Gourmet Goddess Shower

Holy wow!! My gorgeous and fabulous friends also known as the Gourmet Goddesses (Jennie, Lisa, Jen, Shelly, Casey, Amanda and Elizabeth) threw the most wonderful baby shower for me and Elyse this Saturday! It was a helluva party at one of our most fave brunch spots in town: Baba Yega. So many friends came to celebrate Miss Elysie and spoiled us rotten!! It was a marvelous time and once again, I am overwhlemed with the love me and Elyse were showered with. I love my friends and family so much, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

San Antonio Shower Pics

We have a name!! Finally!!

We have chosen Elyse's middle name!! Drumroll, please... Elyse Caroline Dyer. Isn't it just GORGEOUS? I am so happy with it! The name is in honor of Jason's Grandma Etta Caroline Moore (Shirley's mom.) So Elyse will have the same first two initials as her great grandma! I love the way it looks all written out. So pretty!

This weekend Shirley, and all my paternal aunts (Felici, Maggie and Susie) threw the most beautiful shower for me in San Antonio. It was at the Menger Hotel in the smae room where I had my bridal shower 6 years ago! I cannot even explain how loved I feel and how overwhelmed I am at everyone's generosity. Elyse got so many beautiful things. My cup runneth over... Thank you to everyone who participated--it was such a joyful time. I could write about it for pages and pages and I could post 200 pics--it was beyond words. : ) Much love!!!

Induction: Not the Devil's Work

Went to see Dr. Nanda yesterday and found that I am already dilated to 1cm. This news prompted me to finally muster up the key-honies to ask about induction. It turns out I can be induced at 38 weeks and 5 days, which is three weeks from yesterday!! I have decided that induction is right decision for me. I am waiting on a phone call from the hospital to get this puppy scheduled and get this kid on the ground. I am ready to go through newborn psychosis and start looking for a jobby job. I am surprised by the hostility this decision has inspired. When I tell people, they demand to know WHY I have chosen induction. I am already progressing naturally and I like the idea of having a scheduled time to go to the hospital and face the horror of childbirth. The date I have chosen is only 7 days prior to the child's due date and I could go in to labor early anyway. The reaction reminds me of when I sued to smoke menthol cigarettes and upon seeing the green Camel logo, 96% of people felt an overwhelming desire to ask if I knew they would crystalize my lungs??? Uh, yeah, I have heard that about 27 million times. The hostile response also make me wish to offer a HUGE APOLOGY to Jennie Lynn, whom I have terrorized with comments about how crazy she was for having Ells with no pain killers. I AM SORRY FOR MY HOSTILITY! Being on the receiving end sucks!! Back to the induction: I have read all about it, I have seen the Ricki Lake documentary, I know the pros and cons and I am cool with it. Hopping off the soapbox now...

This weekend I have a baby shower in San Antonio! I am going out of town one last time before I drop Elyse. Then, next weekend is my Houston shower. Then, it's GO TIME. I have taken photos of all of the fabulous shower invites that have gone out on Ely's behalf. My loved ones are so fabulous--no wonder I adore them.

35 weeks and counting...

Happy 2009! So, the photos may be inappropriate, but I guess I don't care. This belly is quite impressive and I must show it off!!!

I have reached 35 weeks of pregnancy and it seems that I am beginning to fall apart. Walking has become a bit of a challenge--I am in full "waddle" mode and it is actually pretty pathetic to behold. Rolling in and out of bed is an experiment in using gravity, but also trying not to fall on my huge ass once gravity begins to do its job. My freakish spurt of energy that helped me skate though all the activities of December is gone, baby, gone. Have had a sore throat/hacking cough and snotty nose for 4 days now and am pretty much miserable.

In good news, however, Elyse seems to be flourishing! She kicks the hell out of me and is quite active! I can see my stomach move when she does this--it is just so strange. This week is going to be crazy! I have a breastfeeding class on Monday, an appointment with Dr. Nanda on Tuesday, Dr. Monla on Wednesday and Elyse's last ultrasound on Thursday. Then, Friday, I leave for my San Antonio shower! I need a nap just thinking about it!

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.