Belly Shots!

My good friend, Katie Klotzbach, took these amazing belly shots. I just think they are so fun and I love them all! You know you're working with a good photographer when your too lazy to change, put on make-up or shower and you're still in love with the photos. 

I Can't Even Explain

A few days ago, I was looking through old pictures of myself on facebook. And I was getting so happy looking at them and remembering all the amazing times I have had in my life, I felt it was neccesary to share this. I actually said to Martin, "I have had a pretty awesome life so far".

The great thing about looking back at old pictures is it stirs up old memories that you had stored away and suddenly your laughing remembering that one night, or some great conversation.



Except this picture. I can't remember anything about it. I have no idea what impulsed us to claw at the camera. I guess this one will remain one of life's mysteries.

A Conversation

*Sunday Night at Our Apartment*

Martin: My back is killing me. It really hurts. I need to lay down. It hurts soooo bad.

*Monday Morning*

Martin: I slept terrible last night. My back is still killing me. I don't know what the problem. I think the only positive out of this is I can better relate to your pregnancy sleeping problems.

*Monday Afternoon Phone Conversation*

Martin: So, I think I figured out why my back was hurting me so much.
Me: Why's that?
Martin: Because, I held in a really big sneeze.
Me: Are you kidding me? That might be the most unheroic story I have ever heard.

36 weeks

So, I don't have any pictures for this week. But my dear friend, Katie Klotzbach took a little photoshoot of me this weekend and I'll be sure to post those when I get them.

I am also sort of lacking in updates. I mean, not much really happens in a week.

But...

I lost 1 pound between last week and this week. Which prompted Martin to immediately ask me if that was ok - and the doctor said my weight is fine.
This baby is still kicking like crazy!
I have her corner of our bedroom all set up and its soo cute
I learned how to put a carseat into a car.
According to the doctor, I have had a textbook normal pregnancy.
Also, I guess I am not considered full-term until next week but the doctor said if I were to go into labor now they wouldn't try to stop it because the baby is fully developed, big enough and would be fine.


.....and that basically sums up my life as a pregnant woman.

Dealbreaker

So I've discovered a new game that I love. I love it almost as much as Never Have I Ever and I think its an easier (and less uncomfortable) game for people to play. Caton introduced me to this game last Wednesday night when I met her and Martha in Rochester.

Here's the basic premise:

You go around the table and say something like a certain quality, habit, etc. that a significant other could possess. If this particular trait is a dealbreaker for you to date/marry/be in a relationship with that person, you drink. If, on the rare occasion this is a dealmaker for you, you finish your entire drink (I sort of added that part right now, but I think its a fun twist). If it is neither a dealbreaker or dealmaker for you you don't have to drink.

Let me give you some examples:

He subscribes to a weekly porn subscription.

He smokes regularly.

He weighs less than you.

He has kids. (that aren't yours)

He is a used car salesman.

you get the idea....

The sky is the limit on the questions you can ask and it leads to very interesting and fun conversation!

Adjusting

For about a week and a half now, sleeping has been an absolute nightmare. By absolute nightmare, I mean I cannot sleep through the night. I wake up several times and my back is absolutely killing me. About a week ago, after 3 nights of pure torture, I decided I had better try the couch to see if I would have better luck. Fortunately, this has been a lot better, unfortunately, it has not solved all of my sleeping issues (as evidenced by the fact that I am writing this post at 1:02 AM).

Anyway, as I've mentioned before and as you can see above, Martin and I have a king-size bed. It is huge. But despite its large size, it took Martin approximately 45 minutes to find a more comfortable sleeping position after I left. And that more comfortable position involves consuming every last inch of the bed.

All Grown Up

On Wednesday night, I met my amazing friends Caton and Martha in Rochester for drinks and dinner. (I drank water).


As we're all sitting around the table enjoying gourmet pizza,

Caton: I can't believe how much we've all grown up.
Martha: I know! I'm wearing a turtleneck right now!

Sheer Panic.

Ok, so I normally don't refer to work at all  on this website and here I am doing it two days in a row.

My Boss: (speaking to a co-worker of mine) Have you seen Jenna yet this morning?
Co-worker: No, I texted her a half hour ago but she hasn't responded yet. (then jokingly) Maybe she's in labor.
My Boss: (at this point she can't utter any words as a mask of sheer panic stretches across her face.)


*a few minutes later I enter meeting room*

My Boss: Oh, there you are Jenna. Wow, you look like you're going to have a baby any minute now. I was worried you were in labor.

In The Market

A phone conversation between Martin and I last night.

Me: So, I was just calling to tell you that we're going to need a realtor.
Martin: For what??
Me: To buy a house
Martin: ..........where?







Me: In Albion!!
Martin: Are you serious???



That's right, I was told at work yesterday that I will be continuing in my current district until I go out on maternity leave and then returning to take over a district in the Rochester/Buffalo area. I'm not sure what stores yet - but we're super excited!!


If you know of any great deals on great houses for sale, let us know!

Thirty-Five

So, yesterday I was thirty-five weeks pregnant. I went to the doctor to and found out lots of fun facts.
weight 158 pounds! yikes! (because I really am carrying most of the weight in my belly, the nurses always assume I am under 150, so they always start the scale on the 100 mark, go all the way up to the 50 (it is around this time that I actually start paying attention and apologize for not telling that that I've already crossed to the other side a few weeks ago.)
dialated one centimeter. The doctor said this basically doesn't mean anything. I mean, I guess its good that I'm starting to dialate, but people walk around 3 centimeters dialated for weeks.
baby is head down. The doctor said that usually at this point if the baby is head down, she won't flip position again so that is also good.

craving  well, I'm not craving anything, really, but Martin keeps bringing me home packages of oreos (I still haven't decided if they're for me or him) and I can't help  but eat them.
sleeping has become a challenge. I was getting so sore sleeping in our bed (which I used to love more than life itself) that I've now moved onto the couch, which is slightly better for some reason unbeknowest to me. Martin has taken to calling sleep time uncomfortable lay down time.

Ah, Fall

Happy Tuesday!

Morning

I stop at this corner evey morning when I'm driving down to the Horseheads/Elmira area. And every morning I am struck by the beauty of this tree. I'm not sure why, it never has any leaves, but something about the sun and the clouds and the sky behind it. I just love it.

Take Your Wife to Work Day

 On Friday, I took the day off from work. It was kind of a last minute decision, but due to the fact that I had already worked too many days in a row, I didn't need to go into work, so I decided to spend the day with my amazing husband.

 Of course, it poured all day long so I sat in the truck while Martin was loading and unloading the truck. Martin kept playing musical shirts so he could wear a dry sweatshirt.

And we were also constantly battling over the heat because whenever we were driving I was overheating and Martin was freezing. I still can't figure out why, it was at least 100 degrees in that cab. Also, after sitting for such a long period of time my feet got pretty swollen - which is my first pregnancy experience with swollen feet and one that I would like to avoid in the future.

But it was great to spend a day with my darling husband.

Introductions

So before really going into this story, I should give a little backstory. Martin and I have been married for two years, but we have been dating for 5. That being said - we have come a long way in our relationship. Like we've moved past the fact that it took us about 4 months to figure out that we both liked each other and we should probably date. Anyway, 5 years ago, Martin was absolutely horrible at introducing me to people we would meet. Which was rather unfortunate because back then I didn't know anyone that he knew so basically everyone we encountered everywhere we went was a person I had never met. So Martin would always be talking away like a normal human being and I would be there, standing next to him, looking like a dumb bimbo with no real thoughts in my head because I didn't know whom we were talking to and I hadn't been introduced to the conversation and I really just looked like a stupid shadow, or something.

Anyway, then we got in a really big fight about it. By really big fight, I mean, I yelled at Martin and he listened.

Now he is really really good at introducing me to everyone. He really makes a valient effort and I love him for that. Last Saturday night was no exception.

Martin had come down to the Horseheads/Elmira area to help me with a reset for work. Then we went out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

Waiter: Hi, my name is Eric and I will be your waiter tonight
Martin: Hi, my name is Martin and this is my lovely bride, Jenna.
Eric: Ok. Well....most people don't introduce themselves back......but, no problem, that's fine. Nice to meet you.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Martin took this photo a long time ago. Sometime during the summer when the corn was still green. But, since I just recently was granted to ability to receive picture messages, he just recently sent it to me saying it was probably the most poetic picture he would ever take.  And I have to agree, it is amazing.

I also showed him how to save the pictures from his phone onto the computer and then how to upload an album to facebook, a process which made me really admire my own patience, if I do say so myself.

Fishing In The Dark

Ok. So not really fishing in the dark but fishing in the daylight. I just really like that song and wanted to use it as the post title. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, maybe a month ago now, Martin and I went fishing one Sunday afternoon. Martin was doing really well and kept pulling in fish upon fish upon fish. It was actually getting a little ridiculous.

I was.......not.  While I've gotten really good at casting, I still need to work on my skills with actually catching the fish. Here's what happens. I cast. I get a bite. I get really excited and instead of giving the pole a slight jerk to hook the fish, I give it a large jerk that always feels like its going to be very slight. Therefore, instead of hooking the fish - I generally pull the hook away from the fish, leaving the fish with my precious worm. It's rough. I'm telling you.

Anyway, I finally caught a little fish (you can see it sticking out of my hand) and Martin took a picture of the event on his cell phone.

Squirrel

 When I was taking a walk in Brooklyn a few weekends ago. I became completely fascinated by a squirrel. Mostly because it so openly stayed in one spot so I got tons of photos of him.

 Amanda said this seemed out of character for me since its not like I'm from NYC and never seen wildlife before.

 Also,  tame squirrels were a dime a dozen on Cornell's campus.

 But I think I've just been into taking random series of pictures lately. It's fun!

 I especially love this one!

34.

 So, I am officially 34 weeks pregnant! That is insane. Wanna know something else that's insane? - as of last Thursday when I went to the doctor, I had gained 30 lbs! But until I have another appointment next week to confirm the large amount of weight gain, I'm going with, I had just eaten lunch. So that's at least 3-4 extra pounds just hanging out and doing nothing. 

Also, I have lots (ok two) great pregnancy stories to update you on this week.

Just before heading to the doctor's office last week I had to use the bathroom. But I held it. Why? Because I knew they were going to make me pee in a cup when I got there and I wanted to be prepared. Then I got there and was so preoccupied by the fact that I really had to use the bathroom that I went ahead and completely forgot to use the cup. Needless to say they fed me lots of water during my appointment and we had to do a take two of the bathroom scene before I left.

Last night after work I stopped by the Verizon store. For whatever reason my phone was not allowing me to send or receive picture messages even though everything appeared to be in place. Then the tech fixed it for me. Anyway, that's not about me being pregnant. While I was waiting for someone to help me I accidentally dropped my car keys on the floor and thus bent over to pick them up. As I'm standing up I notice a girl who is probably in college rushing over

Girl: Oh, I was going to get those for you.
Me: Oh, thank you. I'm all right though.
Girl: Umm, do you mind if I touch your belly.
Me: Oh yeah, sure. Whatever.
Girl: Oh my god. I think this is the head right here. I'm sorry I'm touching this so much. This is just so exciting. My mom was in labor with me for 36 hours, not that I'm trying to scare you or anything. She was 30 when she had me though.  I'm sorry if I'm pushing too hard. I would just love to be pregnant right now. Oh my god! But I am just too young! Do you know if its a boy or a girl?
Me: Oh, it's a girl.
Girl: Oh my god. That is so great. Do you have a name picked out?
Me: Oh yeah, we're going to name her Aubrey.
Girl: Oh my god, that is such a beautiful name! You don't hear too many Aubrey's. I wish I had a great name like that. My name is Kristin but I wish it was Chrystanthamum. Well good luck with everything! Bye!

My belly is so huge in this picture I swear I look just like I did when I was twelve years old and my cousin and I stuffed balloons in our shirts at a baby shower.

Photo Craze

 Last Friday night, Martin and I headed out for Western New York to attend Jimmy's wedding on Saturday.

 When we arrived in Batavia shortly after 8. We were famished. I mean, I was famished. Martin was just hungry.

 So, we decided to go to the chinese buffet for dinner. Martin had decided it was close enough to home that if it affected his body in the usual manner, he would be able to get home in time. Also, we hadn't had Chinese in a very long time.

 And then, we were the only people there.

 So we (I) decided we should take a million pictures.

 Even though Martin's face doesn't reveal his true feelings in this particular photo. He was surprisingly agreeable to the task.

Because our Friday nights have really gotten to be quite the party night.

Please Give Back the Keys

Last weekend, Martin's college roommate got married. We attended the wedding. For some reason I was possessed to get a photo of us before leaving for the ceremony. I'm not really sure why. I was having lots of problems that morning. Those problems include, None of my dresses fit me, I look fat in those pants (or at least in that picture), my hair is still wet and a mess in this photo, my favorite part about this picture is the heavily warted giant pumpkin in the background. Maybe I should have just cropped this photo to include only the pumpkin. It would have saved me a lot of anxiety.

Anyway...

So we went to the wedding, which was fun because we haven't seen a lot of Martin's close friends from college in a while. So, it was fun to see them all again. Also, because Martin's friends love a good joke - the best man's speech was quite entertaining. At one point he said, "If anyone out there still has keys to Jimmy's house could you please bring them up" At this point myself, another pregnant lady, Gabe and an old woman had all been instructed to bring keys to the head table. Someone had also given Martin a vibrating pink toy (I don't know if its in very good taste to divulge to exact description of this item here) but he was given this to carry up to the table and give to Laura, Jimmy's new wife. Except no one called him up. So instead he played with it all night long. He found this infinitely halarious. I, being sober, did not.

One the plus side, as the only sober person at a wedding, you also get to learn fun stuff about everyone as they have no qualms against divulging it and your memory is still crystal clear the next day!

How To Tell When Its Been Too Long...

You know it's been too long since you had a sip of alcohol when you open up the refrigerator on a Friday night to get a drink of water and then change your mind thinking,

You know what, it's Friday. I'm going to have a ginger-ale.

And then you secretly praise yourself for being so rebellious.


That's when you know it's been too long.

Just Listen

*Song comes on radio while Martin and I are riding in car together*

Me: Oh, I love this song.
Martin: Its because its basically about me, right?
Me: Yeah. maybe partly.

I'm A Little More Country Than That

Have I Mentioned...

Have I ever mentioned how much I love old couples. I adore this cute couple having a picnic lunch at the Brooklyn Bridge.

A Picnic and An Arts Festival

Because, at times, Amanda and I blow ourselves away with our ability to plan - we had walked down to the farmer's market in Amanda's neighborhood on Saturday and purchased pears, plums, fresh baked sourdough and cheese to take on a picnic on Sunday. Needless to say, we had an amazing picnic lunch at the Brooklyn Bridge Park on Sunday.

Also, we lucked out because there was an arts festival going on in that section of town that weekend. While the entire event seemed slightly disorganized and it would have been entirely possible to walk though the event and never realize there was anything overarching theme holding everything together - it was still really awesome. I was really happy that they took a really broad view of art and therefore the festival featured a lot of different genres that can be considered art. In the park, there was a dance competition going on and Amanda and I witnessed several teams competiting in that with very moving pieces during our lunch. Just outside the park - not only was there a charade of street performers taking turns on a small stage setup, but there was also a pie tasting contest! And then throughout different shops were different features of art. Amanda and I spent a couple of hours in an amazing bookstore which had featured Brooklyn photography on the walls of store and other than sitting down and reading tons of decorating and cookbooks - we had a great time looking at very artistic pictures of people from Brooklyn.

33. thirty-three.

Ok. So today I am 33 weeks pregnant. I don't have too many updates to add other than I hate bending over, my stomach is almost always being pushed on from at least six different angles, and I'm starting to get pretty bored of the few shirts that continue to fit me.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Last Sunday morning while Amanda was still sleeping, I went for a walk around her Brooklyn neighborhood and took pictures.



These old buildings are gorgeous! If I could afford to live in something like this, I might, just might contemplate living in Brooklyn.

I mean, wouldn't you love to walk up these steps everyday.

I might leave home just so I could come back.

And so I could get a view of the adorable streets.

And I would definitely be all about having one of those apartments that screams, she has a green thumb! mostly because there's really so few. 

Saturday in New York

 

 Because Amanda and I are huge nerds, we spent Saturday afternoon in New York doing lot of nerdy things. Like touring the Met, The New York Public Library and then spending two hours in a bookstore that has 18 miles of books!