Belly Pics from Mother's Day

Here I am at 28 weeks. Well, actually BABY is 28 weeks, not me, I'm considerably older than that......

Sometimes from the front, you can't really tell (unless I'm holding my stomach, as shown). I just look a little bigger. But from the side, it looks like I swallowed a basketball.

Dresses and cardigans are my new bestest friends as they camouflage well the poundage placed on my upper arms, thighs and fanny. Well, at least I tell myself that they do.

Spring in New York

And I don't mean the "new York". I mean the Big Apple. The city.

Took my last airplane trip (at least for awhile) to New York City. I went with my best friend Ali, who just so happens to have a very cool sister who works as an assistant costume designer on broadway. Ah, it's good to have connections.

Anyway we enjoyed central park, Brooklyn's botanical garden, Times Square, shopping and the highlight: 2 broadway shows including the opening night of American Idiot by Green Day. Of course it was a big-to-do and a handful of celebrities were there: Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka, Rosie O'Donnell, Edward Norton, of course the band Green Day among some others. I only saw them from a distance, mostly because I'm too shy to approach them. Oh well.
We partied into the night (2am, not bad for a pregnant woman!) and enjoyed all the free food at the after party.

I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by New York before going there. It just seemed SO famous and so daunting, that I would never feel quite comfortable. Nevertheless, it was great! I heart NY! Truth be told, I think I might just be a city girl. If that's even news to anyone.


Amazing fabric stores: floor to ceiling of every kind of fabric and related material you could possibly imagine.

First time to NY? Gotta go to the Empire State Building, right?

Michael & Sarah's wedding

Nate's youngest brother, Michael got married Easter weekend. Youngest in that he came about 3 minutes after his older twin brother. Anyway, now everyone in the York family is married. 4 sets of Mr. and Mrs. York. Whew! It is finished. Beautiful wedding, great people, fun was had by all. Congratulations Michael and Sarah!

Nathan and his other 2 brothers, Ryan and Allen in the bridal party. Love how they all held their hands the same way, with their left hand on top so that their wedding bands show.

Drumroll please......

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!

We can't believe it. I personally thought it may have just been impossible. But it's true. Or at least 99.9% (according to the ultrasound technician) true. And best of all, everything looks good and healthy.

Here's my favorite interaction of the day:

Technician: Do you want to see between the legs?
Me: Yes, please.
T: Any wagers? (looks at Nate, Nate shakes his head)
Me: I think it might be a boy, I had a dream it was a boy....
T: Ok, let's see here.........well, there's "his" vagina.

Too funny. We also found out that the placenta is anterior lying, meaning that it's in front, so no wonder I haven't felt too much kicking. Oh well. There are worse places it could lie.

Our daughter (ohmigosh, that sounds so weird), was a bit of a stinker too. She kept moving away from us and refusing to give a profile picture. Plenty of face-on ones though. She was moving and punching up a storm too. One picture we even got with her hand beneath her chin, graduation style! Such a little poser. She's definitely a Grellmann girl!

Slightly Pregnant Pictures

~9weeks

Ah, body image. Gotta love the way we love/hate our bodies. So much societal pressure to look a certain way. Even in pregnancy.

~19 weeks

Recently, my weight hasn't been an issue for me. I've been on the low end of the BMI index for awhile now, and even at my heaviest, (freshman, 15 baby), I was still within the normal range. So, seeing my weight go up and up, is a bit hard for me. I know it's ok, but sometimes it freaks me out to see those numbers I've never seen before on a scale! But I'm not complaining (yet). Just telling. Please don't look at my butt.

Telling My Parents

I love my mom. And my dad. I truly do. And I couldn't wait to tell them that we're having a baby. Mostly to have the endless hints and questions about WHEN we're ever going to procreate end. Yes, we've been married for 8 years, yes, I want to have children, yes, I know I'm in my 30s. Ok, already!

Anyway, when we chose to tell them at Christmas through a gift, their reaction was more than we could have hoped. Maybe that's what you get when everyone's given up hope? Nah. Just mom's bubbly personality. Gotta love it. If you know Joyce, you KNOW what I'm talkin' bout. Check out the pictures below.

And just for the record, we got them the "Grandparent's Handbook", a license plate frame and stuffed a few copies of the ultrasound in there too.

Oh yeah, we told Nate's parents at Christmas too, they were happy also, but we didn't take pictures. Sorta knew that the Grellmann side would be a little more, ahem, dramatic.

A New Year. A New Life.

It's been awhile since I last posted. Granted, I'm doing more in day to day life here than in Munich, but overall, life is more....boring?

At least for the reader, we are no longer visiting and taking photographs of European places, food and experiences. Our life has gone back to "normal", if you could call it that. Don't get me wrong, we love our life here: our family, our house, our church community, we are truly blessed. Things are just different. We are different. It feels like Nathan and I were snatched out of time and space for a bit, and then plopped back down into a place where not much has changed and no one has any idea what we experienced. I'm sure this is absolutely normal for those who travel. It's just odd and sometimes we feel a bit disillusioned.

But in the Grand Scheme, it does not matter. It will be fine. We will be just fine.

I suppose this may be a strange (or perhaps perfect?) lead in to what is new and good this coming year. I am pregnant. We are going to have a baby. There. I said it. Or, typed it anyway. The baby is due August 1, 2010.

If we think we're disillusioned now.....just wait for those posts! We are truly excited. Elated. Scared sh**less. We're going to be parents. All normal feelings, I presume.

I personally have wanted this for so long, that now that it's really happening, it feels like I am in a constant dream-like state. That, and I'm overrun with hormones. I feel blue for no apparent reason. I've been nauseous and uncomfortable for the past few weeks. I know this is NOTHING compared to some women's experiences, but for me, this is all so new. I'm trying to enjoy every minute, but my impatient, selfish self wants things to go faster. Or slower. Or "Stop! Wait! I can't do this!" When I just want one hour back to be myself again. Just me. No other being sharing what is mine.

But then I realize that I had my time. I enjoyed it and made the choices I made. I had my "normal" moments. Normal will never be the same again. I am as ready as I'll ever be. Let the adventure begin. Bring it, Baby. We are ready for you. And we love you.