Saturday Leisure

Good morning!  It's Saturday!  After all our baby prepping, David's seminar last week, and decorating and shopping for Christmas, today actually feels like the first weekend we've had in a long time.  We are looking forward to just hanging out and enjoying each other's company. 
I just got back from a very nice spa pedicure at Pinky's, the nail spa right around the corner.  David spent a little time going through his office this morning and is grabbing a quick rest.  He is fighting a cold that arrived the morning after his seminar.  In a few minutes we will leave for La Canterra, an outdoor shopping center on the outer loop of San Antonio.  We plan to see The Muppets in IMAX this afternoon and then be back in time for church at 5pm.  Tomorrow should be another leisurely day for us, which is great.  That is, of course, unless Baby wants to join us!  I've already invited him or her this weekend, so we'll see if our little Cubbie accepts.  The owner at Pinky's told me that she didn't want to give me too good of a foot massage in case her accupressure caused Baby to arrive tonight.  I told her to go right ahead, but she was serious.  Maybe I'll have to go back for another pedicure if we get too close to the New Year and Baby isn't here yet!  My mom flies into town on December 26th, so we'd like for our little sugar plum to be here by then...

And now, we wait...

Check, check, and check.  We've gotten a lot done in the last few days.  Now, we're sitting here watching my Packers crush the Oakland Raiders.  I'm having a great time, but David is sweating over his fantasy football team.  So, we're not exactly enjoying the same game.  But, our feet are up and the entire weekend list is crossed off. 
This week, I had another OB check-up.  My doctor says the baby is growing well, but I had some labs that were off.  I was back again to do a 3-hour glucose tolerance test on Thursday and am awaiting those results next week.  I can't believe this will be a big deal.  I don't think I fit the picture of a person with gestational diabetes.  My weight has been right on and I'm not swollen anywhere.  I'm guessing we'll be okay.  Baby has definitely dropped now and I've gotten several sensations that labor is right around the corner.  We're ready!

38 week belly shot

We had a spontaneous tour of the labor and delivery unit on Saturday.  We weren't able to make any of the scheduled "Peek-a-Boo Tours" the hospital puts on between our move-in date and our due date, so our OB called and helped us pull a few strings to get onto the closed ward for a one-on-one tour with the charge RNs.  The first RN made it clear they "don't do private tours," but she eventually warmed up to us and gave us a great insider view of what to expect when we arrive.  We got lots of unsolicited advice about birth plans, best labor and post-partum rooms to pick, breast-feeding, and visitors.  We also got the route to the hospital down pat so David can do it with his eyes closed now. 

Below you can see our final touches to the nursery: the glider and changing table we found on Craigslist, the books and toys on the bookshelf, and the cute tree wall decal went up today.  What I love is that the decal is removable and re-usable, so we can take it with us to the next city. 

It feels great to have all of this completed now.  Not that a wall decal or a fully assembled bouncer will make much difference to a newborn, but it makes me feel much more prepared to bring one home.  It's that nesting instinct and a touch of OCD, I'm sure.  
Oh, I almost forgot!  We interviewed our final pediatricians and decided on Ped #3!  This clinic is only a mile or so down the street in a cute little brick building.  It is bright and colorful inside - not only because of the shades of blue and yellow but also because of the friendly staff.  It was a no-brainer, really.  We walked out of there feeling very good about our choice.
Next week, David will travel to Austin to set up and put on his last seminar of 2011!

Bienvenido a San Antonio!

Last week was totally crazy!  With a lot of catch-up after the Thanksgiving holiday for the business, we also had to pack up and move out of our beloved Casita in Austin to our new digs in San Antonio, TX.  The trip itself was a piece of tres leches cake, but getting my 37-week pregnant body to bend and sit and stand and lift was not so easy.  So much for my 2.5 hour packing and moving feat last time.  Probably not to be repeated - ever!  Especially since from now on, there will be a little Behr with all kinds of accessories to match.
We are - I should say I am - happy to be in San Antonio.  I think David is too, but he says he already  misses the 10 independent coffee shops within a 5 block radius of our last house.  San Antonio is extremely different from Austin.  That's easy to see and we haven't been here long.  However, I think it holds a certain charm, with it's own history and culture, that will make it a fantastic place for us as a new young family. Besides, now that we're here, the hospital is only 15 minutes away.  And that lets me rest easier. 
We've been furnishing our new home and getting the bedroom set up for baby.  I have a few returns/exchanges to make this morning and I'm hoping I'll be set after this.  We are looking forward to being able to decorate for Christmas once the condo is set up and the baby gear is in place. 
I feel like I've been saying this a lot lately, but I just cannot believe we are so far along now!  I'm 37 weeks - full term! - and it's hard not to wonder each time I get a contraction if it's not too much longer now.  David is hyper-vigilant, gauging my every wince, and needing reassurance that there is no need to sprint into action.  Meanwhile, the baby is still very active.  Those little punches and kicks have turned into sustained pushes and burrowing.  Each hiccup causes the poor thing to bounce off one side only to ricochet off the other.  The baby could be up to 6 pounds at this point and over 19 inches long, or about the length of a stalk of Swiss chard. 
This week, I plan to find our new church for baptism purposes, finish interviewing pediatricians, and get the car seat installed.  I also have a breast-feeding boot camp and hospital tour to attend.  I'll add pictures of our nursery and new home soon.

Hands Can

Had a dream last night about my Dad's hands.  Dad passed away about 17 months ago, but I can still see his hands clearly and I don't think I'll ever forget.  David and I were working on separate projects for our birthing class.  Part of my project was to come up with what is called a "birth bundle" - a combination of items that are symbolic of motherhood, fatherhood, and our new baby.  I was thinking about David's transition to fatherhood and what that means for him, for me, and to our baby.
David will be an absolutely fantastic Dad.  I have absolutely no concerns about this.  I realize how how lucky we both are to have such loving, attentive, supportive fathers.  My own father was a superhero to me.  It seemed like there wasn't anything he didn't know and nothing he couldn't do.  When I think of my Dad, so many things come to mind, but what really stuck out for me the other night was his hands.
Ever realize that you remember exactly what if feels like to hold your Dad's hand?  The way his palm holds yours? How big it is, how strong it is, the texture of his skin, the security of that hand over yours?  Ever consider all that those hands have done?
Those hands create things.  My Dad could build and fix - my childhood swing set was handmade by him, complete with two swings, slide, balance beams, and sandbox.  He built the house that we spent our growing up years in and that we still call home.  He chopped the wood we burned in the fireplace and created and installed the stained glass windows that flank the fireplace and tell a story in our family room.  He taught me how to change a flat tire, hang a picture, and grip my first golf club.
Hands provide, teach, hold.  They can envelope you in the most comforting hug.  They can guide you while you dance on his feet in the kitchen.  They can put barrettes in your hair before school and carry you to bed when you've fallen asleep in the car.  They can strum a guitar while singing your song.

I was blessed to have a father who loved me very much.  And I now realize what the perfect symbol of fatherhood is for me.  My Dad had great hands.

Last Thursday, I was fortunate to be able to fly to Virginia for my annual Girls Weekend trip.  Like I've mentioned in previous posts, Girls Weekend is an annual reunion for my 8 best friends from college.  We do it every year and it is a rare occurrence to have someone miss it.  It is always such a fabulous visit, no matter where it's held, and this year was no exception. 
We spent the first morning walking through beautiful Alexandria, VA's "Old Town".  Then we made the drive to Middleburg, VA, the wine country along the gorgeous Shenandoah Valley.  We stayed in a turn-of-the-century home with antique furniture and lots of great living space.  Not to mention, the views from the top of the hill overlooking the Shenandoah River were spectacular.  On Saturday morning, we walked along an old county highway, which is mostly gravel now, and were passed by over 50 riders on horseback, young and old, wearing traditional English equestrian gear in the middle of a true fox hunt.  They assured us this was for sport, and no foxes were actually harmed during the hunt.  What a cool experience!  Even better though was connecting with my friends, some of whom I haven't seen since last year's trip to Arizona!  I am so happy I made the trek, but also happy not to travel by plane again until after this baby is born.  What an exhausting and uncomfortable mode of transport at this stage of pregnancy!

We met with our OB again today.  Baby is doing well and right on track for growth.  The heartbeat is strong and baby's head is still down at this point.  We were getting the sense that this hospital and physician's practices may not be in line with our goals for our baby's birth.  So, we reviewed some questions that came up after the discussion at our last visit and our conversation with our doctor confirmed our instincts.  I was very happy that she agreed with us.  She was very frank in stating that this hospital's goal is to provide the most access to laboring patients so therefore they do try to accelerate labor progression and this does not always give the most personal care to laboring mothers.  She did, however, give us a referral for a colleague of hers that she feels will be a better fit for us.  So, despite our attempts to ensure one less transfer of patient records at this final stage in our pregnancy, we're at it again.  Next week, I call to make an appointment with OB #4.
Good news is we have settled on a home in San Antonio!  We've decided to stay in a condo in the Alamo Heights neighborhood and will be ready to move in on December 3rd.  It gives me great peace of mind to now know where baby's things will be and what our space will look like.  I'll be going back to San Antonio on Monday to work on gathering furnishings for our new place so it's ready for us to move into.  I think we'll be happy there.

Aloha! It's week 33!

 

So, I've gotten a little bit behind here as I see my last post was 3 weeks ago!  We're getting so close now, it's becoming quite real - as if the enlarging belly isn't real enough.  I still wonder when that happened...
Baby is making a lot of movements and they can be quite powerful.  I've also noticed that some mornings I have a difficult time catching my breath for about an hour or so.  It feels like I just ran 5K race and sprinted into the finish, but the after-effects are long-lasting.  And, just like race training, I'm being prepared for parenthood's interrupted sleep with a small bladder capacity and sore hips, requiring me to get up every 3 hours and rotate the now 4! pillows I use for propping myself in bed.  Poor David!  He's either becoming a heavier sleeper or he's one step closer to sainthood for not complaining.  I'm sure he's well on his way there already - I certainly know how lucky I am!  I think that after this experience, we may both be in agreement that a king size bed is a fantastic idea.
In week 33, baby is approximately the size of a pineapple, weighing up to 4 pounds and measuring 17 inches in length.   I read that for every pound I gain between now and birth, baby will gain 8 ounces.  I think that's really incredible.  Baby's wrinkly skin begins to smooth out now that he or she is packing on some healthy baby fat.  I can't believe we'll have a little sugar plum to call our own around Christmastime!  Oh, I am so excited!  This is the best gift ever!

We're in the midst of a hunt for our new place.  With each OB visit in San Antonio, we've spent a few more hours there combing the neighborhoods for For Rent signs.  Unlike Denver or Minneapolis, San Antonio folks aren't quick to use Craigslist as an online resource for rental options.  We've had to get more creative and spend more time doing research in several areas to come up with enough options on our own.  We have two options now for short-term rental, both in the Alamo Heights neighborhood, which is our top pick.  This area is about 20 minutes from the hospital, but San Antonio's great highway system makes this easy.  Also, it's about 10 minutes north of the city, giving us loads of perks.  We'll be touring an updated patio townhouse and a 50's era ranch-style home with in-ground pool next Monday for comparison.  Hopefully, we can make a final decision.  I really want to be able to lock this in so I can better visualize our space for baby and start planning for rental furniture - neither is furnished.  Not to mention, we just realized last night that we would be moving in 3 weeks!  So, it's actually getting down to the wire.  Since David's seminar isn't until December 13th, he'll likely commute between San Antonio and Austin for another week or so.  I can't believe we'll be moving out of here already.  Austin has been a lot of fun and it seems like we've just gotten here.  You know what they say...
                                                     

I got the green light from my OB to travel this week for my annual Girls Weekend with my St. Norbert girls!  The glucose test that the doc wanted to repeat turned out to be normal (again).  Since I'm doing well and baby is doing well, there is no reason I can't go.  T minus 2 days... fall foliage, expansive valley views, great conversations, tons of laughing, and lots and lots of new memories.  Hope you're ready, ladies!  I can't wait!

Boo!

As is tradition, we carved pumpkins and roasted the seeds.  However, unlike years past, we couldn't turn it into a competition with friends.  (you guys got lucky this year!)  Instead, we kept our designs secret until the candlelight reveal!

 David's "Ghosts" is on the left.  My "Haunted graveyard" is on the right.  I think this is David's best job yet!  These were set outside and lit on Halloween for the trick-or-treaters.  Unfortunately, we didn't get as many as I was hoping.  This was my first year living in a neighborhood where trick-or-treaters would come and I made sure I was prepared.  Turned out,  I was disappointed.  I think we only got 7 total.  Oh well, we had fun creating a themed dinner.  There was a boiling cauldron of queso with bat wing (blue corn) tortillas.  And for dinner: Bat wing farfalle pasta with vampire blood and eyeballs.  We watched Monday night football and had more than our share of candy since that bowl was so darn full!

My Halloween costume

Thanks to our friends, Cristin and Leo, I had the perfect costume for the celebration!  Next year, we might be out there doing the trick-or-treating with Baby Behr!  More candy for Mom and Dad!

Week 30 in Review

Last week, we had our first childbirth class.  It was interesting to meet other couples about as far along as we are and hear what their concerns and plans are for childbirth.  Our instructor started us on some pain-coping techniques and we got to try our creative talents to draw pictures of what labor means to us.  I can't remember the last time I had pastels in my fingers.  It was really relaxing. I'm looking forward to our next class - we'll be working on more coping strategies and will start discussing labor options and birth plans.

I met with our OB late last week as well.  She says baby is growing according to schedule.  We have approximately 9 weeks to go.  I can't believe it!  We're getting so close!  Baby now weighs about 3.3 lbs and measures 16 inches in length.  He or she is moving a lot, especially in the evening and early morning.  I haven't gotten tired of all that movement; it's so amazing to watch and keeps me entertained as I try to imagine what baby is doing in there.  I had to re-take that yucky glucose tolerance test though due to high glucose in my lab work that day.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the test turns out to be normal.
On Thursday, David and I had a date night at the Salt Lick, a highly recommended barbecue restaurant, located about 40 minutes southwest of Austin.  It was sooo good!  The place has been there since the mid-60s and what started as a man-made barbecue pit has grown into a busy restaurant, banquet hall, music venue and wine cellar.  Speaking of, maybe it was the pecan pie and blackberry cobbler we shared that got me in trouble at the OB's office with high sugar!  Whoops!

31 week belly shot (taken with my new iphone!)

 

An Early Debut or Perfect Timing?

A week ago, we returned to Denver to catch up with friends and check in on our downtown loft.  My good friend, Alma, picked us up from DIA and took us to see some of my former co-workers in the Urology department at The Children's Hospital.  It was so fun to see them, catch up and laugh, and re-visit my old stomping grounds.  TCH friends: Thank you all for staying late on a Friday to say hi!  It meant a lot to me to be able to share some time catching up with you.
That night, we met our friends, Cristin and Leo, at Marco's Coal-fired Pizza downtown.  We had a great meal, laughed a ton, and talked about how pregnancy is going.  Cristin and Leo were expecting their first son in a few weeks, and were approximately 7 weeks ahead of us.  After dinner, we drove back to their house and watched the end of the Brewers/Cardinals game. 

Maybe it was the disappointing end to the Brewer's chance at the World Series, or perhaps it was the big, beautiful harvest moon that night, but baby Sarmiento decided it was time to make an appearance!  That's right, Cristin's water broke that night - about 3 weeks before her due date!  With amazing calmness and poise, Cristin and Leo showered, packed their bags, the car seat and baby bag, got us settled for the night, showed us how to take care of the cat, and stopped to pose for pictures - all before walking out the door!  I must have been shaking with enough nervousness and excitement for everyone.

One more pregnant picture for Cristin!

On their way!

We didn't sleep more than about 15 minutes that night - we were just too excited!  Jemma, the cat, didn't appreciate our restlessness.  She tried very hard to find a comfortable spot and ended up settling above David's head, on his pillow!  At about 4am, we got a phone call from Leo telling us that Baby was here, healthy and happy, and ready for visitors if we wanted to come in.  We threw on some clothes and went over right away to meet their newest addition.

Cristin and Leo with Valentino

Valentino Enrique Sarmiento was born at 3:18am on October 15th, 2011!  He was 5 lbs, 18 inches and came with a full head of jet-black hair.  He is one lucky baby to have such fantastic parents.

Whew! What an amazing weekend!  We feel so fortunate to have been a part of our friends' incredible and miraculous experience.  We are honored that they included us in the earliest moments with their tiny, beautiful baby boy.  What a joy!  And how we love him already!  Thank you for showing us how it's done!  Congratulations, friends!

The Behrs with Baby Valentino

Our weekend ended on Sunday with some quality time with the Umbdenstocks and our godson, Brodi. We found a really cool pair of shoes for him that light up when he walks. I wanted to get a pair for myself but Adriana wouldn't let me. She said I am too old to wear those kind of shoes-OUCH!

We are always up for an adventure and this weekend proved to be very adventurous. 

Thanks everyone!

Brewers and Packers and Bulldogs, oh my! Week 29

The National Title for 8 of the last 12 years!

This week seems to be dominated by sports - my Milwaukee Brewers made it to the second round (!), Packers are 5-0 after playing the Falcons last night, and our friend Dan is in town from Denver for the National Tournament for United States Aussie Football League and playing in the finals this afternoon.   Hopefully our little nugget will enjoy watching and playing sports as much as we do!

28 week Baby Bump

We visited with our new OB this week at the University of Texas in San Antonio.  We'll be making the 1.5 hour drive every 2 weeks and then weekly for while before we actually move down there.  In the long run, it'll be worth it to establish a relationship with the person who will hopefully be there to deliver our baby.  We were impressed with her.  Despite only 1 hour of sleep and running behind in clinic, she still spent at least a good 30 minutes with us reviewing the pregnancy to date and answering all my questions about her experience with non-medicated births and what resources she has for her mothers who wish to breastfeed.  She did this in a very relaxed fashion, not even once checking her watch or heading for the door.  She did move our due date back to December 30th based on the first ultrasound report, but I still think baby is coming earlier.  I've got my own data.  We'll see who's right.
Baby measures a full 15 inches and 2.5 pounds, making him or her about the size of a butternut squash.  We've been enjoying lots of baby moves and are still in awe when baby decides to do a complete flip.  Watching my belly move like that is crazy!  Last night, we took Dan to the original Chuy's restaurant for some really great Mexican food and then to the Hey, Cupcake! trailer for dessert.  Cubbie seems to get excited about chimichangas and pumpkin cupcakes - we saw a little Mexican hat dance following both! 

Dessert at Hey Cupcake!

We got our much needed rain this weekend and a break in the heat wave.  First rainfall in 4 months and temps were between the 60s and 80s, making for some great football weather.

David, Dan, Cubbie Behr and me at the post-game celebration

Dan (blue & red) against 3 Calvary Kangaroos