Pregnancy Must Haves

Oh insomnia, how I love thee... no, wait, no I don't. I loathe thee. I cannot figure out why I can't sleep lately. I'm woken up by random things like the baby kicking, pelvic pain, the dog dreaming, and even Craig yelling "why are you coming after me?" (but in a Jersey Shore-style) in his sleep. Some nights I don't even sleep at all. I'm often woken up just because I'm sweating. Pregnancy sounds fun, yeah??

Well, on top of everything that's going on in my brain, I came across a blog post on People.com that got me thinking. Marla Sokoloff wrote an interesting piece on her pregnancy must-haves. As I looked through her list, I kept thinking "does she think we're all independently wealthy people?" Nearly everything she had on her list is expensive. So, I decided to create my own "must have" list for my friends that are currently expecting! Since this is me we're talking about, you can expect my choices to be somewhat inexpensive.

Clothing
Any good mama-to-be should know to be versatile but there are a few things you're going to need!

I could not have survived my pregnancy without the three empire-waist dresses I bought. When I bought them, I got them on a whim and told Craig "I'm going to wear these all the time!!" We were short on cash and I wound up spending about $100 on two bags of clothes (not just the dresses). While he rolled his eyes at me, I've worn every piece of clothing I bought that day at least 100 times by now. The dresses are my go-to tunics now and I still get compliments when I wear them. They are fantastic for before/during/after pregnancy! 

Make sure you get maternity jeans with a stretch to it! As you expand, you want jeans to expand with you and you're going to need shirts that cover!! Don't forget about sweaters! You WILL get cold at some point, so invest in a few longer cardigans that can easily be taken off when you get hot, again.

Shoes. All you really need are shoes... that will expand with your feet. I preferred wearing boots all winter but I learned a valuable lesson - don't invest a lot of money in new and expensive shoes. They won't last you long. Your feet may go up a size, so look for bargains on shoes that you won't mind tossing once your feet return to a normal-ish size.

It's always nice to have a fancy dress or two - you never know when someone will be getting married or you have a party to go to. My recommendation: buy 1 floor length dress and 1 shorter dress.

Just like your t-shirts, tunics become great for every day wear, so invest in longer tunics that will eventually get shorter as your belly grows. They go well with just about everything - jeans, leggings, skirts...etc.

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

There are also other things you need...
I'm not kidding when I say stretch marks itch. Get Shea butter!  Palmer's Shea butter works really well at relieving dry stretched skin but use a bit of aloe to cool the skin off a bit!

Another thing you'll need: a durable water bottle. I prefer metal, some people prefer glass or plastic. Just make sure it's BIG! You need to stay hydrated and it's easier to throw a water bottle in your purse than it is to go to Starbucks.

Books will keep you entertained but you don't need to buy every pregnancy book on the market. My favorites: Taboo Secrets of Pregnancy: A Guide to Life with a Belly and Expect This! - they're not scary pregnancy books and they're actually rather funny.

I love makeup... and my skin changed a lot with pregnancy. Invest in a few staples: cheek/lip stain, tinted moisturizer, SPF, lip balm, and a cream eyeshadow. These are as versatile as it gets and you don't want your makeup sliding off during the day. Take it from someone who lives in the Middle East!!


The last thing you can't and shouldn't live without: healthy snacks! Keep fruit, oatmeal bars, string cheese, and nuts handy! Keep them in your purse, bag, desk...etc. You're going to get hungry at random times - may as well stave off the hunger. Plus, eating little by little helps keep "angry lady" at bay as well as nausea. Trust me when I tell you that at the drop of a hat your blood sugar will drop - so keep food on you at all times - make it a habit!

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

 

 

Ok, it's your time to chime in ... what were YOUR pregnancy must haves?

Shabbat Reflections: Sitting Shiva in the Social Networking World

I recently came across a post written by someone I've known most of my life. Rabbi Jason Miller wrote an amazing post about sitting Shiva for the traditional Shiva practice. For those readers that don't know, Shiva is the seven-day process of mourning. It applies to the immediate family of someone recently deceased. Traditionally, the mourning family opens up their home so others can come and pay their respects. In recent years, many Jews have become lax with the process and shortened the time for "sitting shiva". Rabbi Miller's post struck a real chord with me and made me think back to July when my grandmother passed away.

My grandmother was somewhat religious - far more religious than most of my family members - and the family obeyed her religious wishes as much as we could. Rather than having people in my grandfather's house, we opened up my Dad's house for Shiva. I can tell you that putting together a Shiva while you're in mourning is one of the hardest things to do. Your friends and community are supposed to help you but they don't always come through. My grandmother had quite a few grandchildren so my stepmom and aunt enlisted us to get things started. It was the hardest job I've ever had. I was so lucky to be shopping for stuff with my sister because she compartmentalized everything and we moved quickly to get it all done. Still, there's nothing like working your way down a grocery list while you're in mourning to put things in perspective.

All I wanted to do was be at home with my family and mourn. I didn't want to be out shopping. My husband updated me with the amount of friends who wrote on my Facebook wall sending their condolences but once the funeral was over and Shiva started, very few of the well-wishers showed up. I'm grateful to the people who came to the funeral or to the Shiva but I read a lot of "sorry, I'm busy with XX" and "I wish I could make it - let me know if you need anything!!" Distance played a factor with some of it - not all of my friends live in Michigan (hell, even I don't live in Michigan) but for the people that did, their words stung a bit. Part of the Shiva process involves your community coming to your house to take care of you and to personally pay their respects.

Don't get me wrong, I met all sorts of people that I didn't know - but they knew my grandmother. Her funeral was packed! She was everyone's grandmother and everyone's mother! She made my friends call her Bubba - not Mrs. Rubin. She would have loved the turnout but as these people invaded my Dad's house, I just looked for a friendly face or two that I could escape with. Craig often found me in the garage "hiding". I wanted to be comforted by my friends - not by strangers who I knew would ask questions about the State of Israel and what it's like to live there. Those are not questions you want to answer when you're mourning. Other people asked me if I was excited to be pregnant - at the time, the answer was no. I wanted my grandmother to be alive - I wanted her to meet my child. It was just another question I didn't want to answer.

The Facebook and Twitter condolences were nice but the friendly faces were better.

I don't remember if we sat Shiva for a full seven days. Sitting for the full length of time is very hard on the mourners because you have to partially play the role of entertainer and someone's gotta clean up when everyone leaves the Shiva home. I have a new-found respect for my stepmom. She pulled it all together for the sake of my father but there's only so much you can ask of one person. I think the worst part about Shiva is the day after it's over. People stop coming to your home and the real mourning begins. You're no longer distracted by people and the real healing process begins.

It's been six months since my grandmother passed away. Do I miss her? Every.Single.Day. Pictures of her adorn the walls of my apartment. I tell stories about her nearly every day. I learned a thing or two from the Shiva experience - I don't like to write condolence remarks on Facebook. I do it because I live so far away from so many people but I prefer to write the mourner something private and I like to check in on them after everyone has cleared the Shiva home. Is there a place for social networking in the mourning world? Absolutely. Is there a place for it when someone is sitting shiva? Sure. Is it still better to make a Shiva call and visit the mourners? 1000000%.

Bed Rest Approved Dinners

I'm kind of limited in what I can do lately. I'm on bed rest and my range of activity is somewhat slim. I can do endless DIY activities as long as they are not stressful and I take breaks to relax... and they need to be done inside my house. I can also cook and I can go to the grocery store. That's about it. Going to IKEA would probably make me a monster and would raise my blood pressure. So, I'm stuck entertaining myself.

What have I done so far?

• Made pillow covers using safety pins and a button
• DIY Micro-Dermabrasion using baking soda and orange juice
• Made low-cal/low-fat dinners

Not bad for someone who is on bed rest, right? Well, this was all just this week's activities so far. I still have the rest of today and tomorrow to get through.


I wanted to share two really yummy dinner recipes that I made that are both low in fat and really easy to make. I made creamy roasted veggie gnocchi for dinner last night and I also made pan-seared potato kreplach (think tortellini) with a lemon butter sauce for dinner a few nights ago. Ready for the recipes?


Creamy Roasted Veggie Gnocchi
First of all, I hated gnocchi growing up - just ask my step-dad. I wouldn't touch it when he made it. I will only eat this stuff if it's in a creamy sauce. So, here's what you need:
1 package of Gnocchi
1 cube of veggie bullion
1 cup of frozen cauliflower
1 cup of frozen broccoli
1 cup of sliced zucchini
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. butter

2 cloves of minced garlic
1 cup of low fat milk
1/8 cup of low fat Parmesean
Salt and Pepper to taste


Here's what you do:
Take a large pot, fill it with water, put it on the stove and add your veggie bullion. Let the water boil.


As the water boils, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Take a large mixing bowl and dump in your veggies. Add your olive oil to the mix, lightly sprinkle the mixture with salt and mix well. Take a baking pan covered in tin-foil and sprayed lightly with PAM - now pour the veggies on to the pan and place the pan in the oven.


Once your water is boiling, add your gnocchi. When all of the gnocchi are at the surface, they're ready to be drained! Once they're drained, set them aside.


Return the pot to the stove and make sure your setting is on medium-low. Add your butter and minced garlic to the pot, stirring quickly. Then add your milk - make sure the milk doesn't burn! Once your milk starts to bubble, add your cheese and stir the mixture until everything is melted. Turn your stove off and add the gnocchi to the mixture. If your veggies are nicely browned, add them as well.


Serve hot!


To make this dish slightly lower in fat, substitute the butter for olive oil. 

Pan-Seared Potato Kreplach in a Lemon-Butter Sauce
For most of my life, kreplach was something you ate in chicken soup and it always came with meat inside. It wasn't until I moved to Israel that I realized there's a wide variety of kreplach on the market. I'm pretty sure if my grandmother knew what I did to kreplach, she'd scold me. This form of kreplach is like tortellini so you can always substitute one pasta for another. Here's what you need: 
One package of frozen kreplach or any kind of tortellini
2 tsp. butter
4 cloves minced garlic
1/8 cup of lemon juice
1/8 cup of flour
Salt and Pepper to taste

Here's what you do:
Take a large pot, fill it with water, put it on the stove and let the water boil. Once it boils, add half of the package of kreplach - then place the rest in the freezer. When all of the kreplach are at the surface, they're ready for draining! Drain them and put them aside for now.

Grab a large and deep pan or skillet. On a medium setting, melt the butter and garlic together - mixing vigorously. Add your lemon juice and mix well. To thicken the mixture, add the flour slowly, making sure you mix as you go. You may not need the full 1/8 cup. Once the mixture looks less buttery, add your kreplach to the mixture. Let the kreplach sit for a few minutes and stir it. You want the pasta to sear, not burn, so keep a watchful eye. Once your mixture has browned on both sides, remove it from the pan and eat it!

Serve hot!!

To make this dish slightly lower in fat, skip the butter and use olive oil instead. If you use olive oil, do not use flour. 

Both of these dishes are very low impact - meaning they won't take you long (both dishes took me less than 20 minutes from start to finish). You can add veggies to each dish or substitute the veggies I used. We try to buy seasonal veggies because they're cheaper but the frozen ones are just as good.

Eat in good health! 

DIY Dog Smell Removal

My sister says I'm "nesting" - I don't fully buy it. I like to use the word "prepping". I'm preparing for the arrival of our parents. I know it's only January 25th and I won't see my in-laws until February 10th but I will see my parents on February 6th ... which means I need to de-dander my couch. Even though my dogs smell nice and pretty (they get baths on a regular basis), my couch does NOT smell nice and pretty. Add a few layers of other people's animals to it and you can see why my couch sucks. We "inherited" the couch from our previous landlord who told us to keep it when we moved out. But she sold the place before we could move out and we're still here. Craig won't throw out the couch because we won't be here for much longer but the thing is gross and smelly. To make matters worse, my apartment is old and no matter how much cleaning gets done, it always looks dirty.

Nesting???

 So, maybe I am nesting. What of it??? Just kidding. I'm still on bed rest so my energy is low but I successfully reorganized a closet today. Why? I wanted a place to put my winter blankets that usually wind up on the couch covered in dog hair. I'll admit, it was a little cathartic. A little. Yet, I still feel like there's more work to be done. Since my Dad is allergic to the dogs, I'm trying to keep the house as dust-free and pet-dander free as possible in anticipation for his arrival. This will be tricky because my dogs LIVE on the couch. We never really taught them not to get on the couch because we actually enjoy cuddling with them there. I can't cover my couch in plastic so I'll do the next best thing and Google "how to get dog smell out of couch".

No nudity on this blog!

Ya know what I found? A lot of nothing but I did find a few quick solutions that will work wonders when done consistently over time. The first set of pet smell removal solutions involves white vinegar, water, lemon juice, and baking soda ... just not all together. That would be so awkward. According to GetSmellOut.com, I can even use vodka as a short term solution for getting rid of pet odor.

I've decided that since I'm home, I'm going to try out a new DIY segment on the blog... it'll be dedicated to the methods I use to get rid of the smell of my pups. My first step, asking you what you do to keep your house smell-free. So, what do you do?

I think my next step will be taking 1 cup of baking soda and 4 drops of lavender oil - sprinkling it all over my couch, then letting it sit for an hour. Then I vacuum it up. It's supposed to take up all the moisture and kill the dust mites.

Step 3 will be to take a bottle of vodka and drink it, and spray my couch with it. Let it dry then vacuum again.

Save for cleaning or save for later??

Step 4 will be to mix equal parts lemon juice and water into a spray bottle, spray it on my couch, let it dry and ... you guessed it, vacuum.

This might lead me right up until my Dad gets here which means I'll re-do step 2 (baking soda and lavender).

OK... maybe I am nesting.

Taking Care of Mom - Post-Baby

Last week, I wrote a post about baby gifts - what to get and what not to get expectant moms. In truth, I've been really lucky - I LOVE everything that's been given to us but the post made me think about what we need and what I need in a larger capacity. I'm constantly being told by my friends that right now is the time to indulge and be selfish ... to spend a little money on myself. In one day, I was told to get a manicure and pedicure plus a new haircut and hair color ... by four different people. First of all, I like my hair cut and my color. Second, I can do my nails myself. Doing my toes is a bit harder but, c'mon people, it's winter! I have a hard enough time shaving my legs this time of year - don't expect me to get a pedicure!

Anyway, as I eagerly await the arrival of the little monster currently destroying my insides, I'm pinning away on Pinterest. My friend, Sarah, wrote a great post about how loving your kids and loving motherhood are not the same thing. This got me thinking that I really need to find things that are just for me so I don't wind up resenting motherhood or my child. So, I created three new boards on Pinterest: Healthy Foods, Post-Baby Workout, and Post-Maternity Style. I know I'm supposed to be worried about the baby's well being, and I will be, but who is going to worry about my well being. So many of my friends have had children and then stopped taking care of themselves. While I won't call them out publicly on it, I really don't want to go that route. Craig and I agreed a loooooonnnnnng time ago that taking care of me is just as important as taking care of Baby Glaser.

During parts of my pregnancy, I went a little crazy with foods that weren't necessarily healthy for me. While 90% of what I eat is good for me, 10% of it hasn't been and I want to change that... hence my health board. I have no intention of eating fat-free this or reduced-calorie that (you should know me better) but I want to put more fruit and veggies into my belly. This pregnancy was rough... I couldn't eat so many complex carbohydrates like brown rice, multigrain bread, or even wheat bread! It totally messed with my system. I love smoothies but, lately, fruit has been really expensive here. I've started freezing fruit that's about to go off and even started buying things like pineapple and apricot in their canned variety. Thankfully, we have a little blender so making smoothies isn't so rough but those are about to get healthier as well!

Once the baby is out, I'm going back to eating healthier!

I'm also heading back to the gym as soon as I can!! So many of my friends tell me that just getting out for a walk helps clear the mind but the gym is "me" time. It'll be a chance for Craig to bond with the baby and a chance for me to get away from the baby ... and Craig ... and the dogs. Don't worry, I won't go overboard but I want to lose the baby weight, get healthy, and be on a path that could have me looking like this:

Source: glamour.com via Hillary on Pinterest

Ok, maybe I won't look like that ... but I'd like to look healthy. And be a size 4. Again. One of my bloggy friends said this wasn't a lofty goal since the baby will need fresh air (and I will need to get out of the apartment), daily walks will help me lose the baby weight. I do have a goal - look better by the time my maternity leave is over. "Better" means not double-chinned and bloated.

The last part of taking care of me comes in the form of clothing. I have clothes that can last me a few weeks after the baby is born but once the initial bloat is gone and I'm deflated, I can't really wear some of this stuff ... and I don't want to invest in a new wardrobe just yet. Remember, I want to lose weight so investing in a brand new wardrobe is just dumb ... but I did make a deal with my Dad. When he and Jo-mama visit, they'll babysit so I can go interim-clothes shopping. Here are a few of my basic style ideas:

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

If you couldn't tell, I like jeans... a lot. The problem: I don't have any!!! These outfits are my cool-Mommy casual-chic outfits that can (and will) be mixed and matched.

So, what do you do to take care of you post-baby? Is there anything special you do for "me" time? 

Kvetching and Baby Gift Ideas

We're gearing up for the baby around here. It's insane! I've had several conversations with my sister this week (she's also pregnant!!) and she's given me insight into things I need vs. things I can do without. She told me that unless I want to do laundry every day (which I'm likely to do anyway), get something called a sheet saver. I googled it and it turns out, I can make one on my own. DIY is way more my style anyway. It's essentially a bathroom hand-towel or smaller bath towel that you place over the sheet to keep spit up  and accidents from spreading to the sheet. Oddly enough, about a month ago, my Mom told me about something similar she made when we were babies.

After talking with her, I spoke to my Dad about what we need vs. what we want. If you didn't already know this, things in Israel are EXPENSIVE! Holy cow! We have six bottles and two pacifiers. My Dad says that's not enough... we can always re-stock later, right?

Last night, I decided I needed to get out of the house. I'm kinda on bed rest... I say kinda because I'm allowed to do things and go places but I need to take it easy. I spend most of my day in bed playing with the iPad... so I let myself go to the grocery store. I noticed two things:

1. I have no patience for the grocery store. Too crowded. Too hot. Very annoying!!
2. 5 shopping bags should not come out to 250nis ($66) - sh*t's expensive here!!!

We noticed a "sale" - 2 "large" packages of diapers for 84NIS ($22)... that is hardly what I call a sale. Craig was ready to take advantage of the sale and stock up but you can't buy size 4 diapers for a baby that hasn't even come out yet!

Photo Courtesy of GiftBasketsPlus.com

Upon venting to a friend, she asked me a very interesting question "so, what do you recommend as a gift for a bris?" Here was my answer:

1. Gift cards - in America, you can get them to Toys R Us, Target, Walmart... anywhere that sells baby stuff. You can add it on as a "little something extra" or just get a bunch of people together and make it a large gift. In Israel, get a gift card from SuperPharm or NewPharm... or better yet, look into IsraCard, a WishUCard from CAL, or a LeumiCard from Bank Leumi. I think you can also pick up gift cards from Shufersal. I did a simple Google search and found quite a few sites that offer gift cards. I do not recommend gift cards to Golf, Shilav, or individual stores where you are limited on what you can buy.
2. DIY Baby Bath Kit - I'll tell you right now, this works VERY well in Israel and the US. It consists of baby shampoo, baby body wash, lotion, baby oil, some washcloths, a baby towel or two, and diaper creams. You can put a gift basket together for less than 200NIS ($50). If you're shopping in the US, use coupons. If you're shopping in Israel, find some gift kits that contain the shampoos, lotions, and washes - and break them up. 
3. DIY Mommy Relaxation Kit - giving birth is hard work (so I've been told), so don't forget about the Mom... she will often forget to take care of herself. A pampering kit containing lotions, a gift certificate for a manicure, and maybe even a Groupon deal for a night out with the hubby really helps her keep her sanity. Also keep in mind that we've been in maternity clothes for a long time... a gift card to H&M or another favorite store REALLY helps as we're transitioning back into fashionable post-maternity clothes. We're also less likely to spend money on ourselves right now, we'd rather spend it on baby-stuff.
4. Baby clothes - Sure, onesies are cute but babies also need socks, leggings, sleepers, and hats. We have 3 pairs of baby socks that will fit the baby for now... and many others that will fit him later. If you're going to buy baby clothes, remember that we get a lot of newborn clothes - so think in advance. Clothing for 3-6 months, 6-9 months, and 1 year are often overlooked. If you buy clothing for the baby that's intended for later months, make sure it's seasonally appropriate. If a baby is born in Winter, getting him a sweatshirt for 6 months-time is probably not the best idea.

Other ideas: baby formula (if the Mom isn't breastfeeding), pacifiers, baby carriers, bottles, bottle cleaners, play mats for the baby, baby bouncy-seats, and alcohol (for the parents). 

If you're buying for a friend who lives overseas, Etsy is AMAZING! You can buy one-of-a-kind baby clothes, blankets, carriers, and baby bath kits for reasonable prices... and they'll ship it to your friend!!

In truth, we'll take whatever you give us! I got so many amazing things at our baby shower and all of it will go to good use. As I packed my hospital bag last night, I had a hard time picking out an outfit for the baby to come home in because everything is TOO CUTE!! Decisions, decisions...

As we speak, I'm being reminded to make food for Craig so he doesn't starve for the 2.5 days I'm in the hospital and for the week after the baby is born. We're not having a public bris (sorry!) but we are encouraging our friends to come by and visit whenever they want! We'll likely need the company...

Not Entirely Unarmed

I know it's been a while since I've posted - things have been a little hectic here. In my last post, I blabbered on and on about my emotions. I'm about to do it again today, so beware!

I had a REALLY horrifically emotional day yesterday. Have you ever known someone when they're descending into a downward spiral? Sometimes they're mean and they take it out on you, but other times they're blindly killing their relationships with others while destroying their life. Yesterday, I encountered both. My day started out really early and I was blindly attacked on a social network by someone who I thought was my friend. He attacked my weight.

Here's something fun to know about me: I'm still recovering from an eating disorder.

I'm 9 months pregnant and I hate the way I look. I won't look back at my pregnancy pictures and say "WOW, I looked amazing" because I don't think that I do.

OK, I mildly like this photo...

The reason for the attack? My perceived political views. Yup, you read right.
Here's another thing you should know about me: I'm a Republican ... but I will always stand up for someone's civil rights. That includes someone's right to marry who they wish.

Anyway, I was attacked for the sheer fact that I vote Republican. Except, this year, voting Republican doesn't feel right. Neither does voting for Obama. Maybe I just won't vote.

Attacking my weight was the tip of the iceberg. Another friend, who has been in a downward spiral for a while, hasn't climbed out of it yet and is slowly killing relationships - it hurts to watch.

I take a lot of this to heart because I hate seeing people in pain.

Want to add insult to injury? As of today, I am on bed rest. My blood pressure was so high yesterday that the doctor wouldn't even tell me what it was. Our conversation went like this:
Doctor: Are you working now?
Me: Yes (giggle)
Doctor: So, you're not.
Me: I said I am working.
Doctor: No, from today, you are NOT working.
::crickets::

Mind you, my doctor is originally from Turkey and his English is accented well - so I can't always tell when he's kidding. Yet, he gave me my sick note and told me "bed rest means rest. You Americans don't really know what rest is - so rest." I laughed a bit, walked out, called Craig and then called my boss. It didn't sink in until about 30 minutes later and I nearly had a meltdown in the middle of Herzliya.

I'm quite sensitive lately - if you couldn't tell. I take things to heart and the last few days have been really rough. I'm not good at sitting on the sidelines and I actually hate sitting at home doing nothing. I'd actually rather be at work but I'm at home, trying not to drive myself crazy. My saving grace for today: Sparky the dog... although he took over my pillow and won't give it back!

Shabbat Reflections - Emotions

I watched the most amazing thing this past week. It wasn't on TV or at the movies - it was in real life. I watched two of my best friends marry each other. I'm normally not an excited person and I normally don't get excited about weddings but these two individuals are responsible for some of the most amazing things that have happened in my life. If it wasn't for them, I would not have met Craig. We wouldn't be married and I wouldn't be pregnant.

Watching the two of them get married was one of the highlights of my week! I did my best not to cry under the Chuppah (marriage canopy) but as I watched them exchange vows and I listened to the Rabbi speak, it was hard not to get emotional.

I guess that's been the theme of my week - emotions.

Source: tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

I have a few weeks left before I'm "officially" due and I can't wait to meet the little guy. We saw a 4D image of him on Wednesday and he seems to look like me from the nose downward. I can't believe I'm partially responsible for creating that life! After the ultrasound, we went to see a new doctor (mine is on vacation right now) and the appointment was not the greatest. He has the personality of an Ice King and my blood pressure was a bit high to him. Not high enough to do anything but send me to the nurses for blood pressure tests three times a week.

Going to the nurses station is enough to send anyone's blood pressure through the roof. What's worse than a nosey Jewish Mom? A nosey Jewish Mom with an RN degree in Israel. Joking, joking. Anyway, aside from the hell that is the nurses station, everything else seems great! I feel good (except the tingling in my fingers) and there's a lot of movement from the baby.

Everything is just SO emotional though. Looking at baby clothes makes me cry. Putting the crib together makes me cry. The only thing that didn't make me cry was looking for a car seat - it made me annoyed because the store was REALLY hot.

Anyway, this Shabbat, as I reflect back on my week, I can honestly say it's been a great week. What can you tell me about your week?