Ich liebe Deutschland!

The world is a funny, strange, and exciting place. I had to come to Tennessee to find out the answer to something I have been wondering about Illinois.

Back in college, I had a friend from New Jersey and we were chatting one day about accents and how people speak differently depending on what region of the US they call home. He mentioned the MOST annoying thing Mid-Westerners said was, "Do you want to come with?" instead of asking the same question and adding "...with me?" I thought what a strange thing to be annoyed by. But always thought it was just a Mid-Western idiosyncrasy in our dialect that I liked to hold onto, regardless of how "annoying" it might be to people outside the Mid-West.

Until I was having the same conversation with Jim (hails from New England) and 2 local Tennesseans. Jim, although he is from New England, he has lived in TN for about 15 years and speaks German fluently as well as French. I brought up my Mid-West "Do you want to come with?" thing and he actually said it is not so strange. I was perplexed, since I have discovered this dialect difference I always thought it to be unique.

He said that since most Germans settled into the Mid-West, when they immigrated from Germany, it makes total sense.


Again, I was confused. Not too unusual for this gal ;-) Until he explained, in the German language when someone asks if they want you to join them they say, "Wollen Sie damit kommen?" It is the same English to German!


I thought it was so interesting to know the idiosyncrasy I thought was so unique to the Mid-West isn't unique to us at all...but rather our heritage.


I wonder if other parts of the country attained their accents by their heritage? I know New Orleans has French Creole influence, but the East coast? Southerners? Far North? Interesting...

By the way... I will always call pop - pop. NEVER soda, soda pop, or coke. :)

Not sure if it is a German thing or not, maybe...

Week 16!

Well, I am officially 16 weeks. Check out the article from Strong Moms.com

Baby Sweet is the size of a large pear.

Interesting to think since he/she has most of what they are going to have when they are born. At this point everything is really really small and not functioning. Although, I have heard I should be feeling "fluttering" or kicking. I am not sure how that is supposed to feel, but really the only thing I am feeling is gurgling. The gurgling isn't like sounds your tummy makes when you are hungry or rumbling, but it feels like it. Just really low. If you asked me to pin-point it, it would directly behind and a little below my belly button. Plus since baby Sweet's placenta is attached on the front of my belly, it is absorbs most of his/her movement :(

Baby Sweet can make facial expressions, he/she has eye lashes, and could be having his/her first hiccups...only I can't feel them -- yet ;-)

Strange things keep happening to my body. I got the Strong Mom's newsletter on Monday. Of course, BEFORE I read it I arrived to work sneezing and had a full-on runny nose. I thought I might have gotten sick. (I rarely, if ever, get sick). UGH. Then I read the newsletter and discovered the increase in blood volume can wreak havoc on my nose! Strange, but true.

I am feeling a lot more energy and am not falling asleep at 6:30 pm anymore. Whew. I have been doing yoga, running, and swimming. Which is good, since I have decided baby Sweet and I are going to do a triathlon! On August 8th we are going to do the Sports Barn Super Sprint. The swim is .25 (440 yd) mile swim - 8.2 mile bike - 2 mile run. Since I have never done this tri before, it will be easier to hold back and not be going for a time. -- I hope. We will be in it to finish. I am thinking I might even wear my Tri-Shark jersey. When I wore this jersey before I usually tucked it up under my bra strap anyway, this time instead of a flat tummy, baby Sweet will be bumpin' out. :)

In addition to the preggers calendar ticking by, I have some more good news. I have gotten a new job at BikeToursDirect.com I am the marketing director for BTD. We hook up Americans (and some Europeans living in the US) with bike tour vacations in Europe. We handle everything from booking the inclusive tour to answering questions about traveling in Europe. The cost of the tour includes breakfast and lunch each day (typically both but always breakfast), hotel accommodations, luggage transfers, the bike tour (guided and self guided), and bike rental. The only thing we do not include in the price of the tour is the airfare. We are in the process of revamping our web-site and adding all the 2011 tour information. *keep an eye out for fun stuff.

Speaking of the fun stuff! BikeToursDirect has a Facebook page AND a Twitter page. @BikeToursDirect. Please become a "fan" on FB and follow us on Twitter. We will soon be creating a blog so that will be one more fun thing to read while at work ;-)

Take care and see ya on the flip side, Heather

I will leave you a pic of me at 16 weeks...oh I AM gettin' bigger :)

Baby Registry...blarg

I am now at week 14 and things are starting to take off. Baby Sweet is about the size of a peach. Like I mentioned in my previous post, none of my pants or shorts fit anymore. I got all of Cara's maternity clothes hung up and the skinny Heather stuff put away till next year. I couldn't give up my 2 favorite pairs of jeans though. I am hoping to get a belly band or a b-buckle. I am thinking if I get 1 b-buckle, I can figure out how to make more. It looks like a piece of t-shirt material with 2 snaps on it, but for sizing purposes and things...it would be most efficient to buy one and replicate it. ;-) Hey, I am a crafty sewing mamma...see the new baby curtains?


Yes, I know they are 3 inches too short. I am in the process of fixing that. And before anyone asks, "Can't you lower the curtain rod?" No, we can't. Not a biggie. Adding a ruffle or a band at the bottom will be perfect.

I am feeling more and more comfortable telling people I am pregnant and we are expanding our family. At first I was worried it was still too early and I didn't want to jinx it by being too excited and happy too early. Go figure. Catholic guilt perseveres in the strangest places ;-) But now that I am wearing maternity clothes and "showing" a little. I figure why hold back now? My body is putting it out there, so why not talk about it, right? Right.

The one thing I have not completely embraced is this darn baby registry. I know, if we don't put one together we will have 5 diaper genies and 1000 packs of disposable diapers (btw-we are using cloth diapers). When Andy and I got married, I was all over that registry. I was so excited to start putting together our life and visualizing our home. I think it was the first thing I did after we picked a date. But this baby registry...ugh, I feel greedy putting things on there. I don't think it has anything to do with not wanting to visualize our baby and our growing/changing family. I think it has more to do with the fundamentals of asking for stuff. Stuff I have NO CLUE about. Why do I need a bouncy chair, a swing, a play yard, AND an exer saucer? Check this out...it is crazy! My eyes are going buggy just looking at the thing.

We are going to register for the fundamentals. Simple. Streamline. I know essentially what we need. I have a check list, no worries there. Come on...haven't you known me long enough to know I have researched and created at least a couple lists? ;-) Andy and I are very simple people (with the exception of our bikes). Our intention of moving to TN and living in BFE was to live simply and enjoy what the world has given us. That exer saucer thingy is not simple. Hope I don't break anyone's heart here, but that octopus looking thang is not going on the registry. A part of me wishes if people want give us stuff, awesome; and we would be blessed with their generosity and kindness. I know, I know. That is not how things work and I am going to have to suck it up and do this baby registry thing.

On the other hand, we have already started a pretty good baby collection. As not thrilled as I am about the registry, I am getting really excited about starting to collect things. Strange, I know. I don't know how to explain my Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde syndrome.

So far, we have a bassinet (Mom and Dad are bringing that down on their trip), a jogging stroller (thanks to Deni and Lloyd), a crib (thanks to Elaine and Al), a wicked bad ass diaper bag (thanks to Candace), some smart wool booties from Courtney (so cool AND cute), and a ton of onesies I found at garage sales. I will probably not keep up the laundry list of stuff since I am sure it will be overwhelming and not interesting to everyone, but with the few things we have so far, I couldn't resist.

Take care and wish me luck "shopping." ~ Heather

PS-I will post a blog or send an e-mail when we have our registry finished.

Is that a plum or a baby?

With 1 week of our pregnancy being out in the open, things have gone pretty well. I have noticed people have started looking at my belly before they look at my boobs (oh wait! I mean eyes--yea before they were looking at my eyes) ...so that is a plus-I guess ;-)

I had my 3rd appointment today. Week 13! Whoo Hoo! Elaine and Al were visiting Chattanooga this week and on their last day before heading back to IL, I had my doc appointment. I asked Elaine if she would like to hear the baby's heart beat and she said yes. So that was the first thing we did at the doc's office today. It was just as cool as hearing it the first time. Baby Sweet's heart beat is sitting at a solid 148. It was reassuring to hear it again. The days leading up to my appointment I have been feeling really good. I have not had any gassiness or bloating and have been able to work out; so I was beginning to think something might be wrong. I mentioned this to doc and she reassured me that is a normal tendency and in a short period of time I will be able to feel the little one moving around. Whew. Good to be normally OCD ;-)

I have gained a couple pounds, so my cute jeans and shirts are no longer comfortable. I can get into them but after about 30 seconds, I want to rip them off and walk around in my sleeping pants and a race t-shirt. Hmmm sleeping pants and t-shirts at work. Could happen, but not in this lifetime. So I got the best present EVER!!!! Cara sent down ALL of her maternity clothes and I think I am going to be set. She has such great taste and all the stuff I pulled out was super cute. I will admit, I had a little trouble seeing myself getting to the point where I would be able to fill some of it out. I think that sentence will be really funny when I go back and read that in 6 months. Maternity clothes are all sized to your pre-pregnancy size. So since Cara and I are small--all of our preggers stuff is small too. I think the only stuff I might need are some bras and skirts. Other than that, I have a whole new wardrobe. =) I am looking forward to adding to our preggers collection. It will be exciting to pass the big girl clothes back to Cara when she needs it again.

I was reading another pregnant woman's blog the other day, and I was shocked when I read some of the questions people asked her...until I was asked a few. So to help y'all out and not slap you in the face (which I totally will--I have the patience of a 2 year old right now haha). Here is a list of things you might want to steer clear of when talking to a pregnant woman...

1. Rub or feel her belly. Would you go up to a perfect stranger who wasn't pregnant and touch their belly? No, you wouldn't. So why do people feel like a pregnant woman's belly is public property? As far as I was concerned the only person that had right to touch my belly without my permission was my husband.

2. "Wow, you're getting big." You think? I didn't notice I couldn't see my feet anymore. Thanks for pointing that out to me. How about saying something nice like, "Wow, you look great!"

3. "You look ready to pop, I can't believe you still have (insert time frame here) to go." Thank you. So what you're saying is I'm fatter then what I should be? You're probably doing nothing but making her feel even more insecure then she already is, especially if she still has a few months to go.

4. "You haven't had that baby yet?" Nothing makes a pregnant woman want to strangle you more then this if she's already overdue. And if she isn't near her due date, once again you're just telling her she's fat.

5. "Are you sure you're not having twins?" Of course I'm sure! How would I not know if I was having twins?

6. Telling labor horror stories. The last thing a pregnant woman wants to hear is how you struggled for countless hours to have your last baby. She already has a lot going on in her mind and she doesn't need you exasperating the situation.

7. "Should you really be eating/drinking that?" What are you, the public nutrition police? What she eats and drinks is her business, not yours.

8. "Was it planned?" Talk about invading someone's personal life. Sheesh.

9. "Are you going to have any more babies?" Another no no. She's currently expecting one baby and you think she's thinking about her next one? She's probably suffering from back pain, swollen ankles, sleepless nights, and has a baby constantly wedging a foot between her ribs. Having another baby is probably the last thing in the world she's even considered right now.

10. "Are you going to breastfeed?" Yikes, where is the awkward police? Like most of these on the list, if she brings it up-ok, that is different.

11. "Did you take fertility drugs?" Really none of your business...unless you are taking fertility drugs.

12. "How much weight have you gained?" This one is personally my favorite. You wouldn't ask her this if she wasn't pregnant, so don't ask her because she is. That information is between her and her doctor.

I thought this list was funny and truthful at the same time. Just watching out for my readers...don't want any of you getting shut down or embarrassed. =) Much love and hugs all around. Off to do some yoga and make dinner.

TTFN,
Heather

News from the Sweets!

We have some really great news to share with everyone; and we have finally reached the point where it is "safe" to tell all...we are having a baby! Yeah!!!!

The proof is in the pee stick (it really does say "pregnant")

Andy and I have always known we wanted to be parents. We've talked and planned and talked and planned and the beginning of the most exciting ride is finally here. I took a home pregnancy test at the beginning of May, went to the doc to confirm the following Monday, and had our first sonogram on June 2nd. At this point I am 12 weeks along. The due date for baby Sweet is January 7, 2011. We are planning on finding out if we are having a boy/girl in August.

@ 6 weeks...I guess being pregnant makes your ass look flat ;-)

@ 12 weeks...guess getting more pregnant makes you look like a drown rat ;-)

Some interesting things we have discovered in early pregnancy:

• Almost immediately my blood veins, arteries, and heart increased in size, but my blood volume has not caught up yet. Consequently, the first month of knowing I was pregnant was a dizzying experience. Typical increase will be 45-50% -- whoa that is a lot of blood
  
• Not all women experience morning sickness...some women experience extreme bloating, belching, and farting. Ahhhh motherhood ;-)
• Starting at about week 9 I have to pee ALL THE TIME, it is mostly hormonal at this time. The baby is too small to be putting THAT much pressure on my bladder...but then again the bladder is the most ignorant organ in the body. Really it is.
  
• Exercising is good for the baby. More oxygen and increased blood flow for me = more oxygen and blood flow to the placenta. Out--are the theories of keeping your heart rate below 150 and limiting ALL activity. In--is the practice of "knowing your body and knowing your limitations." I am going to continue working out the way I have always done. No more TT's or track workouts, but working out 5 days a week with yoga, swimming, running, biking, hiking, and walking is just what the doctor ordered...seriously it is. I am reading "Exercising Through Your Pregnancy" by James F. Clapp III Good read, a little technical and scientific, but VERY informative
  
• My boobs are GINORMOUS! 'nough said.
• Sonograms and an ultrasounds are the same thing. A sonogram uses ultrasound technology to render an image
• The coolest thing in the world to hear is your baby's heart beating for the first time ----------> tears
  
• Telling people how big the baby is compared to an olive (week 9) is mildly entertaining
  
• I have gained 1.5 lbs. in 12 weeks but it looks and feels much different
• After delivery of baby Sweet, my VO2Max will increase 5-10% for up to a year!!!!!! At least that is what "Exercising Through Your Pregnancy" estimates
• You can get your hair highlighted in the first trimester
• The main reason "they" recommend for you not to eat deli meat or rare, medium rare, or medium meat is the fear of food poisoning. If I were to get sick, the dehydration and the convulsing of throwing up so violently could be very dangerous
  
• The only other food restrictions I have are: I can't eat unpasteurized cheeses (brie, camembert, feta, or blue veined--seriously BOO!) or fish that contain mercury (tuna, shark, swordfish, farmed/fresh/canned salmon, shrimp, or tile fish) and of course no alcohol or caffeine :)
  

I will leave you with a picture of baby Sweet 9 weeks and 1 day in utero...
Head is to our right

TTFN,
lil' momma (nickname from Andy)

Wet Hot American Summer

Summer has finally arrived. Here in the dirty South, things have been "summer like" for a while now, but with the arrival of June and the passing of Memorial Day...it's official.

We had a really great Memorial Day. Our neighbor's youngest daughter graduated from UTC and they wanted to throw a graduation/Memorial Day party. It really was an excuse to a) create a smoker b) smoke over 60 lbs of meat c) drink a lot of beer. Our friend Wes Young, chef extraordinaire, was the man of the hour. He came out to our place after work on Friday night to do a "test run." I went to bed at midnight...they were all still up "testing." Smoking meat is HARD work ;-) Wes worked downtown in the morning on Saturday and after work he came out again for the big show. I think they started smoking the pork shoulders, pork loin, turkey, and ham at about 7 pm. Andy said they went to bed at 5 am. After a couple hours sleep Andy got up and tended to the smoker until about 2 pm on Sunday.

We took a break from smoking meat to head down to Possum Creek and go swimming. The hike to the creek off our back deck is about 25 minutes...warning: Crocs are NOT good hiking shoes ;-) Our friend Steve took a beautiful tumble exclaiming, "God Bless 'Merica!!!" Classic.

Suggestion: when you come out to our house bring a pair of lace up shoes, an extra change of clothes, and know your cell phone reception will be crappy.

All in all, it was an awesome holiday. Great friends, good food, and beautiful weather (minus the rain at the end of Sunday). Not that the movie "Wet Hot American Summer" has really anything to do with how our summer down here in TN will play out, I just LOVE that movie. HERE is a clip...enjoy.

Catching up with Friends

It has been over a month since my last post... GASP! I know, I know. I am such a bad blogger. I won't bore you with the laundry list of excuses. I will say we have been very busy and not busy at the same time. I am sure you all have experienced that as well.

Our friend Courtney, from Boulder Colorado, (originally from IL) came for a 2 week visit at the end of April. It was so good seeing her and visiting. I will admit, at first I was a little worried about having a house guest for 2 weeks, even if it is one of our best friends. But I was very happy to put my worries to rest very early on. We were able to hang out and do a bunch of stuff together; and when she needed her down time we needed ours as well. Courtney and I went on an 11 mile hike on the Cumberland Trail. Our destination was Imodium Falls. Not quite sure why they call it Imodium, but I am gonna guess it has something to do with Native American stuff and NOT diarrhea and the symptoms of gas...at least that is the hope ;-)

Above: thank goodness for long arms...C's not mine ;-) duh.

Above: The falls -- Cool swimming hole, right?

Above: Flower we saw on our hike, I think it is Jack in the Pulpit?

We also went to a pancake breakfast for 3 Chattanooga Firemen and their families. They were raising money to off-set the costs of some catastrophic illnesses they had been dealing with. Courtney got hit on 2x by some sexy firemen while trying to get some more of their yummy pancakes ;-)

Above: our first serving of pancakes...

We also went to the Hunter Art Museum, rode our bikes around the reservoir on Raccoon Mountain, went shopping, and partied it up with Carrie, Wes, Laura, and Mary Alice at Food Works. That was a day and half ;-) We started at Food Works for $1 mimosas and brunch. I had my first experience with chicken and waffles. OMG! I think that is the breakfast of champions. After we exhausted Food Works of their OJ and Champagne, we made our way to the Chattanooga Market. The Market is an outdoor festival held every Sunday at the Tennessee pavilion. It started April 25th (the day we went) and goes until September 30th. They have crafts, fresh produce, live music, and "refreshments." We of course partook in the refreshments component. Yeah, good times. Then we meandered back to Carrie and Laura's apartment and proceeded to eat, drink, and play Apples to Apples. BTW, Apples to Apples is the best game ever! I love hanging out with good friends and having a good time. But then again...who doesn't, right? ;-) All in all, I really loved having Courtney stay with us. We have always been close, but her visit in April really gave us an opportunity to "hang" with each other. I miss her already.

Above: Cool mirror piece @ museum

Above: one of my favorite paintings (I have no clue who the artist is...I think local Chattanoogaian)

Above: first round of mimosas @ Food Works!

Above: Wes and his new "tool" (left hand)

After Courtney left, it was back to business as usual. Work has been ok for me. GAIA Fitness is really starting to resemble a true company rather than merely a hobby. We have a decent number of clients and have been able to make some really good connections. We have business licenses, state/county/federal permits, tax IDs, resale IDs, bank accounts, etc. Andy has been hard at work trying to get all "bonafide." I am going to take some time this weekend and work my organizational magic and create spreadsheets, calendars, and update email accounts. Once we get all that stuff organized and ready, then we can concentrate on the most important component of our business...getting people healthy! Speaking of which, I am so excited to be working with the group we have so far. I am even more excited to see their happiness with their achievements and goals. I think it is really much more satisfying to see others reach their goals.

Well, ta ta for now. Not so much on the "writing with a purpose" front, but with over a month since my last post I thought a recap was in order.

Heather