25 weeks

more than half way done at this point

total weight gain: 11 pounds
(i think thats because we were on vacation eating ice cream and cookies after dinner everyday
 and i haven't been to the gym in over 3 weeks!)
officially looking and feeling pregnant
getting in/out of bed, i feel like a whale washing up to shore amongst the waves, rolling till i get myself to the edge
our couch is the most uncomfortable place to sit, its too deep, too high, very challenging to get situated and into a comfortable position
i do like to sit in a normal chair or on the floor instead

i was sharing with a friend that i only have 15 weeks left, and then we get to meet out little Pip
she said, "oh thats when i started the count down when i was pregnant"
and i thought...OMW, i am not ready for a count down...no where close am i ready,
15 weeks still feels like a long ways away
i have so much to do between now and then
i can't even fathom thinking of being ready for a countdown

the belly band and cocoa butter are both my best friends at this point.
i wear the belly band everyday...and love that it keeps my stomach feeling secure,
as it helps my skin feel held together and protected
the cocoa butter helps with the itchiness and the incredible tightness that has a slight painful/uncomfortable component to it. 
the discomfort is definitely worse at the end of the day than in the morning.

it is quite bizarre to be on the back half of this pregnancy already, it truly has FLOWN by.
and i know it will continue to  fly by as we are so incredibly busy going into this holiday season.
i think i'll start  my countdown 30 days or 4 days prior to my due date...tbd at this point.

on another note: here we are when the Giants won the World Series last week

we were amongst friends at a friends house and every time there was a play, home run, etc...
everyone would errupt in cheering and clapping; and then Pip would start kicking like crazy!
he was very much aware of all the noise and commotion going on around him.

he does move lots more; more so i can feel him more as he is getting bigger (gaining 6-8 ounces a week!)
it feels a lot like i have a churning in my stomach; one similar to the feeling when you know you're going to throw up and you can feel a lot of movement in your stomach before you hurl...
well it feels like that, without needing to run to the sink.
it more constant movement, and predominately more on one side than the other; so that must be his feet, right?
again, i am new to this, so its all a guess at this point.

kauai. oct 2012. final installment

memories...

day one in kauai
DB and i woke up early to go for a walk and to catch the sunrise



day one...at the beach


family at sunset


DB didn't read the sign


apple cobbler on the beach


early morning snorkeling for him, coffee for her


the belly bump...its getting bigger


brendan bought me a new hat...and i love it:)


vacation....how sweet it is



i really like hawaii


i really appreciate this guy. his planning, his organization and his adventurous spirit



on our last evening, we raced out for the sunset

i love how every night it the sunset was different and magnificent.

on our last day we again caught the sunrise before heading off to the airport




going home...


we realized, this might be out last flight just the two of us.
typically on our way home from vacations or trips, we discuss the next one, 
but at this time, we don't have any plane tickets on the horizon

kauai. oct 2012. part 2

kauai continues....

(above: one of my favorites, the sunset and DB)
DB bought me an iphone before we left, which poses such a threat to my DSLR.
i took almost equal amounts of photos with my new phone versus my camera.
the total, almost 800 photos.
completely normal for me and us when on vacation.
hence....kauai is posted in stages; as i have to comb through them and find the ones that tell our vacation best.

the Na Pali Coast.
DB, the planner, the adventurer, our tour guide and one who likes to explore.
he took us to both sides of the Na Pali coast; being that it can only been seen by foot, by helicopter or my boat; we drove as far as we could and hiked to see the little of it we could see.
and it was pretty spectacular.
from the west side,



from my phone



from the east side
DB did part of the 11 mile hike up/out to see the coast, i stayed on the beach:)
all of these are uneditted





(im on the beach down there...)

Waimea Canyon
its like the grand canyon of hawaii .... amazing, breath taking!





hidden beaches,on the Poipu side of the island,
we took a dirt road until its end, and then kept walking...



brothers!

so fun it was to spend time with this guy

brendan is incredibly funny, witty and clever...
i really appreciate how he can make his brother laugh like no one else can


i spy DB

kauai. oct 2012. part 1.

we just got back from our second annual fall trip to hawaii....last year all parents joined us; this year my parents weren't able to make it...but next year, they better get on that plane!
we really did miss them....DB mentioned one afternoon...
"its a bummer your parents are here, they'd really like this..."
 
we are already looking forward to next year; if only we could agree on which island to visit
i vote maui he votes going back to kauai.....either way, i'll be one happy camper!
and next year....little Pip will be joining us too (outside the womb)!
 
our trip went by way too quick...but it was amazing to get out of town, enjoy the slow paced life that hawaii has to offer, and to spend time with his family and also get some quality time just the two of us.
(which is rare with our busy schedules; yet incredibly sweet when it happens)

one of my goals for the trip was to see the sunset as many evenings as possible
and we made that happen 6 out of the 7 nights; in addition to 2 sunrises.
such a treat!



going into the trip i didn't know being pregnant would have been an "issue"; maybe i didn't do enough research or look into it; but when we were attempting to book day trips, adventures and excursions it was quickly noted that pregnant women aren't allowed to sail, going on dinner cruises up the Na Pali coast, kayak, tube through the sugar cane tunnels and we pregnant ladies are discouraged from the many strenuous hikes that are prominent throughout the Kauai island.
i was a little discouraged and didn't like being told what i couldn't do; but i kind-of-quickly was able to realize that it was all for safety and the life of mr pip is more important than my adventurous spirit.
luckily, DB did find a kayak company that would let me kayak, which was incredibly safe; except for the cliff jumping part of the excursion i simply opted out of joining.
here are the boys jumping

here i am happy to be kayaking

and the whole family