The Shower of My Dreams

Last weekend Betty, my Mom, Jen and Heidi threw me the most amazing shower. I couldn't have asked for anything more special and felt so loved. They went all out with the Noah's Ark/Animal theme and walking into the shower I was so touched at how every detail was thought of. From the decorations to the cake to the food and the favors...it was all so perfect.

The Lietz Ladies. Do you think there is a family resemblance?

Jen made this gorgeous diaper cake. In addition, she helped me with opening gifts. I couldn't have gotten through it without her expertise.

3 Generations, almost 4. This will be Jason's grandma's 1st Great-Grandchild.


My Dad made this cake that was modeled after the cake my Mom had at her baby shower. He is so creative with cakes, I think he should get into a side business.

I was so moved by how many friends showed up. There is something very emotional about being in a room filled with all of your favorite people in one place. I loved that I did one big shower since it allowed friends from all different parts of my life (high school, college, work, bible study, family friends) to all meet each other. Looking around the room, I was constantly reminded of how blessed I am to be bringing a baby into the world that includes so much support from friends and family.

I feel so blessed with so many wonderful girlfriends.

Our little guy was showered with so many gifts and I think he is sure to be one of the most fashionable babies around. He got the cutest clothing and I am already imagining him in all the outfits. I also got all the necessary toys, books, gadgets and gear so I feel that I'm all set and ready for him to arrive.

One of my favorite parts of the day was going home and sharing all the gifts with Jason. He felt so blessed that friends were so generous with all their thoughtful presents and he even wanted to read every card.

Thank you to everyone who came or sent a gift. It was such a memorable day that I will remember for the rest of my life and made me feel so special.

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day being on a weekend. You actually get to spend the day with the one you love and do what you love together. For Jason and I that meant a lazy morning at the house, cooking breakfast, doing some chores, relaxing and then dinner at night. I guess when you are married for 5 years, your expectations of this romantic holiday turn more into a day of just enjoying each other. We have never been big gift givers for this holiday, but the day before I came up with a brilliant idea.

It went something like this:

H: Have you bought me anything for Valentines Day yet?

J: No, have you?

H: No.
Want to go see Coldplay as our gift to each other.

J: Definitely.

So that morning, I got pre-sale tickets to Coldplay for this July. Couldn't think of a better gift than a concert we get to enjoy together.



Last night we went to dinner at Montclair Bistro. I felt like trying somewhere new and this place looked so cute. It is in Oakland and was perfect. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quaint location with amazing food. They have a Sunday brunch that looks great, so we are excited to bring our family back.

Our Week of Tests

Let the monitoring begin. Starting at 32 weeks, I began to go into UCSF weekly for non-stress tests. This test consists of a quick ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid and then monitoring of the babies heart rate and contractions for a half an hour. This test is done to monitor the activity of the baby and to ensure that as the baby moves that the heart rate also increases. They consider you to "pass" the test as long as there are 2 increases within the timeframe.

Last week, we didn't pass the test as the babies heart rate stayed constant throughout the entire time period. This worried the doctor's a little, so they had me go back 3 times this week for further testing. Luckily by the next day, the baby was back to responding as he should be and they were reassured by Friday since he had 3 positive tests. Now I'm back to only going weekly...YEAH!!! I have to thank my Dad for bringing me to my appointments this past week. He picked me up at work, drove me into the city and sat with me as they did the tests. As he would see the heart rate rise on the monitor, he would give me the updates, it was very cute. I'm so lucky to have him and am constantly reminded of how blessed I am to have such an amazing Dad. He also got to come with me for my ultrasound this past week and I think it was fun for him to experience. My doctor has been doing monthly ultrasounds to check for growth. The baby measured right on and was even a little on the big side, so we were thrilled with that news. I asked the tech at the end if they could see the face, but due to his positioning and timing his face is no longer visible. So all we were left with was his little ear. I was kind of happy that we couldn't see him since now we have a real surprise to look forward to. I can't wait to meet him and see what he looks like. Only a few more weeks!!!

Danielle's Bday In Santa Cruz

One of the best things ever about working at Diablo Publications, was meeting Danielle. She was my cube neighbor where we instantly became the best of friends and we had so much fun together. Yesterday was her birthday and she rented a GIANT land yacht to head up to Santa Cruz to go wine tasting. This is my 2nd wine tasting birthday excursion while being pregnant. As I definitely miss trying all the wines, I still had a great time and most importantly I know she had a fun and festive birthday.



I never realized how many wineries are in the Santa Cruz mountains. Beware...if you are planning on going definitely have a designated driver. The roads are very windy and you have to drive on a 2 lane road with steep cliffs for part of the trip. A few people got carsick and our driver was pretty talented to manuever the 30-seater bus through the mountains. But once you make it up the mountain, it is gorgeous.



Here are some photos of the winery we went to. It was 70 degrees and the mountains were so green. It truly was so peaceful and the surroundings were amazing.


I am always reminded of how many gorgeous places there are to visit in California. We are so blessed.


The vineyards


The ladies of the party


The ride home was very eventful. Especially as being a sober participant. Jason made a mix tape that got everyone dancing. I had a great time watching everyone have fun. The craziest thing I saw was a guy who looked a pale shade of green smash a wine glass over his head. I'm not sure if it was on purpose or an accident, but luckily the only injury was to his hand.


Here I am 8 months pregnant. I think it is inevitable that our little guy will have a love for music. He has had his fair share of rocking out at some recent parties.

King James

I wanted to do something nice for Jay before the baby arrives, so I decided to get tickets to see The Warriors play The Cavs featuring Lebron James. I found a great contact through craigslist and we got amazing seats. Now that I have sat this close to the game, we have become spoiled. Lebron was on fire and sadly he sunk the game winning shot at the buzzer. We had such a good time and can't wait to bring the little guy next year. I'm sure he will grow up to be quite the Warriors fan like his Daddy.

Obama Inauguration

What an amazing day for our country. President Barack Obama took the oath of office to become our 44th President. The spirit and excitement of our country was contagious and you couldn't help but have a smile on your face knowing what good hands our country is now in. I am truly proud to be an American and proud of the man that we have elected.

President Obama's speech was uplifting, encouraging and right on.

Here are some of my favorite highlights and what I took away from his words:

"I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors."
Humbled, Grateful and Mindful (A reminder of a few of the most important virtues in life)

"That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."
A summary of the serious issues that our country faces in the year 2009.


"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."
No matter your race, culture or religion we are all God's people and should live in peace.

"To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours."
During this difficult time in our country, it is time for each and every one of us to step up and help make this country and world a better place. Lend your support and heart to those in need during these challenges. Each and every day we should be working towards helping others.

My Weekend

My best friend this weekend was a box of Kleenex. I've been lucky since this is my 1st cold of the winter, but it has knocked me out. I don't think I've slept for more than a few hours a night, but the good thing is that it has made me relax and take it easy which I haven't been doing lately.


I'm looking forward to tonight to getting out for a nice dinner. One of my work vendors has invited Jason and I to dinner at The Waterbar, a new restaurant in the city that is supposed to have the most amazing view of the Bay. Hope I can stop blowing my nose for a few minutes, so I don't interupt the gourmet meal.

An Eventful Day of Appointments

I took this past Thursday off work to complete a day's worth of Doctor's appointments at UCSF. Jason was with me for my 1st appointment which was an ultrasound to check for growth. We were so excited to see how much our little guy had been growing and sure enough he measured right on at 30 weeks.

When I first got to my appointment, the tech put me in the room and told me to lay down. She left the room for a few minutes and as I was laying there I started to feel like I couldn't breathe. I sat up and told Jason that I was going to pass out. He took one look at me and realized from the color on my face that I may be telling the truth. After a minute or so, some water and a banana, I started to feel better. I figured maybe it was my new medicine or that it was really early in the morning. When the tech came back she had me lay down again and within 2 minutes the fainting spell came back. It took a few minutes to start feeling better again. The tech then casually mentioned that because I was in my 3rd trimester, I probably shouldn't be lying flat on my back. She explained it is common for women to feel faint in their 3rd trimester if they lie flat on their backs (something to do with your uterus cutting off a large vein that is responsible for blood flow). GOOD TO KNOW since she was the one who told me to lie on my back! I moved to my side (which is how I currently sleep) and I then felt fine.

After that I had my Glucose Screening where you have to drink a sugary substance and then have your blood drawn an hour later. I found out the next day that I didn't pass the screening. So now on Monday, I have to do the 3 hour Glucose Tolerance Test. I've heard it is not fun as you have to fast for 10 hours and then drink double the sugary substance on an empty stomach and then have your blood drawn each hour for 3 hours (all while not eating). I guess a lot of pregnant woman have a false positive in the screening but pass the 2nd test, so I'm hopeful for that. This weekend I'm trying very hard not to eat any sweets, which is very hard to resist. Good-bye sweet tooth!

Lastly, I went to the cardiologist for my 3rd trimester echo and appointment. The great news was that my echo came back good, so that was something to celebrate. During pregnancy your blood volume increases significantly and peaks at 30 weeks. I have had an echo done each trimester to track how my heart is tolerating all the extra blood flow. I was very relieved to hear that everything looked normal. I started taking beta blockers about a week ago due to my blood pressure getting a little high and they also seem to be working good. I NEVER take medicine (unless I'm forced), so for me to take this was a big step. The good news is they actually have a calming affect. I joked with my cardiologist that I could see people becoming addicted to these little pills since they make you feel so good.

So that was my day at the doctor's. Within 2 weeks, I start going in weekly for fetal non-stress tests and every other week to my cardiologist, so UCSF is going to be like a 2nd home. It is amazing how much precaution they follow when you are considered high-risk and a heart patient, but I feel so comforted to know that I am getting the very best care. I continue to feel really good and am hoping for another 2 months of keeping active and healthy.

30th Birthday Disco Celebration

Last night Melissa and I had our 30th Birthday Party at my parents house and had a 70's disco theme in honor of 1979 (the year we were born). Everyone dressed up in amazing costumes and I was so impressed with the creativity and spirit for the 70's decade. I had so much fun and thank everyone for making it such a memorable birthday celebration. Jason made sure to have the music blaring all night long and the dancing was (as always) impressive. I did attempt to do a few dance moves myself, but found that my belly was already sore from all the laughing throughout the night. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the evening.

Tied for Best Costume:

BOB (yes, this is Jason's Dad in case you didn't recognize him)


Knute
The red curls, velvet tight pants and heels that held dice in them were amazing. Hope your calves didn't hurt too much after spending your first night in heels.

Some of the Best Disco Dancers

Chris
Need I say more? I think this dance move sums it up pretty well.


Tracy
Always a strong competitor in any dance competition.


Danny
The teeth, wig and outfit made the dancing even more amazing.

Here are more great pics from the night...


The 70's fashion was all about bright colors and bold patterns. Everyone really did look amazing.


Loved the dresses! I got mine on Ebay from a vintage store in Alaska.


The dance floor was never empty.


70's Mamas!


Heidi rocked the silver metallic leggings and Betty whipped out her authentic pin collection.


Brian and the ladies.


The Birthday Cupcakes.


Making a birthday wish with Melissa. Last year we celebrated our birthday with a scavenger hunt and this year the 70's. Can't wait to see what next year brings.


Angie, aka "Sharon Stone from Casino" looking hot as always.


Some more of the great fashion.


Jason grew out the stache all week long.


The disco ball was spinning all night. It only fell once and luckily no one was injured.


Yes, Scott. The bass was so loud that a vase was knocked over.


The last dance ended around midnight.


THANK YOU Mom and Dad for hosting such an amazing party. I couldn't have asked for a better celebration and everything was just perfect. Here we are at 1:00am finally relaxing after the music ended. Hopefully the 30th was a little calmer than the 21st, but just as good of a party.


A few people asked how does it feel to turn 30? For me, last night proved it all. As long as you continue living life to the fullest, age is nothing but a number. I look forward to the 30's being amazing years filled with love, parenthood, friendship and fun times.

3rd Trimester Begins

This past week had a lot of milestones...
I turned 30, entered the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy, 2009 began and my belly must have doubled in size! What a week.

The most amazing gift of 2008 was becoming pregnant and I can't believe that this little guy is going to bless our lives in just a few months. I can't wait to meet him and feel like the countdown has truly begun. I am really trying to cherish each little kick and feeling and even some of the discomforts. Within the past few weeks, I have started to feel incredibly full after eating, felt kicks and jabs throughout the entire day (which I love), am starting to get tired again and my sweet tooth is in FULL FORCE! I brought home my leftover birthday cake from dinner the other night and it takes so much will power to only allow one piece per day. I had a large piece of cake after lunch the other day, so the following day the cake had to find a new home.


We have started decorating the room and are going with an animal theme (I know, not a total shocker for us since we are such animal lovers!). I have had good restraint without buying too many things. Here is a picture of some of my favorite recent gifts/buys.

Betty and Bob found an amazing Animal Ark and Mini-Marley, Jason bought some cute stuffed animals to match our bedding, Ellie got our little guy some stylish socks and those are my favorite pair of pants that I bought.

As of right now, the plan is to be induced about 2 weeks prior to my due date, so that would be around March 11th. I'm going to be delivering at UCSF since they specialize in high-risk pregnancies for coarctation patients and my cardiologist will be able to be present during the delivery. I feel so lucky to be in such good hands and have really not worried about the birth since I know that most of the decisions will be in the doctor's hands.

Cheers to the last trimester!