Pregnancy Week 28: Rounding Third Base on Our Way HOME!

Whoa there Nakasone-Chan. It appears we had a little growth spurt in the last week. It may be because we are FINALLY entering our third trimester.

Your dad took this picture of us while we were shopping in downtown San Jose over Thanksgiving weekend. We thought that the graffiti in the background was appropriate for my 28 week shot. I can’t believe how much you have grown in the last week. Not only am I starting to look bigger, but my weight increased by 3lbs this week. Well, that extra 2lbs may be attributed to the lovely taco salads in the Yahoo! Café. In many, ways I’m very thankful for your growth spurt because (most importantly) it means you are growing into a healthy baby boy and secondly I am actually starting to look pregnant. Believe me it’s not fun just looking really fat. However, your growth spurt is starting to do a number on my back.

This week your dad and I celebrated Thanksgiving at home. You and I were supposed to travel back to Pennsylvania to visit family and friends, but our doctor wasn’t too keen on us flying 5 hours to the east coast. Instead we spent some quality alone time organizing the house, shopping and relaxing. It was actually really nice for me and your dad to spend one last holiday together (your grandparents come out over Christmas). Look, we even finished your nursery:

Your dad had a really good time decorating your nursery. He picked out and purchased all of the pictures, frames, shelves, bedding and toys. I think he’s secretly happy that you’re a boy so he can relive all of his childhood memories. Next up: Star Wars sheets

What you crave this week:
Brownies

Love,
Mommy

Pregnancy Week 27

Dear Nakasone-Chan,

Here we are 27 weeks and 20lbs later (well probably only 2lbs for you). I’m getting slightly rounder, but overall look a whole lot thicker. It’s like that inner tube around my stomach keeps expanding in all directions… north, south, east and west.

Now that we’re approaching the 3rd trimester I’m noticing that my skin is getting a whole lot worse. The pimples from the first trimester are coming back with a vengeance. I’m not talking about the small tiny pimples, I’m talking massive crater pimples that don’t go away for 2 weeks. On top of that I’m noticing my face is getting really red… especially my nose. The makeup that I normally wear is starting to look muddy and accentuates the redness. I’m really hoping that this is just one of those lovely characteristics of pregnancy that will go away after you come.

You still have been moving around and kicking like crazy. I’ve noticed that you’re kicking and moving more during the day then ever before. Plus your movements are so much more pronounced. I think you’re in the process of getting in final position for your launch in February.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty relaxed. Usually you can find us lounging around the house after work and spending time with friends and family over the weekend. We haven’t made too much progress with your nursery, but you did get some baby gear and clothing from a close friend (thanks Ryall). Your canine brother Iki, who is obsessed with all things baby, is delighted by all the new “toys”. In fact we find him occasionally sleeping in your bedroom:
http://flickr.com/photos/sandyrat/3020767642/

What you crave this week:
Taco Salad - They make a pretty mean taco salad in the Yahoo! Cafe, which has probably contributed heavily to that 20lbs. Keep in mind it's a generous portion and of course I devour the entire thing.

Love,
Mommy

Pregnancy Week 25

Dear Nakasone-Chan,

I feel like 25 weeks should be some sort of milestone for us. However, we still have a good 15 weeks until you take the world by storm. While I’m sure you’re growing like crazy on the inside the only major development I’m noticing out here is that my hair isn’t falling out all over the bathroom floor. I’m not complaining it’s nice to have thick(er) hair for once in my life.

Our doctor told us this week that I'm carrying extremely well. She said that I can attribute that to my height and width. This is the main reason why I'm not showing as much as others at this point. Hey, I guess those "child bearing" hips have come in handy for once in my life.

One event that I wanted to comment on was that this week our country took a huge step and elected our first ever African American president. I’m so happy that you will be born in an era that can look past racial differences and actually stand up for what is right. While your dad and I watched Barack Obama’s speech, I kept thinking to myself that you could live in a world that doesn’t judge you based on the way you look or your racial make up. One day that could be you up there and it won’t matter that your mom is white and your dad is Asian. No matter how you feel about the candidate who won, it really was a proud day in American History. Your dad is excited for the fact that he went to same high school as Obama: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punahou_School)

What you crave this week:
Egg Salad Sandwiches

Love,
Mommy

Happy Halloween, Nakasone-Chan!

We are looking forward to dressing you up in ridiculous costumes just like your brother, Iki.

Pregnancy Week 23

Dear Nakasone-Chan,

Here we are at 23 weeks. It doesn’t look like my tummy is getting bigger, but rest assured you are definitely growing inside of me. While my tummy isn’t popping out like a basketball, I have noticed my hips and waist getting bigger. Kind of looks more like I’m wearing and inner tube. Even though I’m not thrilled about my expanding hips, I’m happy that you’ll still growing at a decent pace. Also, what’s the deal with mommy’s double chins?!?

I started noticing this week that I’m getting sharp pains in my lower abdomen. After some research on the internet, I realized that it’s the dreaded round ligament pains. Usually women start getting them in their second trimester due to their expanding bellies. Or expanding inner tube in my case.

Since the pains usually come while I’m walking or doing some sort of extensive movement, I’ve had to change up my exercise routine. Instead of running or using the elliptical machine, we’ve had to settle for 1-2 mile walks 3-4 days a week. Hey mommy’s not complaining. It’s nice to take a break and slow down for a while.

We’ve also been working on getting your nursery set up. Here’s a picture of our progress:

We’ve hung up the quilt Grandma Nakasone sent from Hawaii, bough new jungle bedding and 2 pictures from target. Your dad also purchased frames for some old Disney and Star Wars records to hang in your room. More pictures can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyrat/

What you crave this week:
Whatever this thing is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparkleynicole/2224871582/

Love,
Mommy

It's a... BOY!

After 21 weeks of waiting, we can finally stop calling you “it” and refer to you as “he” and “him”. Yep, yesterday we went in for our second ultra sound and the doctor discovered (after much suspense) that there was an extra little leg. So far you’re a very healthy baby boy and everything is intact. However, we did find out that mommy is gaining a little too much weight (9 lbs in 1 month… YIKES).

In the beginning I was sure you were a girl, but as time went on my gut told me boy. Most of our family and friends actually predicted you were a boy from the beginning. My wish came true as I always hoped my first born would be a boy.

Your dad is super excited about having a boy and already started planning your nursery around his favorite sports team and childhood favorites. Let’s just say your room is going to be full of San Jose Sharks and Philly Eagles posters/pictures along with plenty of Star Wars and Kamen Rider (strange Japanese cartoon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamen_Rider) memorabilia.

We are now more excited than ever to welcome you into the world in February.

Love,
Mommy

Pregnancy Week 21

Dear Nakasone-Chan,

I’ve been reading online and in my baby books that I’m suppose to start feeling you kick somewhere in between the 16th and 20th week. As the weeks past, family and friends began asking me if I felt your first movements. The answer was no every time. I figured maybe you’re just not a very active baby or that extra fat layer I developed from eating too many tater tots at lunch prevented me from feeling your first kick. I knew you were in there, I just couldn’t feel you.

Boy, did that change this week. Last Wednesday night while I was lying in bed reading, I felt a little butterfly in my stomach and immediately knew it was you. Since then you’ve been kicking NON STOP. First thing in the morning, while I’m at work in the afternoon and in the evening when I’m relaxing. While I enjoy feeling you move around in my belly, your non stop kicking has prevented me from falling asleep at night to waking up extra early in the morning. I guess you’re preparing me for the lack of sleep to come.

Whoopie Pies!
Remember last week when we were craving Whoopie Pies? Well, since we can’t get these delectable PA Dutch desserts in California, your aunt Val and I decided to bake them ourselves. After spending over 2 hours baking, we were finally able to enjoy our creations. The recipe we followed made close to 20 Whoopie Pies and of course after one Whoopie Pie our craving was satisfied. Now, we have 15 Whoopie Pies sitting in our fridge.

Aunt Val loves her Whoopie Pies:









Go Eagles!
On Sunday, you went to your first Philadelphia Eagles game at Candlestick Park against the 49ers. My good friend Lisa, who unfortunately is a 49ers fan, invited us to join her for the game. Luckily your first game was filled with a lot of excitement as the score shifted in favor of Philly back to the 49ers then (thankfully) back to Philly. Can’t say that our team played exceptionally well, but they did win in the end. I couldn’t believe how many Eagles fan were at the game. The entire 2 rows in front of us were all cheering for the Eagles. At one point during the game you could hear the people in the stadium chanting E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!

During the 3rd quarter when SF was making their comeback you started kicking like CRAZY. Uh oh, I hope I’m not creating a 49ers fan!

What you crave this week:
Honey Smacks - Digg Um!

Love,
Mommy