new york!

We had an AWESOME vacation in NYC!! Joey and I travel well with my parents, so that helps. Flights were on time and weather was not too bad! We had a busy trip...
Our hotel was sweet! My parents had stayed here before, but it was our first time here. It is called the Royalton, and it's on 44th between 5th and 6th (great location!). You can check it out at http://www.royaltonhotel.com/ Here are a few pics of us in the lobby (they have really cool fireplaces with chairs and couches to lounge in and have some drinks- they made a nice hot cocoa!) :

We saw Chicago (3rd row center!!), August:Osage County ('08 Tony winner), and Patton Oswalt (comedian at Caroline's). Here are a few pics:

Joey and I in our seats...

the set of August:Osage County, which I am sure I took illegally...

Patton Oswalt (Spence on King of Queens), which is blurry, but I couldn't use a flash...

Here are a few of the places we ate:

Ray's (mmmmm pizza...a family fav!)

Charlie Palmer's Metrazur (at Grand Central Station

PJ Clarke's (awesome burger...

called the Cadillac, so perfect for Joey!)

and Sparks for Joey's b-day dinner!

Ok, that took forever to get all those pics in here...anyway, food was awesome!

Shopping was good too. Everyone got something from Bottecelli :-) The sales guy there was HILARIOUS! He and his wife just had a daughter so he had some stories to share! We went back there a few times and the last time we were there he brought out shots of whiskey!! Mom and Joey enjoyed those...I think mom may have found a new drink! I wasn't fast enough with my camera to get a picture of it, but it was pretty funny! Joey got a nice pair of grown up shoes from there (his "nice" sketchers weren't cutting it in my book!):

Joey also bought baby a spoon from Tiffany's! (I can only cut and paste the top part)

And finally, we built a bear (at the Build a Bear store!) for the baby. I don't have a pic right now, so I'll post it later. It was really fun to do it though!

So that's our NY trip in a few words and a lot of pictures. Now I am back to reality...

best wife ever or complete idiot?

Joey's birthday was Monday. I had been telling him for months that I was getting him golf lessons (which he requested). However, he has been talking about these Cobra S9 golf clubs forEVER. I told him he could not get them b/c I had bought his last set of clubs and he couldn't replace them. Plus, they were really expensive and I didn't want him spending money on that! Since this year of b-days/x-mas/v-day is our last year without baby we said these would be the last times we would spend money on nice presents. Long story short, I bought Joey the irons! I told him on his b-day and he was SUPER surprised! I totally win the best present and surprise contest! However, I am due in July and I just bought my husband a present that promotes being away from me and baby...thus the title of this blog, best wife ever or complete idiot?!?

I'll update more later today abour our trip...

one last vacation...

So tomorrow Joey and I leave for New York with my parents for our last "trip before baby"! I don't know how many Vegas and NY trips we'll be taking after baby arrives, but Disney World '09 is already set (thanks to Steve-O for his insane planning skills). I am really excited to go on this trip, although the packing seems to be my issue. First off, because I haven't started it. Secondly, because I am still in the awkward stage of fatness. So tonight I'll probably spend a bunch of time trying on clothes, and then go to NY and wear the same outfit for 6 days. When I get back I think I am going to have a hell of a belly picture for you! I'll post it next Thursday at 20 weeks...I can already tell it's bigger now, but don't want to post weekly pictures that are tough to figure out.

I don't know how much I'll be able to blog when I am in NY...I'll try, but they might be short ones because I'll be typing on my phone!

finally!

**update** Owen Charles Pershing was born at 7:33, weighing 6lbs 12oz. So far they are all doing well and Noelle told me she'd send some pics when she got them! ok...got a picture!


Elizabeth is in labor! Noelle just called to tell me... she is at 5cm and will be getting her drugs soon! I love that she is having it on the 17th :-)

I will keep you posted and get some pics when they're available!

valentine's weekend and shopping!

So according to the internet, you should go on a date around this time in your pregnancy. Being that it was Valentine's Day weekend, this made it pretty easy! We did make it a little more extravagant that usual though, as this will be our last one solo! Friday we went at stayed at the Hotel Minneapolis (funny story...when the lady was giving us the key for our room and telling us where it was, she said it was on the sex floor...then corrected herself and said sixth floor... ahh hahaha!). We had a nice little array of apps and a dessert at the Max (the restaurant there, and its not like Saved by the Bell!)...their chicken flatbread was awesome! Then Saturday morning we got up and walked around downtown a little bit, and then went to the Melting Pot for lunch. It was a nice little day night/day. Joey got me a NICE giftcard to Spalon Montage, which he said I should use in June when I am uncomfortable. I got him a ring from Tiffany that he wanted (yes, as Meghan put it, I have turned Joey into a brand snob!). These will be the last nice presents we ever get :-)

As for the shopping part of this entry, I will share some of the baby things we got. I said (to myself) that I wouldn't really get things until after we found out the sex, but I like to shop and furniture takes 8 weeks, so technically I won't get it until then! Before we went to the hotel on Friday we stopped at Baby on Grand to look at some things. It was Joey's first trip in a real baby store! We picked out our nursery furniture! Whoo hoo!

Here is the crib (the color here is wrong, but this is what it looks like):
Here is the dresser and hutch (the color is closer here...it's technically called espresso)

We also ordered our glider- it's called the Grand...needs to be big for Joey! I did not get the ottomon...too spendy!! The fabric is different than in this picture- there were a TON to choose from, but we got one that was a light/medium brown color (neutral enough to be accented with blankets/pillows, and dark enough not to get too dirty):

And finally the stroller. I basically copied Meghan on this b/c she did a lot of research! We got it in Carlin (fancy word for Green). Joey wanted black, but he wants everything in black! I told him I was pretty set on this green one...now he says it's growing on him. I told him the second/small stroller can be black! It is also good for tall people because the handle can extend up (so Joey can push too!). Here it is:
Ok, so that is what we ordered! We did a lot in one day, but it was fun to feel like we did something! After we know the sex, we will start doing the registry and figuring out all the little things. And all of you who are my moms better start making a list of what you actually use b/c I will be calling you!

Have a great week!

18 weeks...topic:sleep

Apparently I am going to be ready for late night feedings. I have been waking up at 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 pretty much like clockwork for the last week (my alarm is set for 6:30). At first I thought it was a one-time thing because it started last Tuesday night when Meghan went into labor and I couldn't sleep because I kept wondering about her and the baby. But it has happened everynight since. Maybe I am having a sympathy sleeping schedule for Meghan...I didn't think I liked her that much (haha... jk). Sometimes I wake up to pee, sometimes I don't...so it's not just that. Joey does get up at 3:30 for work, so that might explain that one. I don't know. The funniest thing was one night when I woke up I looked at Joey and was like, "Wow, I finally got a good night's sleep!" He looked at me and told me to go back to bed because it was only 2. Ugh! AND my belly isn't even big enough to cause me any discomfort yet.

So today is 18 weeks. My mom bought me a donut. She felt bad that for week 17 I said she didn't do anything :-) Tonight I have another meeting, but I think I'll make Joey take a new pic. Not sure if much has changed, but this morning I felt "bigger". Who knows...

shopping

Do not go shopping at this stage in your pregnancy. Obviously, I did not try to go and buy a cute pair of jeans, but still. I was trying to find a few loose fitting tops (I have noticed that all my clothes actually fit me, so when I get a little belly it's pretty obvious). Macy's is clearance heaven right now, so I thought I'd have no problem. Wrong. First problem is although I like to spend money, I hate shopping. I don't like the process of going through racks and trying things on over and over. I just like to see it and buy it. I was there for about 2 hours with my mom and by the end I was beyond done. I had my employee discount PLUS and extra 20% so I felt like I should be getting more, but I just couldn't do it... I did end up with two sweaters and one t-shirt (no need for the t-shirt, but it had argyle print on it and was $8!). So I am (un) patiently waiting for a few more weeks when the belly actually looks like a baby and not just someone who fell of the new years resolution bandwagon!

by popular demand...

Ok, I had three people (which is probably about half) of the people who read this wonder where the belly pic was! Sorry, but I had forgotten the camera at home...luckily, Joey brought it to me so I could share it with you. Forgive the hair/lack of makeup, but it was 9pm last night when we took the picture. Also, taking a picture at this stage is not all that cool. It's still kind of there kind of not for me and I made Joey take about 15 pictures (in two different shirts) to try and get one that I didn't hate. At one point he was laughing at me because (as he says) I was being "cute". I did not like the laughing and just felt like an awkward fat chick. Then he felt bad for making me feel bad, we hugged, and all was fine. Enough rambling that you don't care about... here is me in all my glory, at 17 weeks:

week 17

Ok, so I am sure you were all anxiously awaiting my 17 week picture...and you will get it, just not until tomorrow morning. I will have Joey take a picture tonight after dinner (then it will be good and big!) and I will post it tomorrow morning.

Week 17...I feel like I should be having a party or something b/c of the significance of this number. However, I have nothing planned. I thought my mom would've brought me a donut this morning, but no (she did however tell me she would buy me a pregnancy pillow! So if any of you have suggestions, I will take them...I don't feel like researching them right now).

Last night I read Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy (thank you to Elizabeth for borrowing it to me). This book is hilarious and if you are pregnant or not, you should read it. It's funny stuff. It's nice to read something so blunt vs. all the politically correct or technical stuff. I think it is hysterical that she went to a poop dr specialist guy who literally pulled poop out of her butt and smelled it! Seriously. Gotta love that honesty (for the record, it freaked her out and she never went back to that guy!). So yeah, it was a nice easy read and I read it straight through after Joey fell asleep...I will have to tell him about it tonight! I am sure he will love that!

Check back tomorrow for my belly :-)

meghan had her baby!

Harrison Thomas P was born February 4th at 3:57 am, weighing in at 7lbs 6oz and measuring 20.5". Meghan had a dr appt on Monday and they said she was at 2cm. Tuesday her water broke at 5pm (which I think is pretty convenient since Jeff picks her up then everyday!), so they headed to the hospital. I texted Jeff for an update around 9pm and he said she had the epidural and was at 4cm and it would be about 3 hours before they would check on her again...So I didn't sleep all night!! And I don't even get anything for it!! :-) This morning I texted him at 5:45 saying I hadn't slept and I wanted a web cam in the room. He sent me a picture a little after 7 (above). He called me after he sent it and I asked how Meghan was doing. He said she was doing well and that she pushed for less than an hour. Nice labor!

So this brings me to my random rant (I actually thought about this last week when Andrea was going to have Lucy). I get that pregnancy leads to a baby. Makes sense. The part that is so crazy to me is that the actual baby part happens so fast. I'll explain. Pregnancy seems to last forever, with weekly/monthly milestones, lots of this happening and growing, lots of shopping, it's a long process...and then BAM, you have a baby. It's just crazy to me! And with so many of my friends pregnant at once, all the babies are coming at once! It will be an interesting year!

Here are some new pics I stole from Meghans blog:

belly watch

Ok, I think the belly is getting there...right now it's about 75% baby, 25% Jaclyn. I think on Thursday when it is week 17 I will take a picture...seems like the right time to do it. Unless it goes up to like 40% Jaclyn :-) I have an appointment today, nothing fancy, but at least this time I've gained some weight!

Other people's baby report: Last week two friends had babies. Andrea had girl #2, Lucy Mae on Monday. I got to go see her on Wednesday and she is a cutie! She slept most of the time ( I should've brought Joey!), but she work up a bit at the end! Andrea delivered at St. John's so I also got a sneak peak at where I will deliver and what nurses are good. Also, a friend of mine from high school had a little girl, Adelyn Lee, on Tuesday. This was pretty cool b/c she and her husband spent two and a half years and A LOT of money trying to have a baby. Meghan and Elizabeth are still preggo with their boys and could pop at any point now (they are due the 11th and 14th). I'll keep you posted.

Happy Groundhog Day!