Fall Frolics 2015

We have already established that pregnancy has made me have zero energy to write.  So I am going to take this opportunity to photo dump basically everything we have been up to this fall.  A picture is worth a thousand words, right?  In the past, I would have had a separate post for each of the events pictured below, but let's be honest, that's not happening.

It has been an odd fall here in the Tri-Cities.  At first it was soooooo hot.  Have you noticed there have been no pictures of my garden this year?  That is because it was the most pitiful it has ever been.  Usually, by the time fall rolls around I am collecting the majority of my summer bounty.  No such luck this year.  I had prolific carrots, beets, Swiss chard, and herbs and that is about it.  It finally started to get a little overcast around Halloween, we had a few rain showers, and now it is cold, cold, cold.

So, without further ado, here is what we have been up to this fall!

Baby Shower!!

My amazing bestie, Lauren, along with her mom, Pat, threw me a gorgeous baby shower in September.  She really went all out, especially considering she herself was pregnant with Baby Ramm's bestie.  (She has since given birth to Isaac Peter and I get to meet him next week!)

 As you can see, the weather cooperated and it was a perfect fall morning for an outdoor baby shower brunch.

 We were really spoiled and babykins got lots of awesome swag.

 There were a few baby bellies present that day!  My friend Hailey, on the left, is due basically hours before me.  It has been nice to commiserate with her this entire pregnancy.  The latest complaint we both have, at 36 weeks now, is "What is with all the pelvic pressure?  Are we going into labor?!!"  (We aren't.)

The Best Big Sister was obviously present for the shower.  She was a champ.  I love her.

Pre-Halloween Shenanigans

 Due to Erik's work schedule, many of our pre-Halloween festivities were done the day before Halloween.  But we managed to squeeze in most of the traditional activities.  Like...

 ...carving pumpkins!

 ...and going to the pumpkin patch!

Halloween

The main event was Halloween, and it was by far the most fun Halloween yet.  It was the first year Elliot has been super into it.  We went as a family of pumpkins to a local church Trunk or Treat and really lived it up!

 She was convinced this was THE Ariel, and still talks about meeting her.

That night, after the festivities, Aniiah came over and helped Elliot overcome her trepidation over venturing out in the dark for some good old fashioned Trick or Treating in the neighborhood.  They were SO cute, holding hands and bursting out into song together.

Of course, there is still one of the main events of fall coming up.  Thanksgiving!  And what a time to be pregnant!  Sure, I will have thirds!  Pass more of that pumpkin pie please!  I have every intention of posting about our last holiday as a family of three, but as we have seen, sometimes the best-laid plans and all that...

So the next time you hear from me it will either be accompanied by a pic of me smiling ear to ear, a drumstick in each hand, or beaming with a fresh Rammelsberg in my arms.  Either way, you don't want to miss it.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Worth the Wait

 I am pleased to announce the arrival of Elliot Noelle Rammelsberg!

Born June 10 at 10:43 a.m.

8 lbs. 7.5 oz.

21.5 inches 

And as the title suggests, she was definitely worth the wait :).

This is just going to be a short blurb, with a few pictures because, well, I had a baby 5 days ago.  I am quite tired and frankly would rather spend time with my itty bitty bundle of joy than my computer.  I promise to do a bigger photo dump at a later date.

To make a long story short, my water broke Saturday morning and we were pretty sure a baby was coming right away.  God had other plans.  After being in labor for 26 hours, fully dilated for most of them, the doctor determined baby's head was too big for my pelvis and would not be able to pass through.  So, devastated, I went through with the c-section.  I say devastated because illogically I felt like a failure for being unable to do it naturally.  This is silly because the c-section went extremely well and since I was completely exhausted after such a long labor it was a relief to have someone else do the work for me in a procedure that seemed to only take minutes (I'm sure it was longer, but it didn't feel that way).  As it turns out, it didn't matter in the end how she got here, just that she did safely and healthily.  She is perfect and I am healing up remarkably well considering I had abdominal surgery five days ago and have been caring for a newborn since then :).

Here is a brief glimpse of what we have been up to:

Bonding

Meeting our grandparents and great grandparents (Grandma and Grandpa Rammelsberg not pictured even though they have met.  I just couldn't find the pictures for some reason.)

Making our first best friend

Becoming daddy's little girl

and learning what it is to be a lady of leisure

As you can see, we have been quite busy.  Now please excuse me while I get back to figuring out how to be a mommy.

Adios Second Trimester!

Today I am 28 weeks!  

According to many websites and my most trusted baby book, that means I am officially saying cheers to the departure of my second trimester.  I think a few words are in order:

Second trimester,

You were pretty good to me.  Thank you for not making me sick like our friend First Trimester.  I also appreciated the extra boosts of energy.  I did not, however, appreciate that you made me huge.  Not only did you leave me with the belly of a 36 weeker, you also left me with love handles and thunder thighs.  Not cool.  I guess you were just trying to get me ready to meet Third Trimester.  So in the spirit of tough love, I forgive you for that and for introducing me to the art of swollen feet and ankles.  You have been my favorite trimester thus far, so, cheers to you Second Trimester.  I have a feeling I am going to miss you!

Now, to celebrate the coming of the Third Trimester here are a slew of shameless belly shots!

 I can now use my belly as a traveling table top!

 26 weeks!

27 weeks!

And not to be outdone...

Baby Daddy also needed to get a belly shot in.  

And because I am in the mood to brag, check out the what I have been doing with my bursts of energy:

Burp rags!  It is kind of hard to see them in detail but, trust me, they are adorable.

Sugar and spice and everything nice

Here she is, Baby Girl Rammelsberg!

We had our 20-week ultrasound yesterday and the doctor is 95% sure it's a girl!

Daddy was quite pleased.  Mommy was too :).

I had hoped we would be able to come away with some awesome 3D pics of Baby Girl's face so we would have an idea of what she looks like.  Unfortunately, she had her face pushed up against the placenta, which does not do well with 3D imaging.  On a related note, I now know what my placenta looks like (yuck!).

We are so, so excited to be having a daughter.  We would have been excited either way, but it is just nice knowing.  It makes it more real somehow.  The Grandparents and Aunties are very excited as well.  Have I mentioned this is the first grandbaby on both sides?  Baby Girl doesn't have enough fingers for all the people she has to wrap around them.  What a spoiled girl.

That's all I have for now.  Let the shopping commence!

Raise your glass to the second trimester!

Hello 12 weeks!  I have heard a lot about you and I expect great things!

We have hit that magical milestone where I am supposed to get bursts of energy and feeling sick becomes a faint memory... unfortunately, as I write this I am lounged out on the couch trying to keep my dinner down and battling the worst heartburn I've ever had.  But a girl can dream!  The important thing is Baby Ramm now has most of his/her major organs and is going to use the rest of the time to make everything bigger!  Including Mommy.

I offer as proof:

The baby bump that proudly pops through all clothes, not just the form-fitting ones.  I even received my first unsolicited belly touch.  (For the record, I am first and foremost a Vandal and a Coug only by marriage.)

To commemorate this milestone I have some Second Trimester Resolutions:

1. Find the will to scrape myself off the couch and take Toast for nice, crisp, late fall walks.  And while we are on the subject, you know that expensive gym membership I pay for every month?  Get my money's worth.
2. Be more sociable!
3. Go grocery shopping regularly.  I'm sure Erik will like this one considering he often hears things like "Honey, will you run to Fred Meyer and get me some more Go Gurt?"
4. Make an effort to keep the apartment clean.
5. Actually, scratch number 4.  When else will I be able to get away with this?
6. On my days off, spend less time running errands and more time cuddling with Erik.  It will never be just the two of us again!

So, here's to you Second Trimester!  I can tell that we are going to be friends.

I've got the moooooooves like Jagger

I am 95% sure a momentous event occurred today.

During my long drive to work I suddenly felt a flutter in my belly like nothing I have ever felt before.  It lasted about 20 seconds and then disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared.  It was Baby Ramm, I just know it.

Now I know what you are thinking.  At 11 weeks!?  Impossible!  I too had my doubts so I looked it up online and found many accounts of women who could feel movement as early as 9 or 10 weeks.  And if it is on the internet it is definitely true!

For those nay-sayers who persist in doubting I present the following evidence in support of my claim:
1. I knew I was pregnant before any test could detect it.
2. At our ultrasound Baby Ramm was moving his limbs around in a manner that Michael Phelps would envy.
3. As you can see from the previous post, Baby Ramm clearly has a huge brain.
And the smoking gun...

 Baby Ramm has already made Mommy's belly pop!  Conclusive evidence that Baby Ramm is just ahead of the curve and I definitely felt her/him doing her/his daily exercises this morning.

(And just to save you the trouble of awkwardly asking: Yes, I am sure I am due in June and not January.  Yes, I am sure there is only one baby in there.  No, this picture has not been photoshopped.  No I am not pushing out to "enhance" my glowing new figure.  This is real people...and yes, I am wondering "if I look like this now WHAT will it be like in 6 months?")