Happy Thanksgiving!



We were grateful this Thanksgiving that Gram and Pop headed out to CA again this year to keep us company for the holiday.  As usual, Andrew loved having visitors and was very excited to see Gram and Pop.  Below are a bunch of pictures that captured some of the Pre-Turkey Day fun we had during their visit. 

 

The Saturday before Thanksgiving, we headed to Treasure Island (off the Bay Bridge on the way to San Fran) and came across a flea market that had "snow" for the kids to play in... it really wasn't very impressive, but Andrew had fun throwing a snowball or two.

He's throwing Leftie.

Very interesting sculpture!

City Skyline

(We missed you Amanda!)

After Treasure Island, we went to Berkeley for lunch and then back to the trains we rode last year at a nearby Regional Park.  Between Pop and Andrew, I don't know who enjoyed the trains more (although you'll have to take my word for it, because these pics don't make it look like Andrew enjoyed himself as much as he really did)!

They were not expecting the steam to release here!

On Sunday, we headed out to Del Valle Regional Park for a short hike and then headed to our favorite winery - Bent Creek.  Minus Andrew falling backwards on a chair and crashing his head against the pavement (and me not being able to drink away the anxiety that caused afterwards), it was a really nice afternoon to get outside and enjoy the sun and our company.

 

Can you find Mike and Andrew?  Yes, he walked all the way down and up carrying Andrew!

And he climbed a tree with him too!

Pics at the winery - loved the light.. not so much the expressions I was capturing!

The day before Thanksgiving, Mike and I took off work, and the group of us piled into the car for a trip to San Francisco to visit the California Academy of Science for their holiday exhibits.  They had snow falling from the ceiling, shows about penguins and live reindeer. 

Some outside fun before our big turkey dinner:

I forgot to take a picture of our pretty table setting before we sat down... so just pretend our napkins are folded!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Sweet Things... Updated Baby Blog

25 Weeks – Oct. 8th - Well, I wish this was a “feel good” entry, but I’m preoccupied and stressed by the fact that I failed my gestational diabetes screening test last week.  I’m trying to remind myself of the stats.  Apparently, 25% of women fail this initial screening test and only 5% end up actually being treated for gestational diabetes.  The numbers from my screening weren’t drastically off (150 when the cutoff is 140), so my treatment would be diet, exercise and additional blood tests and ultrasounds… assuming I failed my second test, which is the part I’m most stressed about.  The first test went like this:  I showed up to the lab and drank a pony bottle of flat orange soda that had 50 grams of glucose in 5 minutes.  At first, I thought that this test seemed much better than the one with Andrew.  The orange flavor didn’t seem as bad as the lemon lime one I had with him.  But, after 4 minutes of trying to get this stuff down, I was not sure I was going to make it.  I did.  And then I sat for an hour in the waiting room, feeling like pretty horrible, before they called me back and drew blood.   Since I failed this test, I will have to take a 4 hour test: This time, I will have to fast overnight, have my blood drawn, then drink 100 grams of glucose in 5 minutes, and then for the next 3 hours, get my blood drawn every hour.  L  I AM NOT looking forward to it.

26 Weeks – Oct. 21st – This week, Grammy was out visiting, so your father and I took advantage of having a babysitter to go see the hospital you will be born in… and to have a nice dinner out by ourselves.  I’m glad we went on the tour, because it made me that much more excited for your arrival!  We were one of the only parents on the tour that were second timers, and the only ones who will have a scheduled C-section.  I think your father ended up scaring the soon-to-be new moms with stories of your brother's birth.  His excuse was, “They were asking questions, so I just answered!”  Oh well, it did remind me just how much easier it will be this time – knowing when you’re arriving, what will happen, and now, where we’ll be too.  It really is exciting to imagine your arrival is just a couple short months away!

28 Weeks – Nov 2nd - We’ve  made it to the 3^rd Trimester!  Only 11 more weeks until you’re born!  I’m writing this from the lab where I’m having my glucose tolerance test… and I’m half way done the test.  I fasted, had my blood drawn, drank the yucky solution, laid down for an hour (with warmed blankets!), had my blood drawn again, and now am writing until my next blood draw in 20 minutes.  I saw Dr. Salata this week (and will be seeing her every 2 weeks instead of every month going forward) and we chatted about my glucose test.  I am planning on going this weekend, but am not too optimistic about the results - Dr. Salata informed me I had sugar in my urine sample and (according to their measurements) I had gained 8 lbs since my last visit… double what I should in a month.  Since it took me so long to start gaining weight, I have been watching it fairly closely, and my scale does not say that I gained 8 pounds in 4 weeks. So, I’m hoping that discrepancy was just the result of a careless nurse and/or wearing heavier clothes.  I will be happy when this test is over and done with and we know the results – one way or the other.

The morning of the test...

29 Weeks – Nov 10th - WHEW!  I passed!  Bring on the cakes and cookies - I can breathe a big sigh of relief!  And, I could actually enjoy my brief trip home for work and some time with family and friends this past week.  You and I flew back to PA on Wednesday for a couple of days work in the office, and then a full day at home before flying back to CA on Sunday.  (You either loved or hated flying… not sure which one, but you squirmed as we took off into the air.)  Friday night, Aunt Amanda and I went to Grammy’s for dinner and Grammy threw me a very nice "Sprinkle" – Mom-Mom, Aunt Cyndie, Aunt Barb, Julie and Andrea were all there (poor Wendy and Brooke had to stay home sick).  They had adorable decorations, cookies and delicious food (as usual) to help celebrate... and lots of very cute gifts for you!  Then on Saturday, after I had a wonderful prenatal massage in the morning, Aunt Amanda and I met Andrea, Jen, Miranda and Kim for brunch at Domani Star – where they threw me another Sprinkle.  I ended up going back to CA with one of Aunt Amanda’s extra bags – 40 lbs full of baby clothes!  It was so exciting to get all these adorable little outfits – I cannot wait to dress you up!

 

Left to Right - Miranda, Kim, Me, Jen, Aunt Amanda, Andrea

Looking through hand me downs at Jen's house! 
Wow that is a LOT of clothes!