A Merry Li'l Christmas

Ahhh, what a lovely Christmas week it has been. To begin, the Gourmet Goddesses has our annual holiday dinner and were SO happy to have Carol home from England! We did a gift exchange and Carol brought Christmas crackers from England! Carol also brought a bagful of SUPER LUXE baby clothes for Elyse! Ely got a 3 piece Missoni outfit (she will be donning that one on her way home from the hospital), a cashmere Escada hat and a Burberry rattle! Tres chic!

For Christmas and Christmas Eve, Jason, Lisa and I went to the parents house in Spring where mom cooked two 5-star meals for us! It was so wonderful, I just can't wait for my baby to be here and enjoy her wonderful family and friends.

Boob Report

The horror on my chest continues. I have graduated to an "F" cup. Yes, "F", as in "WHAT THE F*CK?!!???" Or, "ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDDING??"

The fun continues...

Since I last blogged, Ely and I have been on the party circuit big time. We had baby Lauren's 1st birthday party last Saturday, then Ella's 2nd birthday party and last night we celebrated Jason's 34th birthday!

We have been immersed in baby education this week as well. I dragged Jason to a Newborn Care class on Thursday and then a SEVEN HOUR Prepared Childbirth class today! We learned a lot. Will I remember any of it whilst in the terror of childbirth? Let's hope so.

Elyse had her last ultrasound on Tuesday this week. She's doing great! She weighed 4.3 pounds, which puts her in the 39th percentile in weight. Not bad for a vegetarian mama! Everything looks fabu with the little bugger. She is moving like crazy--she does the Electric Bugaloo in my belly all day, every day. It's the best part of being pregnant. I have started nesting and hope to post some pics of the nursery soon!

Why I love my kitty cat

Is this the cutest freaking kitty ever? Dignan is keeping Elyse's carrier warm for her. SSOOOOOOOOO adorable!!

Oh, Mexico, it sounds so simple I just had to go...

Casey, Jen and I took our long awaited trip to Mexico last week. We had the most amazing time! It was really cool to be there with Elyse in my belly, since she was made in Mexico! (Perhaps, TMI.) Cheers to Jen and KC for being hard core Playa freaks like me and refusing to cancel this trip. I love you girls!!!

I asked KC and Jen to take lots of pics of my belly so I can show Elyse how much fun she had in utero. I love Playa Del Carmen so much--I have resolved to go at least once a year until I croak. Fortunately, I have lots of awesome friends and a hubby who agree with this resolution whole heartedly, so I will never lack superb company each year. Mexico freakin' rules.

Holiday cheer!

For Thanksgiving, we drove up to San Antonio to have Turkey Day with the Dyer Family. We had a great time over at their neighbors, the Coffees'. Since Elyse is taking up all the room in my belly, I was unable to gorge as much as I would have liked, but I gave it a damn good effort. Friday we did a TINY bit of shopping, then the Dyer Family and the Aguilar Family (including Grandpa Felix) all went to dinner. It was wonderful to have the families together. I am very thankful for my loving, happy family and my little tummy hogging baby!

On Saturday, we had Cousin Julie's baby shower. It was so fancy! Aunt Maggie went all out, it was really beautiful. Again, I got to see lots of my beloved family and had an awesome time. We drove home afterwards and were pretty wiped out.

Sunday, my babydaddy surprised me and went into full Griswald mode! He recruited his brother Kevin and we all went and picked out TWO trees (one for inside, one for the front yard)! The boys worked really hard and decorated the entire outside of the house. I will post pics of it soon. It makes me sososososososossoso happy to have the house decked out for the holidays! I am so content. If only Elyse were here to see it all. I cannot wait for her to be out of the belly! Only nine more weeks (gulp!)!!

Tons of new pics

OMFG, I had no internet at home for almost TWO WEEKS. THE HOOOOORAHHH!! So I have lots of events to document. I am posting pics of the Nutcracker Market with Jen and Mom, our Gourmet Goddesses dinner at the Art Institue and pics from Julie and Madge's couple's shower in Austin on this post.

Elyse is doing great! She moves around so much now, it is so freaky! She loves when her daddy puts his hand on my tummy and plots against me with her. I swear she knows his voice!

Dear Wine,

With the holiday season (a time I have lovingly coined "the drinking season") approaching, I am feeling a little reminiscent of all the drinking seasons I have spent of yore, enjoying the libations of the holidays. Homemade eggnogg (Martha Stewart's recipe--the most vile, heart clogging richness ever), wine, champagne, port, Glugg, meade,spiced rum, more wine...all the classics live on in my memory. In order to express my feelings, I would like to share this cathartic letter. Enjoy.



Dear Wine,

Around this time of year, I am always preparing for us to have a great time together. As you may have noticed, from the plummeting sales numbers at Spec's for the past 7 months, I am pregnant. This means that for the first time in many drinking seasons--we will be apart. I will miss you dearly. Just know that I have not forgotten you. I look forward to our reunion in the delivery room on February 6th. I have the Piper Heidsieck chilling...

Love,

Deanna

Concert Madness!

This week Elyse attended her 4th and 5th concerts! On Sunday, we went to see Madonna, courtesy of my dad (who will by Elyse's "Papa Dog", isn't that cute??). Dad got awesome tix for me, Ande, Jen and Lisa. The people watching at the show was phenomenal! Madge the Vadge was 2 hours late taking the stage, but the show was fab! It was like being at a Boradway show. The chick is a monster as far as physical fitness. She went so far as to tell Houston not once, but twice, that "we could use some exercise." What a ho-bag!

Tuesday, Jen and I went to see Coldplay! Again, Jen scored some awesome tickets--we were only about 10 rows off of the floor. Chris Martin and company put on a helluva show. They are so sweet to their audience and the band ran around and played in 3 different parts of the venue so everyone got a great view. It was a killer show! Jen, who is a speech pathologist, assures me that my excessive concert attendance will not result in a deaf child. She said amniotic fluid is an excellent buffer and that Elyse is "all plugged up." I listen to the professionals, people!!

Next up on Mama's insane social calendar: Gourmet Goddesses tonight for a VIP meal prepared by Chef Michael Holderfield at the Art Institute of Houston. Then this weekend, it's up to Austin for Aunt Julie and Uncle Madge's couple's shower! Whoohoooo!!!

More Couple's Shower pics

Here is a picture of me with the hostesses and more fab shots by Ande

Couple's Shower Photos

Here are some of the pictures my fabulously talented photographer brother took of our couple's shower last weekend. Thank you Ande!!

Scary fun bags...

This has to stop. My boobs continue to reach new and freakishly large proportions. Cousin Julie and I went shopping Saturday and I decided to have the twins measured because my bras seemed a little snug as of late. Sure enough, the girls have gone up to a TRIPLE D. Are you kidding me? Try to find a DDD at your local Target store. Lemme save ya some time--WON'T HAPPEN. If you are bored one day swing by the bra department and pick up the biggest most freakishly large bra you can find. There is a 99% chance that it is smaller than my size! Even Jason is frightened of the boobs when they are turned loose from the gigantic bra. It is VERY difficult to frighten a man with boobs.

On a postive note, after I am done with the pregnancy and breast feeding, I am going to have Jason bring one of the company tractors over. We will set some of my bras in the yard, fill them with gunnite and have some awesome plunge pools...

Beautiful Shower!!

On Saturday, my mom & dad, Jen, Julie and Lisa threw the most beautiful baby shower for Jason and I! They went all out with fabulous table decor, party favors, and wonderful food. Aunt Pauline and Uncle Fidel bought us a ddeelllooosh cake as well! We were surrounded by friends and family and it did wonders for lifting our spirits after my untimely layoff. Here are a few pics--Ande took much better ones whihch I will post when I get them. Elyse got so many wonderful gifts--she is going to be spoiled rotten. I was overwhelmed by the love that was poured on us--it makes me tear up even to remember it. Thank you to everyone who came and especially to the hostesses for this wonderful time. To use Bob Schneider's words:

There is a universe that can't be seen
It's just a feeling if you know what I mean
A delectable dimension undetectable by sight
It'll fill up your heart in the dead of the night
Some say its an astral plane
Can't be described can't be explained

The world exploded into love all around me
And everytime I take a look around me
I have to smile

Tough Times...

Well, I got laid off from my job on Friday. The timing could not be worse. Since I am almost 7 months pregnant and we are going in to the holiday season, it's pretty much pointless to looks for a new job. Woe is me. I know we will survive, but it's going to be tough.

OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!!

I am so thrilled at the outcome of this election! Elyse will be sporting her Obama gear upon her arrival!!!

Solid as a ROCK!

SWWWWWEEEEEETTTT! Went to the cardiologist today and he said the ol' ticker is A-OK. I even had an EKG done to prove it. Plus, I got my gestational diabetes test back and my results were NORMAL! So happy! I am going to celebrate with ice cream and cigarettes!! (kidding about the ciggies, however, I did leave the cardiologist's office and went to Whole Foods where I picked up 2 pints of ice cream.)

In other SWEEEEETTTT news, Jen, KC and I booked our trip to Playa Del Carmen today! We are going to take a 4 day girls trip for some R & R. As you can see from my "Apple Jack O'Lantern" (mad props to KC for that awesome label) my new belly is coming in awfully pale. Need to lug this gut back to Mexico where Elyse was conceived to get a li'l color on it.

Happy Halloween!

Jason and I obviously have too much time on our hands. We could not stop laughing about this. Enjoy!!

If you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world!!

OMFG--I spent yesterday walking on a cloud! Elyse was 26 weeks and we went to Memorial Hermann for our serial ultrasound session #2. As I predicted, I was a nervous wreck--scared something would be wrong. HOWEVER, the child is beautiful and 100% on target for growth. She weighs 2 pounds and the pictures they got of her face are AUUHHH-MMAAAYYY-ZING! I don't think I need a 3d ultrasound--Memorial Hermann's equipment ROCKS! Jason thinks she has my cheeks, I think she has his. We shall see in 3 short months!

Oh, Hell's Bells...

Dammit! Another doctor's appointment to go to. My OB and I decided today that it would be best for me to go to a cardiologist for a second opinion about the rapid heartbeat and palpitations. AY DIOS MIO!!

Thoughts on Prego FOOD

I just wanted to note (for prosperity) that the two food aversions I have had so far are: onions and broccoli. I usually love both and am quite sad to report that I hate them now and push them to the side of my plate when they are mixed in with my food. We shall see if they come back into my good graces after Ely is born.

This week I have two big doctor's appointments--I have a gestational diabetes test on Thursday. I am kinda nervous about that one because one food group that I have ZERO aversion to is the candy/sugar food group. In fact, I tried to convince my sister that is was perfectly acceptable just to have Amy's Ice Cream for dinner tonight. She said NO and made me eat some real food first. (Ely thanks you for that one, Lisa). Plus, diabetes runs rampant on my mom's side of the family. On Friday I have a big ultrasound at the hospital. This is part of my "serial ultrasound" routine that is required as a result of my thyroid issue. I read in my Pregnancy Week by Week book that only 2% of knocked up chicks have thyroid issues. Sigh...I get very nervous before the ultrasounds b/c I fear Ely will not be moving or there will be something else wrong. I MUST chill out with these negative thoughts! The kid is moving and kicking all of the time--this has to be a good sign! More pics to come from Friday's ultrasound. Unless something goes horribly wrong. JUST KIDDING!! Hahahahtralalala!!!

Oh yeah, other news

I forgot to mention that I had a little scary news from my endocrinologist on Friday. It seems that for 2 visits in a row my heart rate has been way too high. She also heard palpitations on my visit Friday, so I am starting an itsy, bitsy dose of beta blockers. Jason was right...I am falling apart at the seams.

The Devil's in the Details

Mom and I went shopping for the fabrics for Elyse's room yesterday. We had a great time and found some awesome fabrics! Little Mary made it quite clear where some of my hellcat streak comes from. We found a cool fabric at Calico Corner that coordinated with the fabric we found at High Fashion. We found out the fabric had been discontinued and were told that we could not have a sample of the fabric. Little Mary smelled fear on the sales associate and refused to take "No" for an answer. Needless to say, she found a manager and pulled out her best Mexican mother catholic guilt routine. We not only got a sample of the fabric, the manager gave her the entire display!! It was awesome! Here's a photo of her after her victory.

I am also posting pics of the fabric and a pic of me wearing the super cute dress my FAVORITE Canadi-Mex in the world, Marisa Byers, gave me. I am really beginning to sport a good bump! Also, a pic of the crib I think I have changed my mind to.

In one last bit of news, Elyse went to her 3rd concert last night--Cold War Kids. It was SUCH a great show. I heart them...