Fulfilling an Awful Request

With only 3 days to go before Baby D makes her debut, I'm finding myself with way too much time on my hands. I just put 14 books on hold at the library thinking that they will fill the next three days, but I know I'll probably get through one or two before Friday and who knows after that...

My sister and her husband got me a new digital camera for an awesome baby shower gift a little while back. With that gift came the obligation of taking pictures at their request to keep them updated since they live out of state. I didn't think I would mind so much. I thought I would be excited to take pictures of Baby D and to keep myself engaged in my new found love of digital scrapbooking and blogging... Then came the request:

"Hey Dean, do you have a profile pic?"

"You mean like for my FaceBook profile? Ya."

"No like a profile pic."

"Oh, you mean a side-view of me 9+ months pregnant?"

"Ya!"

"No."

"Oh."

And so came the request. After over nine months of dodging the bullet, I had come face-to-face with my pregnancy image monster. If the request had come from anyone else this post would stay in the closet with the rest of my skeletons, but since it's from my two favorite siblings who gave me a camera for just this reason, here goes:

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So there it is ladies and gentlemen. I call this image "D35" since that's how many pounds I've gained to date. I noted that you can click any of my ScrapPages to enlarge, but I don't really think it is necessary for this one! Some women love to take a profile picture every month to document the "baby's journey of growth in the womb." Not me. I was fortunate enough to have an ultrasound just about every month once I found out I was pregnant so I could track Baby D's growth without lumping my "bump" in there with her. At least I got it over with. Phew!

Finding Catharsis in a Camera,

D

My Chubby Cherub

I went for my 31 week ultrasound this week. The tech confirmed that it is definitely a girl! I would have been excited and happy either way, but I am very excited to just know for a fact what I'm having. In the middle of the ultrasound the tech stops and says, "Wow!" It kind of freaked me out. She went on to clarify, "that baby has some impressive cheeks!" I looked at the screen, and sure enough my little pudgy girl was there. You can see in one of the pictures a massive chub of a cheek on my baby girl already. Is there anything better than a chubby baby though? I don't think so.

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Ever Swelling and Smiling,

D

Color-Coordinated Days

Boy is life busy these days! I started school back in mid-August, but only now with my first round of midterms behind me am I feeling the full-force of this semester. I have only one semester left to earn my Associates degree. I've been playing catch-up with my degree ever since I did the whole "military thing" right out of high school. My degree is an AA in Transfer Studies which gets all of my general education requirements out of the way so I'll only have upper-division coursework when I transfer.


This semester I am taking 14 units, which consist of:

• Music: Theory
• Music: Vocal Technique
• Music: Concert Choir
• Music: Piano
• American Cinema (Film)
• English: Research and Writing
• English: Critical Thinking and Writing

Having school six days every week gets a little overwhelming, but I've been blessed with impeccable organization skills which I have decided to implement. (I think the implementation is what makes the difference this semester... ha ha) For whatever reason, I don't think organization reaches it's fullest potential unless it is color coordinated. This, for example, is my weekly planner broken down by week, day, and hour, with color-coded to-do lists for each class and other miscellaneous things:

Yes, every week looks like that. At least until Thanksgiving which is when almost all of my professors have allowed to me to end my semester instead of mid-December. Otherwise, I would be due the week before finals and that's just no bueno.

Nothing else is really new or exciting, I've been too busy for new and exciting! I have another ultrasound next week, so that's something to look forward to. I actually have a few fun things this month that will be a nice break from school, first starting with General Conference this weekend. General Conference is when the leaders of the Church all gather and broadcast to the world a number of inspired messages in a series of meetings twice a year. I'm really looking forward to it.

Other than getting more "robust" (to say the least) and more learned (or so I hope!), everything is the same-ol' same-ol'.

Increasing in Belly and Brains,

D

Starting At 100

As many of you now know, I am expecting in December! I'm excited that today is officially 100 days until my due date (tho I realize the chances of Baby D arriving on that exact day are pretty slim). I found out in early June, but it took some time to gather family to let them all know at once. Announcement day came and went, and not only was it a great birthday lunch, but everyone was an amazing support to my surprise news.

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My last ultrasound was a blast! I trekked from the East Bay all the way to Roseville (passed Sacramento), but had the chance to see Baby D in 3D in realtime! It was truly AMAZING! I kept saying "Oh my!", "Wow!", "That's awesome!" and the tech commented that I must be really excited to be a mom. I told him I was, but at the moment I was more awed by the technology that allowed me to see Baby D, flabby arms, button nose, and all! Gender is inconclusive as of yet with the most recent verdict being "Today she is a girl, but I make no promises." Whatever that means...

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So this blog is here to document not only Baby D's first steps (eventually), but my first steps into Motherhood. It's also to keep my family and friends posted on my adventures when Baby D does decide to arrive and keep us all connected as I continue to travel as my move to DC is still in the plans for Spring of next year. For now, my blog URL is premature, but all too soon will reflect my daily endeavors and adventures. Feel free to comment as I would love to hear from you all.

Grateful, Grinning, and Growing!

D