9/11 – 10 years later

10 years ago today I was just a sophomore in college glued to the TV with the rest of the world watching as the terrorist attacks unfolded. It is hard to grasp that 10 years have already come and gone and today I sit again watching as we remember those who lost their lives.

Only today, I can’t stop crying. I have a different perspective. I am heartbroken for each of the children who woke up on 9/12/2001 without a mom or dad. Even though Reed is not here yet, it is true that motherhood changes you. I think he is better off in my womb today, because if he were in my arms I may squeeze just a little too hard just to let him know how much I love him. I can only pray that Matt and I will be able to live long enough to watch him grow up and see what type of man he will become.  

How can anyone, no matter their intentions and skewed perceptions, watch today and feel proud of their “accomplishment” of the 9/11 attacks?

My heart goes out to all of those that lost their loved ones 10 years ago today. I only hope we can find even ground in the near future to ensure that this never happens again, on local or foreign soil.  

Belly Business - 30 Weeks

How far along: 30 weeks

Size of the baby: Head of Cabbage – we had a 30 week ultrasound today and Baby Reed is measuring in the 89^th percentile. They are estimating him at 3lbs 13oz already! I have a feeling he is going to be one big boy.  

Total weight gain/loss: I weighed in at the Doctors office today and the news was better than I thought – 18lbs total gain. If I stick to the 1lb per week from this point forward it will put me at 28lbs total gain. I can work that off, right?

Maternity Clothes: I really need to buy more. My clothing selection is slim, but I am so close to the finish line I can’t bring myself to spend $$ on clothes I won’t wear for long. I’m going to have to break down this week or next to buy a dress for Matt Johnson’s wedding.

Cravings: Nothing in particular

Symptoms: Back pains and occasional heartburn… still 

Movement: Every day! He was having fun today during his ultrasound squirming all around and then gave the doctor a couple kicks a few hours later. Guess he doesn’t like being prodded. Either way, he is extremely strong and active.  

Gender predictions: No need to guess, it's a boy

Name: Reed Stewart Tuel

 Out and about after Irene came through

Weeks, Months, Trimesters

I will be 30 weeks pregnant on Wednesday. Easy enough right? What is so confusing is how that translates into months and trimesters.

I've been thinking that since I am due on November 9th, that on October 9th I'd be 8 months, and on September 9th I'd be 7 months - putting me today at 6 1/2 months pregnant. Then I read a friend’s Facebook post that is due at the same time and she said she is at 7 1/2 months. So confusing!

So I looked it up. Is this right? According to the chart below, I am days shy of 30 weeks, nearly 8 months and in my third trimester. Not that it really matters, but all of a sudden I feel a lot further along.

Random Thoughts

Update on Child Care:

We are definitely going the route of a nanny share for baby Reed. It is so nice to know we have found a great family, the Emricks, to raise our little nugget with. Anne and Brian are due in just a couple of weeks, and I can’t wait to find out what they are having. They live just a couple blocks from us in Charlestown. We have decided that since their place has more space the babies will stay there with the nanny full time instead of switching back and forth. Now we just have to find a nannyJ I hear sittercity.com is a great resource, but we can’t use it until we are three months out from the start date which will be January 1^st. I guess I just have to be patient.

Update on the Cabin:

The inspection went really well and the appraisal came back much higher than we expected. Matt and I are so excited about our little country escape. The cabin is set on two acres. It is a little less than two and a half hours from Boston nestled on the border of the White Mountains in Bethlehem, NH. It is about a ten minute drive to a couple of our favorite ski slopes and five miles away from the second largest lake in New Hampshire so we can get the most out of it year round. I am beating myself up because we have only been out to it once and I didn’t take any pictures. We are looking forward to our first family Thanksgiving with baby Reed up in the White Mountains! It will become one of many Tuel family traditions.

Natural Disasters:

This week has been a crazy one in the North East for natural disasters. When the earthquake hit Virginia on Tuesday I was out visiting our Charlotte office. I was in a meeting with one of my reps when the building apparently shook. Honestly, I don’t think I noticed it, but the rep I was meeting with said I stopped talking grabbed my stomach paused and then kept going. He didn’t want to interrupt me so he didn’t mention it until later. About 10 minutes later, I jumped on the phone with another one of my reps in Toronto and he said I should be glad I wasn’t there because they were having a crazy day. I asked what he meant, and he said that everyone was freaking out because they had just had an earthquake.  I jumped on CNN and learned that we had both been shaken by the same quake. Pretty Crazy!

Now it is time to turn our focus towards Hurricane Irene? Last year at about this same time, there was another hurricane threatening the east coast, but all we got was a couple hours of rain and light wind. It sounds like this threat is a little more serious, but I’m not too worried about it right now. If it hits New York, then I’ll start freaking out. Until then, I’ll just keep watching the news like everyone else hoping Irene loses strength and changes course on her way here.

Baby Shower:

I just got the invite for my baby shower in Texas and they are so cute! My beastie’s did such a great job on the theme and the invites. I can only imagine what they have in store for the shower. They know how much I love Texas Tech football, so guess what the theme is J Now I just need to find an outfit to stretch over baby Reed. I found these super cute tanks (see below), but I can’t find one for Texas Tech. Not Cool!  For those of my girlfriends who will be coming and have babies of your own, bring them! I can’t wait to see everyone and their new additions!!

Belly Business - Week 29

How far along: 29 weeks
Size of the baby: Butternut Squash (two 1/2 pounds and 15 inches long)

Total weight gain/loss: I cheated last week and jumped on a scale and then did it again today. What is my problem? Do I like to torture myself? I think I have gained nearly 20lbs and I am freaking out over it! Here is a skype conversation I had with Matt today:

[1:10:46 PM] Debbie Tuel: I was doing so good today, cereal, fruit, coffee, peanut butter and jelly sandwich with chips... then somehow some ego waffles ended up on my plate?

[1:30:17 PM] Matt Tuel: Hahah...that had me laughing

[1:31:07 PM] Debbie Tuel: I am so weak... and Reed is making me so fat J

[1:34:29 PM] Matt Tuel: Not true...Reed is just getting big.  Don't forget he is my son and a boy...you know how much I like to eat!

Maternity Clothes: Here and there, although when I wear non maternity the pants/skirt zippers won’t even budge. So they have to be held on tight with the BeBand and my tops/dresses are getting nice and stretched out. I thought for this week’s picture it would be kind of fun to put on the same thing I wore when I took my first belly picture. Reed (aka me) is getting big!

Cravings: Nothing in particular, but I am still eating lots of sweets. Good news – I called the doctor’s office after not hearing anything back from my blood test a couple weeks back and they said all my levels look great! No gestational diabetes and still a strong pregnancy.

Symptoms: Back pains and occasional heartburn… have I mentioned back pains?  

Movement: Every day! It is my new favorite thing to just sit and watch my belly. It is so crazy to actually be able to watch him move inside me. I can’t pick out what body parts they are yet, but my stomach looks like it has been taken over by aliens.

Gender predictions: No need to guess, it's a boy

Name: Reed Stewart Tuel

First Picture of the "bump" at 13 wks:

Same outfit (black tights and undershirt) at 29 wks:

Belly Business - 28 Weeks

How far along: 28 weeks
Size of the baby: Chinese Cabbage?? Not sure what that is… (two ¼ pounds and 15 inches long)

Total weight gain/loss: 15 lbs as of last week. Next doctor’s visit is the 1^st of September, and I don’t plan on stepping on a scale until then J

Maternity Clothes: Here and there – Today’s pick is a non-maternity top with my favorite gap maternity jeans! They are more like jeggings, but you would have no idea they are maternity. The front looks completely normal, and the elastic back doesn’t look elastic. Love them!

Cravings: Nothing in particular, but I am still eating lots of sweets. No word on the Glucose test from last week. No word is good, right? 

Symptoms: Back pains and occasional heartburn, but I really can’t complain.

Movement: Every day! I think Reed is going to love food just as much as his daddy and I do. He is most active after I eat. I sit in amazement of the reality of this little guys growing and moving inside of me every day. It really is mind blowing when you think about it.

Gender predictions: No need to guess, it's a boy

Name: Reed Stewart Tuel

Holy Stollers!

We still have three months to go, but I feel really prepared for baby Reed’s arrival. Most of the decisions that we have needed to make up to this point have been relatively easy. Registering was fun and although there were a lot of options, I have felt pretty good about our picks and have had lots of help and feedback from other mothers.

However, when it came to picking the right stroller, I have been plagued for the last few months! Here is what I needed:

1.       We live in the city - I need something that does well in urban spaces. Boston has lots of coble stone streets and uneven pavement, so I need something durable and easy to maneuver.

2.       We have a small condo – with only 1150 sq ft I only want one stroller. I don’t have the storage space for more than one, so I need a stroller that can take Reed from infant to toddler. I also need something that is light weight, folds up easily and is compact.

3.       We only have one car – and don’t use it outside of driving Matt to and from work other than weekend trips. For that reason, we are not buying a car seat that has a base, but one that stays in the car and again will take Reed from infant to toddler and beyond. So I need a stroller that accommodates an infant without snapping in a car seat.

4.       We are buying a vacation home in the mountains – I am not a runner, but we do camp and hike so I need a stroller that can go off roading with us.

After my first round of research, I was set on the UppaBaby Vista. It seemed like a perfect fit, especially with the removable bassinet. Then a couple weekends ago, I was in New York and every other stroller that passed by was the Maclaren XT. It seemed so much smaller than the Vista, and so the torment continued. Throw in the fact that jogging strollers seem to be the best for transitioning from city to country and I was a mess.

Yesterday, Matt and I finally made our way to a specialty store in Boston to talk to an expert, test drive the different options and make a decision. We walked out with a stroller I had never even considered! The Bumbleride Indie. We had to order it, but I can not wait until it comes in! Who thought that picking out a stroller could be so hard or exciting? I can’t believe I am even writing this blog entry as we speak.

Benefits of the Bumbleride Indie?

·         It is one of the only Jogging Strollers that fully reclines flat for infants. It also includes an infant headrest and shoulder straps. The foot rest even adjusts to lay flat.

·         Has a SPF 45 UV lined sun canopy and the fabric is water repellant for use 365 days a year.

·         Weighs less than 20 lbs and folds compact quickly. If we need to fit it in an even tighter space, the wheels can be removed.

·         The handle bar adjusts for both me and Matt to use comfortably.

·         It is an all-terrain stroller with rear wheel suspension and maneuvers with one hand for both easy use in the city and country.

·         It has the option for a foot muff to keep Reed warm in the winter.

The list goes on and on, but the best part is it checks each of the boxes I needed!! Mission accomplished!