Welcome to the world, Sofia Kathleen Daniel

Welcome to the world my sweet princess. You are a beautiful 5lb-15oz baby girl whose 18-3/4" stature will change the world. Your gorgeous brown hair and starry eyes will stun everyone who gazes upon you. Your parents, family, and friends will care and look over you with endless, unconditional love. We will do our best to make this world a better place for you, so you may grow in health, happiness, and love. This world is a wondrous place filled with people doing wonderful things. May you choose your own path of greatness, and know that your mother and I will always be behind you, supporting you at every fork in the road. May you choose the road less traveled, and show us all the way. Welcome to the world my sweet princess.

Quote of the Week

"Meghan! They look like they belong to another person!" This in response to showing my doctor my swollen hands, ankles and feet at my 9 month check up this afternoon.

It has been quite a whirlwind since our last post. When I was at my doc appointment last week Wednesday, it was confirmed that I was having contractions and was dialated already to 1 cm. This lead us into the immediate tailspin of trying to complete all our last minute to-do items and into a frenzy of excitement. Sunday, when my contractions started getting really close together, we called the doc and headed over to the hospital. After spending 5 hours there and no change they sent us home. We were sad but glad that the baby was doing really well and would still have some time to gain some more weight. The nurse at the hospital told us that when I "really hated Chris during my contractions" that we would know it was "almost time" for the baby to arrive. We laughed. Nice analogy by the nursing staff.

We both went to work this week feeling anxious, tired and wondering when this kid is going to show itself. With another appointment scheduled for today, we looked forward to hopefully finding out that something had changed to indicate progress. And it happened! I am now 3 cm dialated and my doc took me off of work. While it is not quite a predictor of when Baby D will arrive, it is definitely a sign that he/she is on the way much sooner than later! :)

Now to figure out what to do with all this time off!

Beer Anyone?

Hey, I take lots of time writing and even more time proof reading my poor spelling and I don't even get a comment from anyone? Not even from my beer buddies and not even from the folks? Either somnething else of importances is on his way fo people are stuck looking at my beautifyul wife! Anyway, its a good blog, check it out below...

Livin' Large...Literally

Oh the joys of pregnancy. 34 weeks and 5 days (That's just over 8 and 1/2 months for those of you who don't feel like counting.). It feels like just yesterday that we found out we were going to having a bouncing bundle of joy. Who am I kidding...It feels like 34 weeks and 5 days. :) As we embark on these last few weeks, I can't help but laugh at some of the odd things that have taken place. Here's just a small glimpse into what life has been like lately...



1) Cravings have become a little bit more frequent. They are odd though - I don't want certain foods at specific moments. It is more of a subconscious thing. For instance, I went to the grocery store to buy food to make for meals during the week. Some of the items I came home with were two boxes of cookies, brownie mix, ice cream, carmel and fudge sauces, cream cheese and 4 kinds of cereal. What I DIDN'T get: bagels to put the cream cheese on, meat or other mealtime substantials. I am not so sure I should be the one who does the shopping for a while.



2) I officially have lost my ankles and wrists. Where did they go? The wacky world of swelling has morphed the boniest parts of my body into pudgy stubs with no resemblence of their former life.

3) Huge blue wrist braces for carpel tunnel are definintely humbling. While, I am surely ready for roller blading at any time with these beasts on, they are seriously dorky. I can't even BEGIN to describe the hilarious comments that people have said to me at school. An added bonus: they're ambidextrous for those days that I really get swiss cheese brain!



4) I thought I would be at least 80 before my husband had to help me out of bed. Nope! 26 is the magic number! I can no longer roll out of bed on my own. With his hands on my derriere, he gives a little shove and it's off to the races. :) Does OXO make a human spatula?

5) I have always been known for creating lists of things to do, but 4 1/2 weeks before a child is coming into this world, my to-do list is RIDICULOUS! Anxious doesn't even scratch the surface for how excited we are but how insanely detailed in our to-do items for the next few weeks are.

6) Instead of Saturday afternoon college football games, we go to birthing classes and watch videos with couples from the '80's. While they are super informative and we love what we are learning, is it really necessary that we be subjected to not only outdated clothes but the moaning too? Just the hairstyles along make the movies scary!

7)The baby has dropped and as a result, my hugely expanded wardrobe of just a few weeks ago has dramatically dwindled once again. It's amazine how a simple shift in this bowling ball physique of mine causes only a few items of clothing to fit. Chris's sweatshirts and t-shirts have proved for excellent substitutes.



8) We are fantasy football addicts! I admit it, I completely made fun of Chris last year for being involved in a fantasy league, so I have definintely eaten some crow for joining my own league this year. However, Sunday mornings we sit together and get giddy over what quarterback or tight end to put on our rosters to earn the most points. We eagerly watch our stattrackers during the games and get excited over 10th's of points earned. It has been a great way to learn about football, but when it comes down to it.....IT'S FANTASY FOOTBALL! Yes, official dorkdom has been reached.

Great American Beer Festival - Denver Style

Greetings from the nations micro brewery capital. This weekend was Denver's turn to host the annual Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center. It started Thursday night and went through Saturday night and every session was sold out.. Meg and I went with one of her co-teachers Carrie and her friend Chris. Later we met up with another co-teacher Lee-Ann and her husband Matt. I was extremely impressed with Carrie's knowledge of all types of beers and their history. She even volunteered at last year's gala.

There were breweries from all over the world here, each with their booths sampling some of their finest fermentations. Each "golden ticket" got the beholder a plastic 4oz glass and would go to each booth and get a 1oz sample from the volunteers. Each beer usually had a laminated description in front of it or the volunteer was knowledgeable about their menu. There was also a designated driver area with plush leather couches for the pregnant ladies, mothers/fathers with kids, or other sober people who needed a break. Meg and Lee-Ann were our DD's and really enjoyed the people watching. Groups of people dressed up with matching home-made beer slogan shirts and beer-themed outfits. There were plenty of pretzel necklaces for sale and more decorative ones people brought from home. I sampled some excellent stouts (really dark) and superb I.P.A.'s (stronger and lighter in color) from all over. The mid-west has a real strong showing and the south didn't have much that impressed me. There was one Hawaiian brewery that was medal winning and will be sold here soon....mmmmmm....beeeeeer. It was quite hilarious seeing the so-called judges stumbling around later as some of the booths were running out of beer.

This festival had record numbers and some of the breweries were not prepared, or the volunteers that got free drinks were giving out more than 1oz per pour. The cool thing was that you could have as much as you wanted at a booth, they could only give you 1oz at at time. Most people were like us and wanted to sample all different kinds. I had one beer that was espresso and jalepeno flavored and that took me by surprise. Sometimes even the witty names couldn't fully describe the wide variety of flavors and aromas. My favorite was a smooth vanilla stout that was so flavorful yet not too strong. I saw a lot of people wearing Bell's Brewery shirts from the great city of Kalamazoo, MI. Bell's is home of one of my favorite beers, Oberon (summer wheat). Its pretty hard to get too snochered off of 1oz of beer per sample, but some still managed. I was pretty good as one does get full from drinking some of the finer, darker, more filling beers.

Can't wait for next year festival, CHEERS!

Sweet Nothings

I truly am the luckiest woman in the world.

On Thursday afternoon, Chris left for Michigan to attend the wedding our our very good friends, Kamran and Nicole Ismail and spend time with his familiy. I was incredibly bummed that I couldn't go due to being too pregnant to fly.

Enter best husband in the world.

After two long nights of parent teacher conferences, I got home late Thursday night to find not one, not two, but nearly TWENTY hidden love notes around the house to let me know how much Chris loved the baby and I while he was gone! It has definintely made his time away more bearable - especially because I have been laid up on the couch for most of the weekend with a horendous cold.

Needless to say, I am so excited that he is coming home tonight and we can hang out and catch up. Our first birthing class began yesterday, so I have a lot of teaching to do on the subject of breathing through contractions! :)

The Laws of Gravity

We all remember the days of hanging upside down on the monkey bars on the playground, doing handstands and being held upside down by an older sibling/relative. Good times, yes, but the feeling of blood rushing to your head is one that will never be forgotten.

Today, the doctor told me that the baby has "flipped" and already has it's head in the downward position. So what's the deal? Do the laws of gravitational force not apply in utero? Why would any creature want to be upside down for such a long period of time? I mean, I still have WEEKS to go before this kid comes out! It just can't be comfortable and my scientific brain cannot wrap itself around this wacky concept.

I should totally be grading, but contemplating Newtonian physics is way more entertaining.

Chris's response to my thoughts: "You are such a dork."

Takes one to know one. :)

Quite The Week

When it rains, it pours. This has been quite the week in the Daniel household.

It began with both of us having insanely busy weeks at work. No big deal. We're both used to that. What we didn't anticipate was Chris's one-year old truck to get stuck on the highway because it wouldn't shift into gear, a $1900 price tag to fix it, my blood pressure to spike to 150/90, my doctor telling me to wear wrist braces 24/7 due to severe carpel tunnel as well as finding out there is a good chance I won't go full term. Let's just put it this way - we were both really glad when the weekend arrived! :)

Despite the craziness that the week entertained us with, we did have a few great moments. Last weekend, we picked up the final piece of furniture for the nursery. It is a beautiful gliding rocking chair that was a gift from my step-mom, step-grandma and step-aunt. We are SO incredibly lucky to have such a caring and supporting family as we embark on a new life with a little one! :) THANK YOU Rose, Fran and Rene!!!

Like a first grader who got her first 100% on a spelling test, I hung an accomplishment on the refrigerator too! My Master's diploma arrived on Wednesday and it is proudly hung right on the refrigerator! Chris and I laughed so hard at the lameness and simplicity of the action. Let's face it though, is there really a better place to hang up one's best work?

With my diploma posted, I also received a copy of my transcripts which I promptly sent to our HR department. Next week's monthly paycheck is going to ROCK with the pay raise that will come along with the completion of my degree!

That's it for now. Chris is at the Broncos game today with some work buddies and I am working on some long-term lesson plans with my feet up on the couch. I'm sure Chris will have tons to talk about after the game.:)

More soon. Prego out.

Birthday Fun

Yes, it's true. The national holiday has come and gone. What national holiday, you ask? My birthday, of course! :) 26. Twenty-six. T-W-E-N-T-Y-S-I-X. Geez. My sister called to wish my a happy birthday recalling how it seemed just like yesterday that I turned 16 and got a cute little car. That thought was followed by, "Oh my gosh, that was 10 years ago!" I was proud to see that Kristen's math skills were at work.

Anyway, despite the momentary struggle with passing over a quarter of a century, my birthday truly was a fabulous day. My students sang to me, friends brought me breakfast, my husband and friends organized dinner and Chris booked an AMAZING prenatal massage for me this morning as my gift. It was great! I feel so lucky to have so many people in my life who are so caring.

The restaurant we went to last night was called Tamayo. We have wanted to go there forever, so it was great to go on such a special night. The restaurant specializes in modern Mexican cuisine - basically REALLY good Mexican food that is pretty too! :) Octoberfest was also going on right outside on the block surrounding the restaurant which provided for a fun stroll after dinner was complete.

Thanks again for all the cards and phone messages! I feel truly loved!!

Here are a few pics from last night's dinner with Matt, Stacey, Dawn, Chris and I. Enjoy!

xoxo


Our friends, Matt and Stacey at Tamayo for dinner.


Our friend, Dawn. She and I teach together. Her birthday is tomorrow. Virgo power!


Chris and I at Tamayo. Good food and great company!


Matt, Stacey and Chris enjoying the sites, smells, tastes and sounds of Octoberfest. :)

Insomnia

It's 3:47 a.m. I've been awake for hours. What is it that people think about at this hour of the morning? Let me tell you!

1) How is it that a ceiling fan can spin so fast and not make any noise? The laws of mechanics and physics amaze me.

2) The seemingly immortal Steve Irwin has passed away. The conservationist and zoological community has lost a major player and it is incredibly sad.

3) Parents. This weekend I received an email from a parent whos child clearly exaggerated and twisted a conversation that we had on Friday thus leading to a blind-siding blow to my intensions to watch out for the amount of homework she had. When did teachers become the wrongdoers in every situation without being given any thought or benefit of the doubt to what might have ACTUALLY have taken place?

4) Parents. Am I going to be that way?

5) My husband works so hard. Day in and day out he pulls himself out of bed before 5 a.m. and gets in his truck for a 50 minute drive to his jobsite where he works hard all day and often leaves after everyone else is gone. He gets home after days like this and then only wants to take care of me. His drive an ambition are inspiring. I love him beyond imagine.

6) Like a 5 year old sleeping without her blanky for the first time, I miss my mom. Yup, it's true. I'm not sure if it's the point I'm at in pregnancy, the flu/moldy fruit I've been dealing with the past few days, or if I just plain miss her. But, I do.

7) I turn 26 on Friday. I have passed and waved good-bye to a quarter century. Is this the point where people start to feel old?

8) I should not have this much going on in my head at 4:00 in the morning! SLEEP MEGHAN!!