I decided on the way to work today that even though we haven't conceived, I would like to make a baby quilt. Even if we never conceive, I would like a memento of this time when we tried. I haven't finished the big quilt I started in 2002, but maybe I can handle a smaller 2 x 2 one! Maybe.
I was thinking I would stick with the same pattern I am doing for the big quilt. Nine block pattern. So it will be four 9 x 9 inch blocks each created from nine 1 x 1 inch blocks, and a strip in between each set of nine and a border. I was thinking primary colors and black & white (probably a black & white backing).
J gave me a Michaels gift card for Christmas so let the new project begin!
Jan 31, 2011
First Attempt Failure
Well, yesterday I got a visit from AF so no baby on our first attempt. However, I did seem to calculate and recognize my ovulation (OV) time correctly. Hopefully I can use that for this month. I predicted a 34 day cycle with when I noticed changes that would have signaled OV (15-16-day long luteal phase, which is about right).
For the next few weeks I can go to the gym and work on losing some weight and toning up a bit. Also I can work on eating better. Not drinking for two weeks was easier than I expected, but I think that was because I had a goal in mind (however, I gained weight not lost it). I drank lots of water and very little sugary drinks. I would like to cut out even more refined sugars and simple carbs as well as eat more fiber. When I was on the antibiotics, it messed up my digestive tract and I was constipated. I had cramps for ten days and I couldn't tell where they were coming from. Now, I think they were intestinal. I need to get more probiotic yogurt. :-{
For the next few weeks I can go to the gym and work on losing some weight and toning up a bit. Also I can work on eating better. Not drinking for two weeks was easier than I expected, but I think that was because I had a goal in mind (however, I gained weight not lost it). I drank lots of water and very little sugary drinks. I would like to cut out even more refined sugars and simple carbs as well as eat more fiber. When I was on the antibiotics, it messed up my digestive tract and I was constipated. I had cramps for ten days and I couldn't tell where they were coming from. Now, I think they were intestinal. I need to get more probiotic yogurt. :-{
Jan 26, 2011
Taxes for the Newly Wed
J and I are beginning to get our finances in order in terms of accounts and taxes. Do we file jointly this year? And separately when he makes more money? It is confusing. I think we should file the 1040A jointly, but different websites say to fill out both forms (1040 and 1040A) and then submit the one that gets the most back. Yeah, but that means you have to do two tax forms anyway. Booooo.
And if we do file jointly but don't have a common bank account (yet), will that mess stuff up? One of our accumulated interests might be a lot while the other is skimpy. And I'm putting money post-tax into an IRA. How will that affect the bottom line?
I would go to H&R Block this year just so I can understand what we need to be on the lookout for next year, but I have an issue with handing over money to someone to do our taxes and taking some of the paltry return we will probably get back.
We don't have children yet so maybe this year we will wing it, so to speak. Thoughts? Experience?
And if we do file jointly but don't have a common bank account (yet), will that mess stuff up? One of our accumulated interests might be a lot while the other is skimpy. And I'm putting money post-tax into an IRA. How will that affect the bottom line?
I would go to H&R Block this year just so I can understand what we need to be on the lookout for next year, but I have an issue with handing over money to someone to do our taxes and taking some of the paltry return we will probably get back.
We don't have children yet so maybe this year we will wing it, so to speak. Thoughts? Experience?
Jan 25, 2011
Long Two Weeks
So this month is our first attempt at TTC, and last week was incredibly long even though it started with a day off! I've been keeping track (sort of) of my temperature when I get up in the morning and other signs of ovulation. Ever since I "predicted" my ovulation, I have been feeling a little crampy in the abdominal area. It is probably all psychosomatic but I never had this feeling for so long when I was waiting for my period while on the pill. And if my predictions are correct and my luteal phase is 14 days or so, I still have another week or so to go. Waiting. Wondering.
Jan 14, 2011
Interesting Article on the Toxins Found in Pregnant Women
From the SF Gate:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/14/MNN41GL1NQ.DTL
Now that we are trying to have a baby these articles bear more importance to my everyday life. Do I get rid of my non-stick cookware? We need new pans anyway because I do know they are scratched and that is not good for anyone. For years I've been reheating items in a ceramic cup at work for lunch and we just bought several glass containers for leftovers. We still keep items like half-chopped onions and cheese in plastic containers. Do we get rid of these things too? As soon as we come home, do we put food that comes in metal or styrofoam in new glass? I try to make soups now from "scratch" but the broth is usually made from a carton (which probably still contains these chemicals in more inviting looking packaging) and tomatoes from cans. :-(
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/14/MNN41GL1NQ.DTL
Now that we are trying to have a baby these articles bear more importance to my everyday life. Do I get rid of my non-stick cookware? We need new pans anyway because I do know they are scratched and that is not good for anyone. For years I've been reheating items in a ceramic cup at work for lunch and we just bought several glass containers for leftovers. We still keep items like half-chopped onions and cheese in plastic containers. Do we get rid of these things too? As soon as we come home, do we put food that comes in metal or styrofoam in new glass? I try to make soups now from "scratch" but the broth is usually made from a carton (which probably still contains these chemicals in more inviting looking packaging) and tomatoes from cans. :-(
Jan 12, 2011
Temporarily Derailed
I've had a bad cold and cough for the last two weeks and I finally went to the doctor on Monday. I'm sure I was on the upswing of things when I went but you know if I didn't, this cold would continue to drag on. I was prescribed an antibiotic and given Nasonex for the sinus drip and infection. So far so good. I had tried an over-the-counter cough medicine the Sunday before my appointment and felt horrible all Monday morning, which I think is what prompted me to call the doctor.
This is a new doctor and I don't know how long I will stick with her. I have a follow up in two weeks and in the meantime I scheduled lab work for my physical. I am going to get a lipid panel, thyroid test and some other things as I prepare for maybe having that baby one day.
This is a new doctor and I don't know how long I will stick with her. I have a follow up in two weeks and in the meantime I scheduled lab work for my physical. I am going to get a lipid panel, thyroid test and some other things as I prepare for maybe having that baby one day.
Jan 7, 2011
Green Tea Nemesis
I am an avid green tea drinker. I'll drink it decaf, flavored, or traditional. Only now along with the glass of wine, I will be phasing out the tea drinking since it may be linked to reducing the absorption of the folic acid that I am taking. It's a sad day.
Jan 5, 2011
The In-Between
My friend Marianne gave us a handmade and bound notebook with our wedding colors and a Japanese-themed cover as a wedding gift. It was simple, nice, and truly heartfelt. She said to use it for whatever--first-year journey into marriage, travels, etc., as we build our life together. Well, the first three plus months have come and gone and I didn't record anything about them. I have photographs from some occasions, but it seems a little odd to write about them in retrospect here. It was whirlwind, yet nothing monumental happened.
We seem to be in an in-between phase; the wedding planning is over finally, and we can begin to think about our marriage. Do we want to start the joint checking account? And if so, where? What kind of coffee table do we want? Should it be casual or match a new entertainment center? What bedroom furniture do we want? Will it signify the grownup aspect of us (getting rid of my Ikea stuff)? Do we want to start our family traditions now, or wait until our family grows? Will our family grow?
Sure, we've only been married three months, but I ain't no spring chicken and my next birthday is coming up in less than half a year (so I'll be a year older before a baby conceived now will even be born). This thought has been on my mind for over a year and partially the goal I set for when I did get married. But as the months have passed since I made the decision, we've both been a little slack on getting with the program.
First of all, if we seriously want to begin a family, we need to cut back on some indulgent behavior. Beyond spending on things and places, we need to keep better track of the food we eat and drink. Like maybe our wine club shipment might need to get a little dusty and the dude at the corner store can forget where he knows us from. In addition to the cutback on alcohol consumption, soy products need to be monitored and maybe noticing that the cheese-covered spinach dish might contain iron and calcium but one may cancel the other out in vitamin absorption. And I need to stop eating refined sugars and try to lower my cholesterol. Better finish those brownies soon, I guess.
With the holidays finally over, I can begin to focus on the phase out of those indulgences in honest. It was hard when parties and libations abound in December. I even bought and took my first supplement toward prenatal care: the folic acid tablet. I bought 400mg tablets to take with my regular Women's One a Day. When my regular vitamins end, I will start the special (and expensive for the doses) prenatal BellyBar chewables. I worry that new vitamins will make me sick, which I read being the case.
So as I record my daily temp and weight and going-ons in the paper journal, I'll try to remember to post some updates on this blog. Hope you join us on this next chapter of our lives.
--signed a 36-year-old newlywed
We seem to be in an in-between phase; the wedding planning is over finally, and we can begin to think about our marriage. Do we want to start the joint checking account? And if so, where? What kind of coffee table do we want? Should it be casual or match a new entertainment center? What bedroom furniture do we want? Will it signify the grownup aspect of us (getting rid of my Ikea stuff)? Do we want to start our family traditions now, or wait until our family grows? Will our family grow?
Sure, we've only been married three months, but I ain't no spring chicken and my next birthday is coming up in less than half a year (so I'll be a year older before a baby conceived now will even be born). This thought has been on my mind for over a year and partially the goal I set for when I did get married. But as the months have passed since I made the decision, we've both been a little slack on getting with the program.
First of all, if we seriously want to begin a family, we need to cut back on some indulgent behavior. Beyond spending on things and places, we need to keep better track of the food we eat and drink. Like maybe our wine club shipment might need to get a little dusty and the dude at the corner store can forget where he knows us from. In addition to the cutback on alcohol consumption, soy products need to be monitored and maybe noticing that the cheese-covered spinach dish might contain iron and calcium but one may cancel the other out in vitamin absorption. And I need to stop eating refined sugars and try to lower my cholesterol. Better finish those brownies soon, I guess.
With the holidays finally over, I can begin to focus on the phase out of those indulgences in honest. It was hard when parties and libations abound in December. I even bought and took my first supplement toward prenatal care: the folic acid tablet. I bought 400mg tablets to take with my regular Women's One a Day. When my regular vitamins end, I will start the special (and expensive for the doses) prenatal BellyBar chewables. I worry that new vitamins will make me sick, which I read being the case.
So as I record my daily temp and weight and going-ons in the paper journal, I'll try to remember to post some updates on this blog. Hope you join us on this next chapter of our lives.
--signed a 36-year-old newlywed
Jan 4, 2011
New Jersey Reception and Philadelphia sights
On November 13, 2010, J and I had another reception in NJ to celebrate our marriage with family and friends that could not make it to CA. It was a whirlwind long weekend, leaving for PA on Veterans Day and staying in Philly on Thursday and Friday nights. The Club Quarters hotel near Rittenhouse Square was our home base when we arrived late Thursday. We had just enough time to check-in and grab a drink at a few watering holes in the neighborhood, settling at the Good Dog Bar. The hotel was noisy with the students from across the river making their way home after closing time. The sound echoed up the side of the building. I didn't sleep very well that night.
The next day we grabbed a pastry and coffee and walked to the City Hall area to explore the city. We visited "Love Park" and the art on the plaza across from City Hall (the art is based on childhood game pieces, like the wheelbarrow from Monopoly or the pieces from Sorry!). Pretty cool. From there we admired the architecture of City Hall and William Penn atop of it. We walked to the Reading Terminal and browsed the Amish faire. Had we not just eaten a pastry from Au Bon Pain, we would have partaked in the breakfast. Alas, we continued to Market Street, heading "downtown to the Gallery Mall" (passing underneath a walkway but not actually going in, but I had "Parents Just Don't Understand" in my head the whole time). We then walked to Independence Mall Park and got tickets for a big red open air bus tour and a tour of Independence Hall. The bus tour began within minutes and we were on our way, map in hand. Saw the sights we just went to, and then continued to Logan Circle and beyond, where on the way back from the Please Touch Museum our big red bus broke down in Fairmount Park. It was a nice, but chilly day. Unfortunately, we had a timed tour to get to and hadn't eaten lunch yet. Once we were rescued and we got back to the Mall, we grabbed another fast bite and got in line to see the rooms where the history took place. We walked around the Olde City some more (had a cheesesteak) and tried some bars in the area before heading back to Rittenhouse Square and walking around the actual square. I really like Philly.
The next day we got up and headed with our wedding gear to South Jersey for the ceremony and reception. My mother and her friends did an amazing job of reusing the cranes we had at our CA wedding and reception as well as having a nice spread of food--including Italian hoagies that I requested. No pizza though. The ceremony was brief but nice I think. I didn't want it to be just gathering at the church to eat. My bridesmaid Jeannie gave the toast, we cut the sheet cake from Century Bakery, smashed a little in each other's face, and did an abbreviated first dance to Foo Fighters' "Everlong". It ended at 3 pm and the day was clear, cool, and sunny.
Sunday we had breakfast at the hotel next door to where we stayed in Vineland with family and local friends. I got to hang out even more with my friend Marianne who flew in from MN to be a part of my NJ ceremony. She was the maid of honor that day which was great. :-)
Afterwards we went back to Philly with my cousin Denise. We visited the Eastern State Pen and had dinner at the City Tavern in Olde City. We went for a walk along the river and then went to a bar where we had to wait for Denise to come back to Philly because she had left an important item by mistake in our hotel room at Independence Park. All turned out well, but it was a long day and night. Monday we caught our flight home.
The next day we grabbed a pastry and coffee and walked to the City Hall area to explore the city. We visited "Love Park" and the art on the plaza across from City Hall (the art is based on childhood game pieces, like the wheelbarrow from Monopoly or the pieces from Sorry!). Pretty cool. From there we admired the architecture of City Hall and William Penn atop of it. We walked to the Reading Terminal and browsed the Amish faire. Had we not just eaten a pastry from Au Bon Pain, we would have partaked in the breakfast. Alas, we continued to Market Street, heading "downtown to the Gallery Mall" (passing underneath a walkway but not actually going in, but I had "Parents Just Don't Understand" in my head the whole time). We then walked to Independence Mall Park and got tickets for a big red open air bus tour and a tour of Independence Hall. The bus tour began within minutes and we were on our way, map in hand. Saw the sights we just went to, and then continued to Logan Circle and beyond, where on the way back from the Please Touch Museum our big red bus broke down in Fairmount Park. It was a nice, but chilly day. Unfortunately, we had a timed tour to get to and hadn't eaten lunch yet. Once we were rescued and we got back to the Mall, we grabbed another fast bite and got in line to see the rooms where the history took place. We walked around the Olde City some more (had a cheesesteak) and tried some bars in the area before heading back to Rittenhouse Square and walking around the actual square. I really like Philly.
The next day we got up and headed with our wedding gear to South Jersey for the ceremony and reception. My mother and her friends did an amazing job of reusing the cranes we had at our CA wedding and reception as well as having a nice spread of food--including Italian hoagies that I requested. No pizza though. The ceremony was brief but nice I think. I didn't want it to be just gathering at the church to eat. My bridesmaid Jeannie gave the toast, we cut the sheet cake from Century Bakery, smashed a little in each other's face, and did an abbreviated first dance to Foo Fighters' "Everlong". It ended at 3 pm and the day was clear, cool, and sunny.
Sunday we had breakfast at the hotel next door to where we stayed in Vineland with family and local friends. I got to hang out even more with my friend Marianne who flew in from MN to be a part of my NJ ceremony. She was the maid of honor that day which was great. :-)
Afterwards we went back to Philly with my cousin Denise. We visited the Eastern State Pen and had dinner at the City Tavern in Olde City. We went for a walk along the river and then went to a bar where we had to wait for Denise to come back to Philly because she had left an important item by mistake in our hotel room at Independence Park. All turned out well, but it was a long day and night. Monday we caught our flight home.
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