"Baby On Board"...... SLOW DOWN!!!!!!

I spend a lot of my time on the 405 freeway and the 5 freeway going back and forth for my work to our different office locations all over Southern California. I also spend a lot of time in traffic, hence the 4-0-5 freeway is just that, it takes 4-Or-5 hours to get anywhere! LOL I've noticed lately how fast people drive, how eradict they are and just how stupid people can be once the get the opportunity to hop behind the wheel of a vehicle. Now granted, my child is not here yet but I want to get one of those Baby On Board signs to put up in my back windows so that people will back off. I notice myself being a little more careful, a little more sensible while behind the wheel. After all, I have an invested interest in the cargo I am carrying. But even with that said, with defensive driving you still have to worry about all of the crazies out there that you have no control over. Jeesh! Too bad someone hasn't invented car bubble wrap. Kind of like that Enterprise Rent A Car commercials where they warp the car like a present in brown butcher paper and string. That way I could better defend myself from the Goofy Mr. Wheeler's out there (circa 1950 Disney's Motor Mania).  Just a thought.

The Carb Queen

I have found that carbs are my friend this week. The heavier the carb, the longer it sticks with me, the better I feel. I was a carb fanatic before the pregnancy but wow has it really taken off! I love salads and fruits and veggies but I have found in the last week in particular that they are not enough. I need something with substance. Otherwise, I start to get a bit dizzy and the nausea creeps back in again. Pastas, breads, potatoes, etc. Gimme! Watch your fingers when it comes to getting in between a pregnant woman and her food. I don't have a problem biting the hand that feeds me. LOL

I took myself out to lunch today to Macaroni Grill and ordered up some "Create Your Own Pasta" bowl. Some rigatoni with pomodoro sauce and ricotta meatballs. YUM! Pass the bread please! As I found myself lingering over the bowl of pasta literally drinking it all in, I came to the realization that it wasn't lunch for 1 but for 2. As I began to doodle on the butcher paper table cloth in front of me, my mind began to wander about my child. He or She, color of hair, eye color, dad's nose or mine. I began to draw small hearts and stars all over the table cloth. What a wonderful thing to be a mom. One huge gift of passion, perseverance and pain. One small hand with tiny fingers. One huge undertaking that turns your life upside down. One tiny little heart that loves you unconditionally. One sacrifice. One love to last a lifetime. I think I am really going to like being called "Mom".

"No Sleep Till Brooklyn....."

So I keep hearing people tell me good luck and get as much sleep now as you can because once the baby is here you will never sleep again! Now, I know well enough that this is an over exaggeration. I know there will be sleepless nights and cat naps during the day will be a hot commodity. But I was not prepared to not be sleeping now! This is going on 3 nights now where I cant get comfortable left side, right side, etc. I even tried belly and back just to see if I could last night to no avail. 4 pillows later and still no sleep, counting sheep was not even an option. Any advice on how to get some serious Zzzzzzz's now??? I walked around the exterior of the mall across the street from our house last night to get some exercise and to relax me to get me ready for bed. I even went to bed at 9pm (by the way, that's my new curfew for bed per the Daddy). Still nothing. How is it that something so small could cause so many complications? I laugh when I think of my mother-in-law saying she kept the receipt for Dan when he was born. That way she could return him at any point in time if "she wasn't fully satisfied". Ha, Ha Not that I would, but the offer is enticing. I guess no sleep for the weary is in order.

We're not out of the woods yet.....

I mentioned in an earlier post that I haven't had any morning sickness regardless of what time of day it is. I guess I should have held my tongue. For the past 3 days I have felt like I have been hanging out on a very small dingy in very rough waters. I know week 9 is a huge milestone: fingers and toes are becoming more defined, the sex of the baby has been decided and the sex organs are growing this week, the baby is beginning to fidget and move ever so slightly, taste buds are forming and dimples are appearing where knees and elbows will eventually form. Oh how beautiful this all is.... until you realize that because of a major surge in hormones this week to make that all happen the mom-to-be is going to feel like her stomach has been turned inside out. Welcome to my world! Thank goodness for Ginger Chews (I swear by them!!!!!), ginger ale, and sea band wrist bands. It's only for a week or so give or take but I have to hand it to my mom counterparts who have morning sickness and nausea for a full trimester or the entire time, you are all Super Women wearing a cape. I have no idea how you do it.

Happy Father's Day!

We went over to Grandpa John's house on Saturday to celebrate Father's Day and Dan and I wanted to tell my mom and dad the good news. I had bought 2 bibs. One that said I love my grandpa and one that said I love my grandma. I rolled them up and stuck them into toilet paper rolls and then wrapped them like party poppers. When we got to their house I told them we needed to get the party started properly and kick it off with some party poppers. They opened them and thought they were really cute. The first thing out of my moms mouth was, "This is perfect. Now we have bibs here at the house when your sister sends Faith over. Since she's eating solid food now these will come in real handy". Ugh- so anticlimactic. Cindy got it, Roy got it, Kim got it. So Roy took charge and said hay that's kind of weird, why would Pam and Dan give you guys bibs that say I love grandpa and I love grandma for Faith? Faith's not their kid! It took a while and we started getting blank stares so I shouted out We Are Pregnant! Oh, OHHHHHHH! was the response. Hugs all around and congratulations across the board we were finally in full swing of Father's Day.

On a personal note: to all of the Dad's and soon to be Dad's out there Happy Father's Day! You are such an important part of your kids' lives. We learn so much from you. Thank you for all you do for us, from the bottom of my heart!

Houston: We have a baby!

Today I got to see God's little miracle in action. Yes it was our 1st baby Dr. visit. I got to see out little lima bean in action and hear his/her little heartbeat. One of my girlfriends even commented that his/her first picture looks a little like a gerbil. Lovely, I am having a hamster. Move over Richard Gere. LOL It was absolutely amazing! It's so tiny. That little body up on the screen with my name above it. How powerful and awestruck was I. I looked up what life looks like in utero at 8 weeks 2 days and my kids got fingers and toes all ready. He/She's gonna be an over achiever I just know it. Fingers and toes!....ready to get to work all ready. LOL

This is all too much! It really is. I cant believe it. There is so much to know and absorb. I got sent home with a copy of everything from books to magazine to coupons to blood cord banking to what to do, what to wear, how to plan. I feel like I am prepping for a thesis paper and I have just finished gathering my research materials. Wow! Talk about it taking a village to raise a child. I think it takes a Ph.D. But on a serious note, I am happy, healthy and on cloud 9. We did this. We made this. God saw fit for us to be parents. God is an AWESOME God!!! I am so blessed in so many ways in my life. There are sometimes no words to properly describe a feeling or the appreciation one feels when offered such an enormous and beautiful task such as this. Thank you Abba Father for this gift!

The "Pregnancy Pass"

I am a very independent woman. My parents raised me in the mind set that I can do anything I put my mind too. My Dad would always tell me that I should never let anyone tell me that I can't do something, to dream big. If I put my mind to it, I can achieve it. So, fast forward 3 decades and I now wear a Super Woman cape 6 days a week. I do everything. I don't let people pack things for me, lift things, open things, reach for things, etc. I may be short but that's what a step ladder is for. God gave me two capable hands and legs and saw it fit for me to be capable of doing these things on my own and I am very thankful that I have that opportunity but more thankful that I can actually do all of it on my own. Hence the reason for my blog today. Yesterday I experienced my first "Pregnancy Pass". Think of it as a get out of jail free card or as a hall pass to get out of class. Apparently every pregnant woman is bestowed with this pass once she finds out she is pregnant (9 times out of 10 she definitely gets it once she starts showing). I was out shopping for a Father's Day present for my Dad last night and found the perfect gift. It was a little bigger than I had expected and a little heavier than I had expected. I could have lifted it. I could have stuck it in my cart and I could have put it into my car myself...... but I didn't. My Dad's words resonated in my mind as I looked up and there was a very nice gentleman who saw me looking at this box and noticed the perplexed look on my face. He offered to put it into my cart and I told him I would be ever so grateful if he would and then I thanked him profusely. I let him know I was pregnant and that I was debating lifting the box myself, since I knew I could do it and he would have none of it. He was glad he was at the right place at the right time to help. As I checked out, I asked for help out to my car to lift the box. And as I sat momentarily in the drivers seat before starting the engine I thought briefly, I may be a big girl and I may be able to do everything myself but when I stop others from blessing me, helping me - I block the blessings. So here's to the first official usage of my "Pregnancy Pass", I know I can do it, for the sake of my child I shouldn't and for the blessings of a smiling, helpful face I will ask for help.

Beware The Grumpies!!!

As a kid I remember my sister Kimberly reading a book called "Terrible, Horrible, No Good ,Very Bad Day". It was about a little boy that nothing in the universe would go right for him that one day. Now I am not complaining or anything. I am very blessed to have a great career, a husband who loves me dearly, a dog that adores me, a roof over my head and food in my belly. But really girls, we have all had a "Terrible, Horrible, No Good ,Very Bad Day". Today, thank goodness, is not one of them but it is starting to shape up as a grumpie one. There is this thing called "Baby Brain". Apparently it sucks the living brain cells out of you for approximately 9 months and makes you dumb. You forget things, get side tracked, start something and don't finish it, lose your keys then lose your purse looking for your keys, forget your lunch, forget an item on your grocery list, etc. Well, I think I'm infected. And I have the bug big time! I hate to have to admit this. I am usually so put together, this is frustrating. I think I am in the beginning stages: "The Grumpies". Little things just push my buttons now and I have got to tell you, my couch, the dog and a good blanket seem like the best remedy for everything right now.

Eating has also become my best friend. Not comfort food, junk food or sugary food, just food. Pasta, chicken, steak, salads, pork chops, soups, Italian, Mexican, Chinese. It doesn't matter I just love food and I have a new found respect for it as well. I found the more often I eat, the smaller portions I eat, the happier I feel throughout the day. And I've even heard this is what is keeping that morning sickness and nausea at bay. Yeah! Food Good! Vomit Bad!

So to all you nay sayers out there, I get it. I'm not eating for 2, I realize that. But at least I can eat what I love and what is good for me knowing that it is good for the baby too. So the next questions is: What's for dinner?????

WARNING!!!!

I make no excuses for what I write in this blog. I also will make no exceptions. We all want a perfect pregnancy where nothing goes wrong, nine months seem like 2, there are no labor pains and when the baby pops out it looks like a cherub, bright eyed and bushy tailed with a full head of hair and instead of crying it greets you with Mama or Dada. AND THEN YOU WOKE UP! In all reality we know that this is not the case. I promise to update you and give you the details but spare you the DETAILS. If you know what I mean. In the meantime, let's be frank..... flabby, fat and lazy is not a good feeling nor is it a woman's favorite accessory and I seem to be wearing it well. I have been terribly blessed that I have not had any morning sickness as of yet but as soon as I lay down at night I get a little queasy. Not much but enough to know that this is not right. Thank the lord for Ginger Ale at my bedside and trail mix. Other than that I am fabulous! No really I am. No nightmares of giving birth to a green alien with human toes and no crazy cravings (the thought of even putting pickles and ice cream together makes me want to hurl- who thought of that any ways?)

Now with that said, I have developed crazy allergies over the last 6 months. I sneeze, cough, my eyes itch and twitch and I cant seem to hear out of my right ear when I wake up in the morning. Really! I get off scott free without maternity symptoms but I am going to spend 9 months dying of allergies sans the allergy relief. How ironic.

It's way to early to be "nesting" just yet but I do have to admit I am a little O.C.D. and I have in my minds eye the perfect crib. I am all about multitasking. I have been surfing the web over the last couple of days looking for a 4 in 1 crib. One that converts from baby to toddler to kid bed with an attached changer. Any ideas? If you know where to find one at a decent price give me a holler. I have all ready gotten a nursing apron from http://www.uddercovers.com/ free just by using their secret code. You just pay shipping and handling. Go to http://www.sevensling.com/ or maybe it's http://www.sevensslings.com/ use code SPRING2011 and you can get a free papoose sling for you to wear and carry your new born in. Again you pay shipping and handling. When finished ordering there, they will give you that secret code for http://www.uddercovers.com/. Pretty cool. Thanks to an active listening ear and my sister Cindy giving birth last October I knew that the only thing I needed to arm myself with for this pregnancy was the book, "What To Expect When You Are Expecting". The author is an absolute genius. Granted the book is as long as "War and Peace" but definitely worth the read. It even teaches you how to deliver your own baby if no one is around. Really!!! I think I am facing the wrong direction for that one but if I happen to get stranded on the 405 freeway (it takes 4 or 5 hours to get any where- that's why it's named that) then I guess I will be in good shape.

I have struck up a deal with a close friend who is a genius with a camera. He will be taking my baby bump photos each month leading up to the birth to show you just how big I actually get. We will have the first of those photos for you this week. Here's to closing out week 7 and starting week 8!

Bienvenue! Hello and welcome to my Blog!

Those of you who know me well are probably wondering why I didn't start blogging years ago. Others of you may be interested in why all of a sudden I am? Well, the truth is, this is something I have always wanted to do just never commited to it and now I have a reason to. You see we're pregnant!!! Yup that's right. Preggers, Preggo, bun in the oven, cupcake on board, a loaded dishwasher, etc. call it what you want but we are pregnant. As of this first post we are 7 weeks 2 days along. Only 230 more days to go. Yeesh! Granted we are just in the beginning stages but we are pregnant none the less. Due date e.t.a. is January 26, 2012 and I am sure with advancing modern technology that date may change a couple of times as we get closer and as we have check ups and Dr.'s visits but I promise to keep you posted.

I'm sure by now you have noticed the name of my blog: Le Petit LeBlanc (the little LeBlanc). Yup, that's for our little guy or girl. Frankly we dont care which one we get as long as they are happy and healthy. Though I do think Dan is pulling for a boy first. I'm sure Grandpa John would love to have a little more testosterone around the Stuber household as well! We have our first official Dr.'s visit next Friday, June 17th with our baby Dr. I'm sure we will be doing our first sonogram that day also so I look forward to keeping you guys posted as to what's going on but also making sure I post all of the photos as well.

I have to tell you, being a first timer can be nerve wrecking. I am open to all urban legends, wives tales and words of advice that you can provide so link on up, connect to me and start spilling the beans. I look forward to sharing with all of our family and friends both near and far the upcoming details of life in the fast lane at the LeBlanc house. TTFN I'll see you next post.