next morning our darling baby boy woke up naked and disoriented in a sleazy Vegas hotel. I'd say his first Vegas vacation was a success!

Here's to many more family roadtrips in the future, son...

She Makes It Look So Easy

Damn that Anne Geddes.

My Latest Project

Ok, so this is LOOOONG overdue, but...

I had a baby!

Introducing Baby Felix:

Born September 27th, 2009 @ 12:20am

7lbs, 12 oz and 20.5" long

He's got my eyes and his father's ears.

Here's a quick look at the past seven weeks of his life:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Felix is just the sweetest baby boy you'll ever meet and it's been an absolute joy getting to know him over these past 7 weeks. He's super cute, eats like it's going out of style, and is a champion pooper. He's licking my arm as I type this, so that's my cue to go feed him and put him to bed. You can find out more about him at his website. I can't wait for you to meet him!

SuperSize Me

In response to popular demand and for the sake of posterity, it's high time I post a photo of me and my ginormous belly!

Erika and baby, 35-ish weeks

PS THANK GOODNESS for big lady panties. I bought some a few days ago, as my hinterlands are growing right along with the baby, and what a difference it makes--I feel like a new person. God bless full coverage. (TMI*, perhaps? These days I have trouble discerning.) I was in denial that I needed to upgrade to larger underwear until one day I put on a pair of underwear not realizing that I was already wearing a pair. Ok, that's not a true story, but it very well could be. I've been known to do some highly nutty things these days. Did I happen to mention that I poured hot water instead of syrup on my pancakes the other day...


*TMI= Too Much Information (for my mother who may not get my techno savvy abbreviations)

Enough Said

10 Years

Matt and Erika, 1999

Ten years ago today, Matt and I met on our first day of classes as lowly freshmen on the campus of the University of Kansas. We had two classes together that first semester--Honors English and Art History (although he wasn't aware that that I was in his Art Histroy class until a few weeks after stalking him in the large lecture hall and knowing his every move, I "happened to bump into him" and say, "Matt! I didn't know you were in this class! What a fun surprise!", or something as equally lame.) We started dating a month or two into the semester and the rest is, as they say, history.

Matt, thanks for the best ten years of my life. I love you SO MUCH! You're the best travel companion ever, you make me laugh all the time, you're absolutely brilliant, and you're going to be the best gosh-darn dad in the world! I am your biggest fan. The next ten are bound to be just as lovely, I'm sure of it!

Matt and Erika, 2009

A Woman in My Condition

Well, folks, week 32 has arrived and my belly button is threatening daily to claim it's rightful place on my torso as my third nipple. Our little one has officially been dubbed "a squirmer" by our doctor and has taken up permanent residence under the right side of my ribcage. If I didn't already know that the baby is head down, I'd be convinced that all that jabbing and kicking was coming from it's prominent chin, rather than it's restless legs. (One look at Matt's and my profile and you'll understand that our precious kiddo is bound to have a Leno-rivaling chin.)

I'm still feeling quite well, although I'm entering what I fondly refer to as "the uncomfortable stage." As cliche as it sounds, I can't quite remember what my feet look like and look forward to re-acquainting myself with them. I'm feeling pretty cumbersome these days, and occasionally I sit down on the floor only to realize it will be hours before I'll be able to stand up again (as I have to wait for Matt to get home from work and help me up). I've still got a healthy appetite and am the proud owner of 30 extra pounds (thus far). I don't own a scale, so it's always a surprise what I'll discover when I lumber onto the scale at the doctor's office. Needless to say it keeps things interesting.

I've been enjoying some of the extra perks that come with the burgeoning belly. The other day I snagged a table while out to dinner because the man who had been sitting there insisted that "a woman in my condition" should sit, and graciously gave up his spot in the crowded restaurant. I managed to score first row seats on our flight to Kansas a few weeks ago, and even if a place posts "no public restrooms", they don't put up a fuss if I request to use the facilities. And if I so much as try to lift a grocery bag these days, a swarm of people surrounds me insisting that they help me carry the load. It's so bizarre. No complaints, though. The perks are nice.

Matt and I are watching our apartment slowly give in to a mountain of baby "stuff" and we've stuck a list to the fridge to remind ourselves of all that we have left to do (as if my belly groans weren't reminder enough!) before our little one makes his/her appearance. Highlights include scheduling a hospital tour, reupholstering a vintage rocking chair (our first ebay furniture purchase!), buying a swaddling blanket, figuring out a baby bathtub solution (anyone got tips on how we can avoid purchasing one of those giant, obnoxious blue or pink tubs with the seatbelt?), and making the used crib we bought smell better.

Needless to say, we've still got some prep to do.

I'm pretty sure the baby will be overdue, but we've had enough friends deliver early that we thought we should try to have the basics ready. I know several women who have the entire nursery ready within weeks of finding out they are pregnant--I am not like that. I've been living with a healthy dose of denial up until this point (not that I'm having a baby, but that I actually need to have stuff ready for when the wee one arrives). It's time to get my rear in gear.

Matt and I are SO excited to meet this baby, so part of me really wants the last 8 weeks to fly by, even though I know it marks the end of my life (and sleeping habits) as I currently know it. But as every parent keeps telling me, it will be the hardest and best thing that's ever happened to me, so I'm really quite eager to start the adventure!

Not Was, But Is

Overheard at my 10-year highschool reunion this past weekend:

Girl: So are you coming to the BBQ tomorrow afternoon?
Boy: (In an overt country accent) Nope, I've got to drive to Oklahoma to watch my girlfriend cage fight.
Girl: Oh, um, uh, so is that just a hobby?
Boy: Nope, it brings in a paycheck.
Girl: Um, wow. (Akward pause.) So, how'd you meet a girl that cagefights?
Boy: Well, she's my best friend's brother's wife.


-----------------------

"He wanted to come, but he doesn't get out of jail until Monday. He's really upset he's gonna miss the reunion."


-----------------------


Girl 1: So what have you been up to the last 10 years?
Girl 2: Obviously not growing boobs.

Cravings

Just a run-down on the things I've found myself uncontrollably stuffing my face with these past 5 months (referred to lovingly as "cravings") in the order of their appearance:

Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes
Chicken Noodle Soup with mashed potatoes just like they made for school lunch in grade school
Berry flavored applesauce
PINEAPPLE!
Chicken Fried Steak (Matt says this one isn't a true pregnancy craving as I've probably mentioned this food once a week since we first met nearly 10 years ago. Although one time last month I was so desperate for a Chili's Chicken Fried Steak, that to compensate for the lack of money in our "eating out" budget, I rifled through my closet, found some clothes I don't wear anymore, drove to the local consignment shop, made $20, then promptly drove to Chili's for my glorious, glorious Chicken Fried Steak. It was a true shining moment...)
Cinnamon Rolls
Frozen organic raspberries
Nectarines by the dozen
Pickles, of course
Raw angel-hair pasta (love that crunch!)
Sour Jelly Belly jelly beans


There are lots of other foods (like fish tacos, biscuits and gravy, ice cream, etc.) that I have been craving, but these don't really count as they were part of my normal food thought process pre-pregnancy. I think the biggest difference is that now I not only think of these foods, but I can instantly conjure up beautiful images of them complete with smells. It's intoxicating. I can remember waking up in the middle of the night right about month 3 with overwhelming thoughts of ooey-gooey mashed potatoes piled high and smelling like heaven.

It's nuts. I think about food NON-STOP these days. You'll be happy to know, however, that despite my constant thoughts of food, I really don't eat much more than I did before I got pregnant. I'm gaining weight at the appropriate levels and am aware that whatever I eat, the baby eats. Blah, blah, blah...

I think it's time for my second breakfast. Over and out.

On Becoming a Mama Bird

Well, folks, it appears the nesting has officially begun. I just completed my first baby project--a baby quilt! Details and more photos at The Tilted Tulip...

Fumbling Numbers

I've never been what you might call a whiz-bang mathmetician, finding numbers to be quite a baffling part of my daily existence, and that paired with my ever-progressing case of "mommy brain" (an apparantly irreversible brain melting condition beginning at conception in which the baby slowly siphens away your brain cells) has left me quite dazed and confused of late.  I just can't seem to wrap my brain around this whole 9 months/40 weeks thing.  It doesn't help that during pregnancy 4 weeks equals 1 month, which means that 40 weeks is actually 10 months, although they begin counting the 40 weeks two weeks prior to conception, because supposedly that's easier to track, so technically a full-term pregnancy is only 38 weeks (and lots of people deliver early), which sorta helps me get where the whole "9 months" thing came from, but ultimately I'm utterly and totally confused at all times about just how long the bun has technically been in the oven.  (To make matters worse, I'm highly impatient when it comes to baking, resulting in many an undercooked pastry, which I readily devour anyway because I'm a) pregnant, and therefore ALWAYS HUNGRY, and b) convinced that I've waited an eternity already and just don't care.  Let's hope that I give the baby enough time to cook properly!)

The funny thing about the whole pregnancy calculation issue is that my starting date is Jan 1st, which should seem to make this counting thing easy as pie.  It should, but yet somehow it doesn't.  Basically, I'm just not a numbers lady.  

For what it's worth, I did the math for you all and today starts my 20th week.  Holy Moley--that's half-way!  Jeepers, I best start the nesting soon...

You're Fit, My Gosh, But Don't You Know It

Meet the newest addition to our little family (No--I did not give birth prematurely!):

A shiny new Honda Fit! After a fair bit of haggling (our mad Hong Kong bargaining skills sure came in handy), we became the proud owners of this little wonder. Honestly, it still blows my mind a bit to think we bought something this shiny and expensive. (Have I mentioned it's shiny?) I've never owned a car with less than 70,000 miles on it, and at the moment, our lovely Fit has a whopping 144 miles to her name. I just can't wrap my brain around it.

It's gonna take some getting used to, as I still automatically roll down the windows when I get in, mentally preparing for a long, hot drive, only to remember a few miles down the highway that this baby comes equipped with Air-Conditioning! So nice!

Anyway, I'll spare you the rest of my raving, but I just felt the urge to share my excitement with my lovely readers. If you come visit us in San Diego, I'll take you for a spin. (She looks really nice when the setting sun reflecting off the ocean hits her curves just right. She's quite the beauty!)

With nothing better to do with my time, I couldn't help but run outside to pose with her. I would've clambered on the hood, but my ever expanding belly is getting a wee bit cumbersome these days.

Belly Laugh

How I've been spending my weekends...lounging and laughing.  I need to enjoy this time while I still have it.

13 Weeks

I just started my 13th week! I'm not exactly sure how much I should be showing at this point, but I'm definitely not fitting into my pants much these days. I guess it could just be the In'NOut I ate yesterday, but here's a "belly pic" none-the-less. Finally proof that I'm not making it all up...

Just a Friendly Reminder

I just wanted to remind all my friendly Crabby Rangoon readers that I've recently revived my craft blog The Tilted Tulip. Take a gander over there if you're feeling frisky...

He's Ever So Clever

Eating for 1.5

Much to my chagrin, all the pregnancy books refute the common notion that a pregnant woman is "eating for two."  They, in fact, suggest that a woman increase her daily caloric intake by a mere 300 calories to compensate for the hungry, hungry child growing within her belly.  

After my husband returned last night from a late-night grocery store run to buy me a box of vegetarian corndogs (yes, I am that stereo-typical, funny food-craving pregnant woman), I did a quick calculation.  If each corndog has 150 calories, then I can should eat 2 a day until my little wonder is born in order to give him the adequate nutrition he needs.  

That computes, right?  

October 8th

Since it's been ages since I've graced my fine readers (all three of you!) with a proper post, I figured I'd treat you to something a little special today--an announcement!  

I'm pregnant!  

Yup, it's finally that time of my life for me to buckle down and learn what it means to be a parent.  Our due date is October 8th, 2009 and just for kicks, we're not going to find out the sex in advance NOR reveal our top baby names.  Nope.  No sir-ee.  Not gonna do it.  So don't ask me about it (or I'll probably cave).  

Rumor has it that in just a couple more weeks, I'll start feeling more human again (as opposed to the combination of sleeping and groaning that currently consumes my days), and some pregnancy books even promise me I'll get a boost in energy once I'm past the first trimester!  That would be lovely indeed.  So although I make no promises, I'll do my best to give this humble blog a bit more love and devotion in the months to come.  

That's all for now.  It's time to go feed the belly...

To see our first sonogram, click here

3-D is my new Best Friend

Matt and I saw the movie Coraline 3-D last night.  Whoa.  Uh-mazing.  I want to watch it over and over and over again.  It helps that I'm already so in love with the book and can't wait to read it to my own kids and give them the heebie-geebies about the "other mother", but it still went way above what I was expecting.  AND, they handed out these uber-cool 3-D specs that made the whole audience look totally hip and googly-eyed.  Go 3-D or go home, folks.  It's worth the extra $3.  

Ostrich Eggcellence

Today Phil and Relissa hosted the First Annual Ostrich Brunch and Matt and I were honored to attend. Holy yolks, folks. Or one yolk, to be more precise. Whoa. For more details, Matt tells the whole story in pictures on his flickr set. It will blow your mind. Or maybe just make you hungry.