Namaste, Baby

Not so long ago, I used to LOVE going to hot yoga classes. I had asked at the time if it would be OK for me to continue going to class once I was pregnant. Sounds crazy but those classes are very addictive. A good yoga class can provide an inner peace, a general calm, a resetting of your priorities within the chaos that is often my life. If I had a realy bad day, I knew going to yoga would release all that tension and I could go home to a great night's rest. Why wouldn't I want to continue my practice?

So, you can imagine my surprise now that I am pregnant how many excuses I make as to why I can't go. So much so, that I'm now 17 weeks along and haven't been to yoga once. I'm too tired, I have too much to do, they aren't holding prenatal yoga classes, etc., etc., etc. Last night was the first night that I went. And, I decided since it had been a while that I'd try just an all-level yoga clas, not the typical hot yoga class that I had enjoyed. It was most definitely a challenge. For one, I have to modify some of my asanas because being pregnant I'm not supposed to twist or do any inversions. For two, I needed to honor and respect the fact that I was no longer at the level I once was in strength, endurance or balance. Perfect example: chaturanga. This asana requires a good amount of strength and endurance, especially during several sets in a row. Cobra is sort of an alternative to this, but your thighs should graze the floor. Imagine my surprise when I realize 1) how difficult it is for me to even muster the strength to do the push-up like move, and 2) that my belly is already uncomfortable smooching into the floor. So, I sort of had to modify it into a girlie push-up, butt in the air. I was a little bummed at that, but ultimately I submitted to the fact that I was there and doing what I could do. Just going through the process, I was still able to feel that inner peace in the end.

But my pivotal moment in the class was as I lay on my back, stretching our legs out with bands and feeling Baby start its little "bump-bump" dance. Like "Hey, Mommy, I'm here and I'm excercising too, see.....". And, as I placed my hand on my belly, this was the first time that I could feel Baby through my belly. Strong but light. That moment in itself, although hard to describe, was worth it to attend the class.

Most people find it hard to believe that I'd feel movements so early, but I do. Tommy being one of those skeptics. So, last night when I got home, laying on the couch, Baby started bumping around again. I told Tommy to quickly come over and feel the baby. I was afraid he'd miss it, but sure enough Baby thumped a few more times. His eyes just popped open, "oh, my Gosh, that's pretty hard." He just smiled. It was a really great night.

The Blossoming Belly

This was Baeleigh's expression as Tommy took the first pics of my blossoming belly. Says it all doesn't it. Sort of like the Flintstone's commercial - 16 weeks....and grooowing! I've added a "Pregnancy Pics" link to the left for those that want to follow the expanding belly.

Baby loves dancing in my belly, and always at the most opportune times. I had some late public meetings this past week. And, as I operated the PowerPoint, I guess Baby decided it was time to do a little dance. Reminds me of the Ally McBeal shows with the dancin' baby --- ooga-ooga -ooga-chucka-ooga-ooga-chucka. Through the whole 30 minutes of presentations as I leaned over to advanced the slides, I couldn't help but smirk as I felt Baby dancing around in there, having a grand ol' time. There were a couple of slides, where the presenter had already nodded at me, and I suppose my mind had drifted off to giggle at the movements.

As for cravings, this baby is similar to Baeleigh in that I LOVE carbs (mayonnaise bread..I can see Tommy cringing now), cheese, Coke, and tomatoes (though this one LOVES caprese salads, not necessarily the fried ones I ate with Bae). I have to say there are some new cravings as well - lots of raw veggies, apples, pickles. Mmmmm, pickles...I think I need to go search the fridge now.

What are Those Flutters I'm Feeling In My Belly?

Recently I've begin feeling little flutters here and there. I know it's kind of early but I felt the same thing early on with Baeleigh. Sometimes it's just like a tickle, other times it's like something just scrambling around inside me for a couple seconds. It just feels like there's a little action going on in there.

So, Tommy sent me this little video to explain exactly what's going on in there. Leave it to Tommy. As if one little race-crazy daugher isn't enough.. :)

Guess What?!..... Baeleigh's Going to Be A Big Sister

It took two positive (though I'll give him somewhat faint) pregnancy tests and one visit to the OB/GYN for Tommy to believe that I was pregnant with our second child. And, whether he wanted to believe me or not then, I knew I was even without those tests. This is a sonogram of Baby at about 9 weeks. Kinda looks like a little dinosaur with a big round belly. The heartbeat is strong and every thing looks great. Baby is due to arrive July 16. Of course, we'd like to have a little boy to complete our family, but we'd be just as excited for a healthy, happy baby no matter if it's a boy or girl.

We almost feel as if this'll be like our first experience with Baeleigh. We've sort of forgotten about the sleepless nights, frequent feedings, and endless diaper changing. Diapers seem like so long ago, even though we only gave up Pull-ups back in February. I'm sort of looking forward to it though. It isn't often that I get cuddle time with Baeleigh any more. Miss Independent is "a big girl now". I never really minded the late night feedings anyway. We're crossing our fingers that we're as lucky with this baby as we've been with Baeleigh. She sleeps well, has a great personality, is very social and has really turned into my little sidekick. We're very fortunate. We wonder will paybacks be in the next child? Naaahhhhhhh...

Santa Comes Down the Chinimey

This is really the first year that Baeleigh has really understood the concept of Santa Claus. But ask her what she wanted this year and you'd get quite an interesting response. It might consist of one thing she might actually want like a baby doll, then it would quickly switch to things like "a car, a truck, a house, a tree". In other words, whatever she passed by...say, in the car. Hopefully, this means she'll come to appreciate what I like most about Christmas - spending time with family, celebrating our health and happiness together.

Last year, we had four houses to knock out in one day, including our own, which was very trying for us, especially with a 3-year old. There's only so much Christmas you can take in one day you know - at least the gift opening part. We never really felt like we could relax and enjoy being around our friends and family. It was more just a mad rush to get to the next house. So, this year we decided to have my parents and Shaun join us for Christmas morning at our house. And, although this only cuts out one house for us, it made a world of difference. Tommy and I still had our sanity intact by House #3 - my Aunt Vickie's - and Baeleigh was still raring to go. Granted, she's one year older now to and that helps too. I hope we can continue this tradition next year. I'll just have to take over the hash brown duties until my Mom masters the non-stick pan.

I thought I'd share a little video of Baeleigh tutoring us on how Santa gets the gifts in our house, "Santa Comes Down the Chinimey". I can't seem to figure it out though. Her version of "chimney" reminds me fondly of my Grandma's Southern "Chimley" pronunciation. Love it. I wish I could also share Baeleigh's version of "Okey Dokey" but unfortunately we didn't catch it (though I think Pop-Pop did). It was "Dokio". Hilarious.

As you can see, the child could not want for more. I think she got all she wanted and more. (Yes, it was a requirement to wear her pink boots with her pj's through the entire Christmas morning.) And, as for Tommy and I, we got want we wanted to, some cherished time together and enjoying family and friends.

P.S. Notice Maximus is already eyeing Baeleigh's stocking as she digs into it. I guess instead of sugar plums, he's dreaming of all the chocolate that might be left on the floor.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

NMRA Factory Stock Champion AND Rookie of the Year

Tommy and I flew down to Orlando to the 2007 National Mustang Racer Association's Award Ceremony for him to accept his award as NMRA's Factory Stock Champion. I think this is the first time I've had Tommy in a suit since our vacation to the Homestead. It was also the first time that I've seen him nervous in a long time. This would be his first speech in front of a very large audience. And, although he unexpectedly won Rookie of the Year as well, he did a great job on both speeches. It's a huge accomplishment to win both in the same year.

He thinks I don't know what I started, but I have a better idea than what he thinks -- as if he hasn't raced for the last seven years that we've been together. I'm glad I could be there to experience this accomplishment with him. I know how important this is to him and I'm excited to see him chasing his dream.

Here's to a new race season, which starts in just three short months.

ChuckaCheese, Where A Kid Can Be Kid

When I asked Baeleigh what she wanted to do for her birthday, her response was "ChuckaCheese". I had no idea she even knew what this place was, she'd never been there. I followed up with, "What do you do at Chuck E Cheese?" "Play games and eat pizza, silly!" Excuse me. ChuckaCheese it is!

With about 9 kids to help Baeleigh celebrate her 4th birthday, I had originally thought this would be easier than holding it at our house. I mean the birthday slot was from 2pm - 3:30pm. An hour and a half of pure chaos and it was all over, no clean-up! The older, wiser Crissy now knows better.

Mistake #1: Smartly avoiding the lunch hour, only to instead overlap the party with nap time (at least for Baeleigh).

Mistake #2: Thinking I could smoothly coordinate nine kids and parents through a well-choreographed 1 and a 1/2 hour party. Itinerary, i-shiminerary. I think that went out the door at minute 5 of the party, when I had about 2 kids actually in attendance.

Mistake #3: Assuming that my husband, the boy that never grew up, would be there to help me through this without running off to play video games himself (excuse me: winning tickets for Baeleigh). I think he played basketball for like 2, maybe 3, hours straight.

Mistake #4: Dreaming that I would get out of there in 1 and 1/2 hours.

I may have lost my sanity in the process, but in the end all that matters is that Baeleigh and all the kids had a blast. Baeleigh was DRAGGED out of ChuckaCheese around 5:45pm.

I'll note one last thing though: I commend Chuck-E-Cheese on their hand stamp system. Baeleigh and I were both marked with a invisible stamp so that if she left with someone she shouldn't be, the stamps wouldn't match and therefore she wouldn't be allowed out. If I had known what they were doing going in, I think I would have saved myself a lot of energy in worrying where my daughter had run off to next.