And then there were two

He arrived a few days early and his hair is already coming in blonde at the roots. Simon pats his head and calls him "baby." Birth story to come soon, maybe? I don't mind sharing it. I've left this blog quiet for far too long and want to get back to writing in it frequently. In fact, the day I went into labor I wrote a 5+ paragraph post that I contemplated hitting "publish" on until, well, suddenly I was having a baby and more pressing matters were at hand.

So here he is, my little Graham. My circle of love, complete.

All your gold

Here's a picture of my budding belly for the family that's been asking. And in case you missed it: we're having a boy, due June 8th! And I've been calling him Graham, though we're not final on a name yet. Seve likes Griffen, though I worry that's too Game of Thrones-ish. Or Harry Potter-ish. Especially if we made his middle name "dor."

Again: a poem

"After months of feeling like
the tiniest person in the world
I soon came to realize that
the tiniest person in the world
was growing inside of me.

And that would most certainly account for all of the
emotional upheaval
food upheaval
and oversleeping.

---

Looks like I'll be taking a few months off from the internet while my belly blooms again."

I wrote the above post/poem thing about 2-3 months ago and . . . never posted it? Sorry. I want to thank everyone who took the time to reach out to me when my online absence was noticed. And I apologize for having no idea what the rest of you have been up to. During Simon's pregnancy I was required to be online to complete work for Star Moose and I still managed to read blogs, but this time around I had no online obligations so I let it all go to dust. Only recently did I revisit my Twitter and ages-old Tumblr.

Which got me thinking: I really appreciate the likes of Tumblr. It's a form of social media based around interests, not necessarily who I am. Blogger/Blogspot culture kind of demands photos of yourself, personal details, and frequent updates. Tumblr culture is more about fangirling over books/shows/art rather than revealing who you are, and that's the kind of blogging I started out with when I was 12 or whatever, and it's the kind of blogging I'm more interested in participating in right now.

So this is my announcement to say:
[1] Yeah, I'm pregnant.
[2] My blogging will be a lot less frequent now. I don't want Simon to grow up with his whole life documented online - thanks to my hand - before he's old enough to set up his own Facebook.
[3] My online presence will be focused more on Twitter/Tumblr, if anyone cares.

AND

[4] During my absence I've focused a lot more on my band of tiny horses, i.e. photo project tender mustangs, and I have unique Tumblr for them that's queued to update daily. Again, if anyone cares.

Hello, Simon

As I write this, Simon is currently sleeping soundly between Seve and me in our big warm bed as we both type away at our laptops. Every time I look at him I gush over with love and tenderness and I-just-can’t-believe-this-ness. And the sudden inspiration to have a “Simon Says” tag for future posts of the adorable things he’ll say when he learns to talk and thinks he’s the first person to ever discover Nirvana.

First and foremost, I want to let you all know how incredibly thankful I am for all the kind words and congratulations on our little Simon - I’ve been trying to return as many texts/calls/tweets/FB messages as I can; your love has not gone unappreciated on our end! We’re just terribly busy with our new little man.

The rest of this post is Simon’s birth story. It’s very long, so if you’re interested in reading, open up your afternoon, cozy up with some cider, and keep reading after the jump.

He's here

Simon Guy Isaacs, born October 3rd, 2011, at 1:34 PM. Birth story to come, I promise.

Ready when you are

I don't know why I'm being so impatient - my due date is on Sunday. But I'm ready now, baby, now! Besides, Seve would like to get out of some parent-teacher conferences.

Year of the Bear

8 3/4 month baby bump.

Ugh man I tell you what I can't wait for baby to get here. This last weekend was really hard; my first trimester sickness returned and I feel like my energy is officially at 0%. But with one more week to go and my doctor convinced I'll be greeting baby sooner rather than later (though his wife, the receptionist, laughed that off, "He told that to me, too. A vigorous game of tennis couldn't get our baby to arrive,") I'm hoping my next post will consist of a birth story where little Seve Jr. can finally show you all his new bear hat. He loves bears.

Also, Rachel Berry and I both own this sweater.

Just so you know.

Let it begin

7 month baby bump, though I'm currently at 8 months. Only 3 more weeks left to go, actually.

Wolf Wolf & Wolf

Just bought this Wolf Totem for our nursery from Bark Decor. It's a flour sack towel, but it's so large I see no problem using it as a receiving blanket, wall hanging, sheet thing, whatever. I'm thinking of also picking up the Ghost/Banjo Owl and Catalope; what do you think? Too much?

Nursery Inspiration

When you find out you're having a little one, I highly recommend stopping by Lay Baby Lay for some nursery inspiration. Seve and I want a lumberjack-themed nursery; here's a little inspiration board I've created LBL-style. Some of these things we already have, some we're registered for, and some I can only dream about . . .

1. Cardboard Deer Head
2. Nickel Pendant Light
3. Blue Mountain Pillow
4. Sleigh Crib
5. Grizzly Doll
6. Red Rocking Chair
7. Teddy Bear Hat
8. Highlander Plaid Rug
9. "Grow a Beard!" Print
10. Blue Frame
11. Owl Pillow
12. Century Dresser
13. Red Gingham Coverlet

This is for my mother(s)

6-month baby bump.

Play idea: "Oedipus Tex." Basically the Greek tragedy set in the Wild West. Oedipus would gouge his eyes out with his spurs or something. Inappropriate tagline: Oedipus Tex, the Original Mother F*cker.

Turns out I'm not the first one to come up with this. So, with that out of the way, go see Seve as the one and only Oedipus in Oedipus Rex at the Snow Drama Theatre, June 29 - July 2, 5-8. Yippee ki-yay.

Where is your heart?

Just got back from a great Memorial Day weekend. Baby is still kicking up a storm in my belly and all I want to do is sleep. At this very moment I should be cleaning or preparing myself some lunch, or at least putting on my contacts. I'd rather be curling up in bed with Seve, but he's at school and I'm busy working.

Names we like so far:
Simon
Henry
Lincoln

Names I like but Seve makes a face at:
Graham
Milo
Hugo

Names Seve likes but I find less than stellar:
James
Alvin
Danger (as a middle name . . .and it isn't so much "less than stellar" as it is ridiculous)

Beanie Weenie

It's been so long since I've posted that every time I sit down to write I find I don't know what to say, or I have so much to say that I don't know where to start. Perhaps I'll just move on to the big news.

Yup, we're having a boy! I'm currently 22 weeks along and no longer puking my guts out. Eating is still a chore, which is becoming a real problem since I lost weight after all that throwing up in my first trimester, though the weight of the baby has kept me somewhat even . . . nonetheless, Doc says if I don't start eating a horse everyday to keep my weight up he might . . . what? Force Big Macs down my throat? Not too sure. Lord knows I'm trying.

Anyway, time to eat a horse.

A bit blue inside

I've been working on some drawings lately; this is "My Grandma In Her Youth."

We had the Gender Announcement party a few weeks ago!

Guests were instructed to pick a pink or blue plate according to what they thought Seve and I were having. Unfortunately, I completely forgot to get photos of my guests. Oh, well. This was the surprise that awaited them once they bit into a cupcake:

Yup, blue is for boy! With so much frosting, these cupcakes were super rich and weighed about as much as a newborn, haha.

In other news, today is my birthday! I'm 26 years old, but honestly, everyday I feel 17.

There's a part in here where I talk about boobs

And here is my dear child at 10 weeks via fuzzy cell phone pics:

Things I've learned from pregnancy:

-I need to teach my daughters how to burp. It will help prevent vomiting when (if) they get morning sick themselves. Because if you can't burp . . . you puke.
-I HAVE BOOBS NOW. And I love them.
-People treat you differently, from thinking what you have is a contagious disease to overly joyful to dealing out unsolicited advice. For the most part, people have been good to me.
-I really really really hate taking pills.
-I'm pretty. As sick as I feel, I've been in pj's and no make-up long enough that when I do take the time to doll myself up, I feel pretty.
-And skinny. I haven't gained any weight aside from baby; then again, that's because I throw up all the time. But I think I'll be like my mother and stay petite forever. Goodness, I hope so. Petite is the only way I know how to be.

 . . . and the number one thing pregnancy has taught me:
-it's entirely possible to become accustomed to throwing up on a regular basis, and not be grossed out by it.

Welcoming the Good Ghost

Well, I've decided to start a blog with a new name. Not sure when I'll go public with it, the time will come.

I'm pregnant! 16 weeks along, and I love it. I don't love the nausea, vomiting, headaches, backaches, leg aches, heart aches, etc. . . . but I am SO HAPPY to be having a little Seve & Jules baby.

This experience has been very strange. I missed about three months of work. My first trimester (actually, my first four months) were like living in another dimension. I was so sick that I simply stayed home all the time, and luckily my job let me work from home so I could still bring in some paychecks and make rent. But I was cooped up in my room all the time, and Seve was always gone for school and theatre stuff . . . I was alone all the time and grew pretty miserable. It was easy to forget that I was pregnant and just feel like I was dying.

Well, now that I'm  feeling better (less vomiting, able to get up and walk around and have conversations with people) I feel much happier, and like I'm finally able to enjoy the experience of being pregnant. Back when I first got the positive pregnancy test, I was under the impression my pregnancy would be "fabulous;" full of shopping for hip maternity wear, eating healthy organic meals, taking pregnancy yoga classes . . . yeah. I'm lucky if I can get down the stairs, much less out of bed.

Anyway, when I gave up, er, living, I also gave up blogging. I didn't mean to, it was just another byproduct of feeling so sick all the time. Being on my laptop made me dizzy, so I only dedicated laptop-time to working and nothing else. In fact, I'm dizzy right now after writing this much, so, er . . . I'm out.

BUT FIRST. A picture of my latest favorite music maker.

Theophilis London is wonderful.

Quick Update

Sorry for the lack of updates, but for those who are not yet aware, I'm currently in Texas for the funeral of my Aunt Pam. She was a wonderful woman who was young and healthy, so her death came as a shock to all of us. She passed of a pulmonary embolism and leaves behind her husband, four children, and a new baby granddaughter. It's been a really rough week for everyone.

I'll be back in town mid-March. For those who've asked, I'm currently at the tail-end of my ninth week of pregnancy, and everything is going well. I'll see you guys soon.

We dig paisley

First of all, a big THANK YOU to everyone for your kind words and support!!!

Did you know I have 14 blog post drafts? It's common for me to start blog posts and never finish them.

It's been veeery quiet around here lately, and I can sum up the reason for that in two words: nausea + vomiting.

I'm so very excited to be pregnant, but man, I haven't felt like myself these past few weeks. I've been confined to my bedroom and working from home busy with those two words above. I've left this bedroom a mere once since getting sick (not just my apartment, but my bedroom). What's going on in the outside world? Without the internet I'd probably be crazy right now.

So, sorry for infrequent posting. My real life is a bit queasy at the moment. To make amends, here's our official "I peed on this and it said 'baby'" picture, back before my relationship with food hit the rocks:

Just a coupla' hipsters. That mustache reminds me: Doubt opens this week! Go see Seve as Father Flynn at the Black Box Theatre and have a grand ol' time. Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Tumbling, tumbling

Well, I have a serious post today.

On New Year's Eve, I had a blog post scheduled to go describing my Top 15 of 2010, but scratched it because one of the things on the list I wasn't really ready to talk about, and that was #15, Getting Pregnant. Anyone who's been keeping up with this blog (or me in general) knows that I ended up miscarrying, and to this day I'm not over that sad event. It was so hard, especially in January (my due date had been 1/1/11) to see friends who conceived around the same time I did to have their babies arrive healthy and problem free. I'm very happy for them, but I can't pretend it didn't make me feel lonely.

Now, I wasn't all gripes and rainstorms last month. I had some things I was set on doing to stay positive and keep happy, like my new camera, my new watercolors, and a sneaky art project. But then something happened: I got pregnant again.

Was I planning on waiting to announce this? Yes. Last time I regretted announcing so early only to have to retract the statement, but you know what? By coming out in the open with my pregnancy and my miscarriage, I got a lot of love and support from people who would have otherwise been in the dark. And that support made such a difference.

So, I'm announcing it now. Besides, it's harder for me to hide being pregnant this time around. I've been sick as a dog - nausea, nausea, nausea - and missing work and my RS duties - both have been wonderful and understanding in the matter, but nonetheless, the cat's out of the bag when you're green in the face, not taking any medicine, and refusing the chicken soup that's brought to you.

I guess I just want you all along with me for the ride, no matter what happens. Perhaps I'll post the Top 15 of 2010 later this week . . . now that we're 2 months in to 2011's #1.