Friday, October 31, 2008

happy halloween

I've noticed, as you may have, that i go through phases with this blogging business of being diligent for a time, then ignoring it for a while. Really, i never ignore it.
Sometimes, i'm crabby and pregnant, and dont have very many happy tidbits to give you all.
Other times, i'm just fresh out of wit (this stuff doesn't grow on trees, you know).
And still other times, i dont want to be the typical pregnant lady that has NOTHING to talk about other than being "in waiting". the truth is, i DONT really have anything else to talk about, as this can be a bit consuming and i'm stuck in the house all day. and sometimes i even want a new subject....
So, i'll do what i usually do when its been a while since i last updated "whitney and brooks news", and give you some recent updates, thoughts, and musings, in no particular order or organized fashion.

*HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! For the holiday, im an overtired lady with a misplaced and grotesquely large goiter. Brooks is an equally overtired but ridiculously caring daddy-to-be. Chester is too cool for halloween and wants his damn lap back.

*at our 36 week appointment, BGG had dropped-- very exciting and painful-- i have the back of an 80 year old. but... PROGRESS!!

*at the 37 wk appt, our funny little athlete had "un"dropped. i didn't know this could even happen. We were proud of her agility and individualism but felt a bit like we were "headed" in the wrong direction. Brooks had a little talk with bgg and gave the "bell" a persuasively downward massage and what do you know,

*by the 38 week appt (which was wed), bgg had "re"dropped. what a good girl. Also at this appt, the doc thought it wise to have a weight estimate done. i think it wise too....i used to think when the baby was born, chester would literally be the "big brother". Now i'm not so sure. I look wrong, and i can literally FEEL baby girl running out of room in there. the kicks have gone from field goal attempts, to ballet, to minor adjustments. Hearbeat sounds great though and we got praise for a happy home from the OB.
So we're going to get an ultrasound on monday, and i'll report in with a weight when we know. The doctor wants to know the weight to discuss delivery options (she is that vague). I inferred from her that she thinks were dealing with a pretty large girl here and might want to go the surgical route. i guess the bigger the baby, the higher risk of birth related injury for her, and i think she's taking into account my pelvis. As this would normally make me uneasy and i may even put up a good fight about it, i've reached the point where all i want is to get her here safely and healthy (and hopefully sooner rather than later). I am willing to do as told, mostly, and am just focusing on the outcome.

*right before this 38th wk appt, brooks and i sat in the car in the doctor's office parking lot and listened to the end of the world series. Go phillies! that was exciting. Brooks and i were talking about how we hoped they'd give that "flyin' hawaiian" a parade when he came home. We should've known: they are making an official shane victorino DAY here in hawaii, with of course a parade. Its like i was telling my mom: On our news, the sports segment talks about Shane Victorino and high school football before turning it back over to the hard news: the debate over whether or not to build a public train and the cause of death of the beached whale on the north shore of oahu, both stories are going on about a month.

* we got a new camera! A normal-people kind! digital, point-and-shoot, and about the size of a deck of cards. I kept imagining lugging around one of our big heavy cameras, having to lock it up or carry it everywhere, etc. It has video too... and being so far away from you all, we're going to need something convenient with which to share baby girl's first photos. Now i offically can't think of ANYTHING else we need to do in preparation of bgg's arrival. i've taken some pictures with it and will prove that soon, cause as of now, i haven't figured out the wires and connections yet. This will probably take 30 seconds, i know, but i just plain haven't felt like it yet.

* new craving: raisons. I can't get enough. I use the word craving casually here. i dont think i've actually had any real cravings being preggo. more like inclinations. so the run down, by trimester i would say,
1st any cold fruit thing, like yogart, juice, or smoothies
2nd ice cream and broccoli
3rd coffee and raisons
never a pickle or weird cereal thing like i'd heard about. And in general, i'll eat anything, especially tums.

* Brooks just called with a real "aloha friday" (its friday you see, and he got out of work early and is on his way home, in other words, pau hana... or "done with work"). YAY!

* murrey and the carseat have moved to the CAR!

* I will admit i'm a little sad we didn't have a halloween baby (yes, there are still about 9 hours left in the day, but i think she's settled in for now) but who's to say we can't celebrate halloween in our household a little differently. we have enough candy to last a couple more weeks (if i stash some somewhere Brooks can't find it that is) and babies look cute in costumes any time of year.

*the celtics won their season opener the other day. that was cool, and the ring and banner ceremony were fun to watch. they are currently beating chicago in the 2nd in the other room (the TV i mean). Im using basketball this year to prevent my annual seasonal depression: the baseball OFF season. =) Plus something tells me that soon i will be consumed by something else all together and won't really even notice, until april of course =) when i get to bust out the 3-6 month redsox onesies.

Monday, October 27, 2008

SO MY MOM....

So my mom keeps telling me that baby girl gibson would really appreciate some day seeing a picture of me THIS pregnant, 38+ weeks pregnant. What linda wants is for me to put on a dress or something, makeup maybe, and a smile and get yet another full body shot. Unfortunately, i think these days are done. this is a lot of effort. plus, nothing really fits very well anymore.

it is very humbling to grow OUT of maternity clothes. thankfully most of me fits in them, its just the belly that is a bit of a problem. Brooks and I can literally spend an hour staring at "the bell" with jaws dropped and few words. It is unbelieveably big, and hard, and often very misshapen. (Dr estimated at last week's appt, bgg weighed somewhere in the "high 7's", meaning 7lbs, LOTSA ounces, and that was a week ago, and she gains about an ounce a day, as they say.) I don't think i ever realized how small i WAS before i was carrying around a pumpkin, surrounded by fluid and padding and i think there is a blanket in there and maybe a piano for her to practice on...

maternity SHIRTS don't cover the whole thing anymore, so the bell peeks out and i think thats weird, and not somthing the public should see. and the dresses "fit" the stomach, but too much real estate are required of them too soon, then the dress ends up looking a little pregnant-britney-spears-ish, a little too short for comfort. Mini dresses can be cute, but it looks rather inappropriate these days as I'm about to be a mom and should try to set a good, well dressed example.

So mom, I want you to know I'm not ignoring your request. But here's a recent shot that i didn't have to prepare too much for. I'm going to love BGG so much, that she'll love me too, even without the dress and makeup. Cheers!

Monday, October 20, 2008

NOT a sore loser

...but a loser none the less.

and since i dont have anything nice to say, i'll say nothing at all.

EXCEPT, Go Phillies

AND

Can someone please explain that stupid cowbell to me?

Til next season!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Shopping

So halloween is coming up
AND i have a lot of time on my hands
AND there's a baby coming
AND brooks and i have sortof been thinking we'd have a halloween baby for awhile now
AND i love looking at this stuff online and making little organized files on the computer so that when we go into labor, i can quickly jump online and order a costume before we head out the door...
AND i thought our loved ones might like to see whats in the running for "baby's first halloween"

I realize some of this, most of it actually, is ridiculous. But i can't help myself, its so cute. And i keep reminding myself, and brooks, that she wont remember us doing this to her and she's going to love us anyway...
Also, wouldn't it be so fun growing up with your birthday right on or around halloween?
We have a bunch of candy already (although we may need to restock soon--brooks has a dangerous sweet tooth) and I'm going to be a "new mom", brooks is going to be a "daddy", chester will be whatever he wants, and that just leaves baby girl to figure out. So anyway, these are the "styles" i have in my files (poet and know it):









Votes are welcomed =)


And my brand new niece is taking her first road trip this weekend to maine. there is talk of lobsters, and if you can't eat 'em, join 'em, right? so here's my suggestion for austin =).

WOW



I can't believe it!! i mean I can. Games like these are one of many reasons i'm a redsox fan. there is never a dull moment, and you can never say never. Last night, i wasn't sure if i was developing an ulcer or getting ready to bring BGG into the world (i think she's waiting for a title though...) this madness will resume tomorrow from tampa and I must say I am very HAPPY for the day off break.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

hmmm

I've been trying to think of what to say about the game thats about to start....as most of you know, this is a must win for the red sox. i don't have much to say... these playoffs have been strange so far. I never expected it to be easy, these being the red sox and all....they do not "go quietly" anywhere...but anyway. i think thats all i have to say, if i said anything at all.

By the way, thank you all for all your comments-- I LOVE getting them.
Play Ball! =)

Monday, October 13, 2008

our weekend

i have a dr's appointment today. yay! these are getting fun now that we're in the home stretch. By some accounts, im 37 weeks pregnant, aka FULL TERM!! It depends on who you ask, but with a due date of november 9th, web MD and whattoepect.com are calling me 37 weeks. my OB/GYN, unfortunately says 26.2 weeks. and various other sources say various other things. the elephant association is laughing at me cause i have another 15 months or so.

ANYWAY, we had a nice weekend around here. The renaissance man, aka Brooks, didn't have any extracurricular activities or jobs, unless you count a wedding on friday, but that's not really the weekend. So, we took advantage of quiet (preparation) time, sports, pregnancy corner, and even a little sunshine. I dont get out much these days and need some help doing it so little outdoor activities are VERY exciting. Here are some items of note:


The Red Sox lost game 2 in extra innings to the Rays. During that last play, i didn't really think it was going to be the LAST play. Oh well. So game 3, about to start in 20 minutes, is at fenway, with a 1-1 tie in the series. Brooks thought a good way to look at it was as a 5 game series, with us having home field advantage. And with lester on the mound, i'm comfy.


The Patriots lost also. Not that they are my team but they are brooks and during football season on sundays, sometimes mondays, and 10 to 15 minutes segments sportcenter, espn news, and shows like 1st n 10, this house is taken over. the tv and pregnancy corner share a room. i respectfully am quiet, doing a crossword or trying to figure out "what to expect", and occassionally I watch. this game was sad. Brooks took it uncharacteristically well though.


As I said Brooks got me out of the house. We went to this place.


i love this little produce market. they grow everything and sell it here...


Seasonally, they have seasonal...things. Who doesn't love a pumpkin patch? We saw a couple put a young baby in the middle of all these pumpkins to take pictures. Can't wait for our own photo opts like these.




Theres lot of fun to be had at this sweet little place, including a petting zoo of sorts. This is Agnus. You all might know of my fascination/love for goats. Well imagine my excitement when she came up to me and stayed there, far away from her friends and other humans wanting to feed her grass. We made friends quickly. She was very nice and gentle.


As i was feeding her the scrumptous stuff, a lady that worked there told me her name (angus didn't really introduce herself) AND that she was pregnant too! Isn't that crazy?! the only goat, out of about 20, to take interest, and maybe she did cause she knew. This was fun. then she bit me a little (although she did so gently). then brooks gave me first aide in the back of the van. then we went home.
And yes, there are pictures of me actually feeding the little lady, but im sure you'll all understand that in this 9th matronly month, i respectfully, no longer really wish to share. If it ever was cute, it "ain't" any longer. i think i have something blurry i can dig up for you, my loyal readers though... patience pays.






AND, we tried on some clothes at home. I think these might be my new favorite pictures.











AND...RIDDLE ME THIS. This strawberry is from OUR little garden (we've been making smoothies A LOT). Its hard to tell from this angle, but its absurdly shaped, AND little baby strawberry plants are growing out of the seeds. thought you guys might get a kick out of that. i did.













OK, so sometimes, i see my reflection in something and it stops me dead in my tracks. like i've tried to explain before, its not that i forget I'm pregnant...that'd be the day....its that i am often reminded how VERY pregnant i am. This is on the porch, a couple weeks ago. So here we are. (yes, im even BIGGER now)













They are calling the line up on TV. Gotta run. Go Sox!!

Friday, October 10, 2008

ALCS starting today...




So, i lke the angels. beating them was good, but i didn't feel like celebrating as much as i will if we beat the Rays (sorry, dave, we can still be friends, but you might have to lose the losers...)

Anyway, i don't like them. i didn't like how they had 4 guys on our little coco crisp earlier this year. If they hit another batter on purpose (yes, stupid during such an important series, but i wouldn't put it past them), i have a feeling it'll be no more mr nice sox. I'm hoping at least.

The problem is they are really good. I'm a little nervous. Anyway, be there or be productive. it starts at 830 (for most of you) today, i believe on TBS. "Check your local listings".

In other news, manny and the dodgers lost to the philies yesterday, in game 1 of the NLCS. I still haven't absorbed manny being on another team. Sad, but sometimes, we must let them go.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Ahh... the skinny old days



I was cleaning up our computer desktop. Obviously its been a while... Thought i'd share this picture that was among the garbage, as i just finished staring at it for a few minutes. This was in the Keys for Kefryn's wedding, not long before all this madness began. I will never take my waistline for granted again.
I already love baby girl gibson VERY VERY much and i know she is worth all of this and then some, but...wow, it'll be nice to wear these clothes again, if i can ever find them. (it might be nice to have someone's arms reach around me and meet up in the back... i'm not even sure if thats happening these days)

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The View From Here



This
is
quickly
getting
ridiculous
.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Redsox win the ALDS!!

in dramatic fashion of course...






these days I'm not 100% sure if i'm going into labor or just watching the game



I will never get tired of this.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Little Updates

- Chester got in a fight yesterday with a [bad word] gulch cat. tore up 2 different claws and lost his collar temporarily. brooks found it under a tree. this made me cry.

- the redsox won game 2 and when the got back to fenway, lost game 3 in the 12th inning. they are looking a little tired. game 4 is tomorrow (today for you readers out there).

- i now know what people mean when they talk about pregnant ladies being "ready to pop". "pop" seems like a nice word for what i feel is imminent. i think i might explode. i think she's trying to get out. She's had it and is ready to party...like mother =, like daughter. Only thing is, i think she thinks the belly button is the door.

- Happy October! i think we are in baby girl gibson's birthday month.
Always loved opals... mom too =)
Marigold is the flower... good for keeping bugs away.
and since i'm thinking sooner rather than later (don't anyone try to burst my bubble), a Libra. lovely.

This is what cartoon baby girl looks like at 35 weeks =)

Friday, October 3, 2008

WOW...read only if you have time to kill...

OK I JUST READ OVER THE RANTINGS THAT FOLLOW. I APOLOGIZE AHEAD OF TIME. MY BRAIN IS VERY SCATTERED THESE DAYS AS EVIDENCED BY THE RANDOM RAMBLINGS BELOW. (the baby has taken my brain cells-- thats fine, i just hope i get some of them back, someday) SO, CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED...

if you'd like to see more ridiculously adorable pictures of little miss austin elouise maite archabal, they can found at www.littlearch.blogspot.com

erica and dan and baby are all well and recuperating.

Grandma Lindy =) is up there helping out in every which way, and fielding phone calls. several phone calls from me lately. last night, we sortof watched the vp debate "together", communicating via text message... i use the word communicating loosely here. mostly we were making fun of palin, with the deepest respect of course, you betchya. it was the most fun ive ever had watching something like that. usually these things are frustrating and almost tiring to watch, but i was glued to the screen and my cell phone, as was chester, as was linda in milton, mass, with her phone, and one of her other grandchildren, Mr Bojangles, the very large puppy. cute. Also, i think everyone should make an effort to watch saturday night live this weekend. I haven't actually tried (and succeeded to this in a LONG time, but..) i think it will be great. If you miss it though, i'll probably have a video waiting for you as i have big faith in tina fey...
As far as the actual debate went... i truly listened to both. it just got hard not to have a little fun at a certain point.
....umm, the moderator was great.

Anyway, back to babies. Every time i look at the pictures of ELMA (i like thinking of nicknames-- that would be her initials--nice, huh?), which is very often, I keep getting reminded that, at the end of this marathon, i get one of those little precious angels too!! its not that i forget whats growing inside me. its more that i'm so distracted with the "pleasures" of pregnancy and the excitement and preparation of everything, that sometimes i forget we'll have little toenails to play with and chubby thighs to squeeze, and adorable dirty diapers =) to dispose of. As if i was being impatient BEFORE austin's arrival.... thanks a lot erica...=)

Now, back momentarily, to mobile/cell phones: I believe some of you have heard this, but i shall REPEAT and explain. I want to be clear here:
My mobile phone does NOT, i repeat, DOES NOT work in our house. Yes, i know thats stupid... i just got a new phone and new service and sortof can't take advantage of that.

But, the way i see it, I CAN text message (for reasons unbeknownst to me), and i CAN use the home phone. AND... considering that i am not MOBILE in any way anyway, rather IMmobile, really, nothing about mobility is an issue or deserves mention. Lately, i've realized, i should just be honest. So here goes: I feel like dung nearing 24/7 and though i am VERY VERY VERY VERY excited about all the things going on in our lives these days, i don't always sound cheerful and dont want to come across as UNcheerful. So i blog, i text and i smile on the inside ALL THE TIME. But honestly, I hate being on the phone any way. not anything personal against anyone, its just sortof a "thing" of mine. So there you go.
When I am once again mobile, my mobile can be used more, mostly cause i might be out and about , in places other than the house, like in the mobile sense, in the "entering service area" sense.

So our home phone is great. Just a few reasons:
(1) our phone number hasn't changed since we moved to hawaii...brooks and i share that one, so you might kill two birds with one ring if you go that route. If you've ever had a number for us in hawaii, then you still have it. If you dont have it, ask one of our family members. if you dont know them, email one of us. if you don't know any of our emails, and none of the above are possible for you, then you probably dont know us, and are a blog stalker that just tunes in to see the frightening pictures of whitney and the ever expanding giant peach and that's a little disturbing, but i'll take any fans i can get-- we just definitely dont need to talk on the phone.
(2) our home phone rings. It rings even louder than the cell in fact, it doesn't drop calls, and it doesn't boil the skin covering my cheekbone (in contrast to my above mentioned cell phone which "alerts" me either right after i've missed your call, later that day, or sometimes the next morning, when ever it would like me to know...).
(3) it has a great grip
(4) we have 2 of them, so its easier "find" and answer when they make their noises.
(5) i'd like to 'bring back' the land line. i don't know why no one thinks its cool anymore. i love our twin unidens. they are sleek and stylish, matching, but not identical. they both have their own personality but get along great with others and when one gets tired, and needs a little "charge" if you will, its buddy is more then willing to carry the ringing load for a while and vise versa. They have separate docking stations, in separate rooms, but they always seem to end up side by side, snugglng somewhere cozy, usually with chester watching over them. Really they are great, and should be praised and utilized by callers other than telemarketers. they deserve a better day-to-day than that.



So the craziest thing thing has been happening this morning. occassionally the wind blows and through an open window, a draft comes in, making me, are you sitting?, chilly. i have been sweating for 7+ months. i dont want to jinx it, and i think typing such a word is safer than orating it, so...
chilly
chilly
chilly
chilly
cool
chilly
chilly
chilly
cold
chilly
chilly
ha ha
chilly
chilly

I'm giddy and excited. But shh...

Also to be excited about, its FRIDAY, brooks is only working a HALF day, and when he gets home it'll be just in time for game 2 of the sox/angels at angel stadium.

i may have failed to mention that we won game 1. That was great but i was a little preoccupied becoming an aunt and it slipped my mind that you all rely desperately on this blog for your redsox information.
I just dont like winning when we beat vladamir guerrero, my favorite non red socker. Especially this time, cause he made a pretty terrible base running mistake that had a lot to do with the final outcome and, at the end of the game, in between the redsox celebrations, they kept showing his sweet sad mad-at-himself-face. it was hard to watch. So, i'm hoping we win again, just that this time it will have nothing to do with old vladdy....oh and i'm hoping to see a little more hustle out of jason bay in the outfield.

chilly
chilly

Chester is yelling at me for his morning bath... Have a great "aloha friday"