Alexandra's Blog

The 101 Ways Alexandra Makes Me Laugh

2011-12-15T17:00:00.000-05:00

I will spare you the long list that only continues to grow as Alexandra gets older and exerts her personality. And I understand that most of the 101 ways that Alexandra makes me laugh are simply because I am her mother. Others may find what she does inappropriate or annoying or maybe even normal because by the time their fourth child comes along (or they babysit their nephew for the umpteenth time), they've seen it a thousand times. But for me, many of these always make me laugh out loud. I list them in no particular order of funniness:

1. The Five-Second Rule or rather The Three Hour Rule.
On occasion, Alexandra will pick up food (chunky crumbs, etc) from the floor and eat it (against my telling her not to do so). On one particular occasion, during dinner, she dropped half of her pizza crust (which no one, for some reason, noticed). A few hours later, after her bath, using up the last few minutes of energy for the day, she emerges from under the dining table gnawing on half of the pizza crust she had dropped hours earlier. Siigh!

2. The Karate Chops.
Though she may not know it (or does she?), Alexandra is very active in her sleep. She will over stretch, flip, sit up and then lie back down, and, on one occasion, even crawl off the bed. One particular move she never fails to express is what i call the karate chops. With her tiny, yet surprisingly strong legs, she will suddenly and unexpectedly barrage me with a series of kicks. At times these prove beneficial since they hit areas sore by a Pilates class I took the night before.

3. The Moves.
Any time, any song is within ear shot of her, she will lift her arms as in preparing for a defensive move in boxing and begin bouncing up and down to the beat of the music. If she's standing she will do too many turns until making herself dizzy.

4. Drugs.
Inexplicably (i'm still very puzzled by this), Alexandra will stop whatever it is she is doing any time a drug commercial comes on TV. She could be buried in the middle of her favorite book or pressing every button she can possibly push on the air purifier but as soon as Cymbalta or Spiriva come on, she will stop everything to pay attention to the commercial.

5. Her Favorite Word: Mama.
I like to think that her favorite word is Mama. As someone pointed out, I made sure to find a reputable article that confirmed to me that if my child repeats a word several times, it is an indication that she has appropriated it as her favorite. So in her daily utterances of Mama, when she points to the ceiling and says Mama, or when she points to the elevator, or the door, or the doorMAN, or the tree or the crazy lady on the second floor and says Mama, it becomes almost an exercise in vocabulary for me to explain: Alexandra, do you mean CEILING? ELEVATOR? DOOR? TRACY (the doorman)? TREE? But on those instances where there is no vocabulary word (at least not one that I can say out loud), I simply smile and redirect her little pointing finger to my face and repeat..."yes, mama"!

Eleven Months!

2011-09-26T10:09:00.002-05:00

How time goes! People say it gets easier when babies get older and it's true. She plays and interacts with me. Lets me know when she needs something or when something frustrates her. I understand her communications to be more purposeful or maybe I've learned to understand her? She laughs and laughs when I chase her, or when we dance the Waltz. At 11 months now, she acts like her own person, independent, doing her thing.

I've been in the midst of preparing for her 1st Birthday Party. The biggest low key party I've ever been involved in. A few guests, minor decorations, lots of food and drink and a reunion of sorts with friends we haven't seen in a while. Alexandra's abuelita will be traveling 3000 miles too. Although Alexandra and her abuelita have met, their only interactions in the past 8 months have been solely via Skype. Alexandra reacts to my mom on the computer screen but i'm not sure why she reacts -- does she recognize her?

* * * * * *

I thought I was going to be a worrywart when I traveled to Las Vegas to celebrate my birthday. I thought I would be sad, stressed or annoying constantly talking about my Alexandra. And I left in the middle of an unprecedented hurricane in the East Coast. CNN freaked me out a little with their reports. But no, I didn't suffer from any type of separation anxiety or guilt. Why should I have? I knew Alexandra was under the best care possible. Her papa is on top of things when it comes to her needs, and in this case, where a major hurricane was scheduled to hit the East Coast, I couldn't imagine a better person to be with than Curtis. Not only did he have an escape route, necessary equipment, extra food, etc., but he was anticipating this bonding opportunity with Alexandra. So along with Meme Ava, I knew that Alexandra would be very well taken care of and happy as she always is. Indeed, when I returned, she looked at me as if saying "ah there you are" and continued doing what she had been doing. Four days away gave them valuable time to bond. And I noticed.

Next entry will be after a major milestone and a visit to the pediatrician. I like to think that if she knew her birthday party was coming she would be anticipating and excited to be among so many adults doting on her and responding to her every whim! Can't wait.

10 Months already!

2011-08-22T11:19:00.004-05:00

Judgments
It's taking me this long to understand why so many things aren't shared among mothers. When I became pregnant things happened to me that no one ever talked to me about, things mothers never shared. At first I thought it was because the experience of pregnancy and motherhood can be so overwhelming, it is easier for them to simply reply to inquiries with general answers about their well being like "I'm good" or "i'm tired", instead of getting into the gruesome details that most likely most people really don't want to know. And now, ten months into motherhood, I'm realizing that the major reason behind this curtain of secrecy (ok, maybe i'm being a little dramatic) is fear of judgement. This fear is compounded by the inevitable insecurity due to the inexperience of being a new mother coupled with the need to maintain a lifestyle that requires professionally and physically your all. Although we have been very thoughtful and purposeful in the choices we have made thus far, there's still those judgmental voices that undoubtedly (as if our decisions were made haphazardly) make their presence known whenever I decide to share a tidbit relating to Alexandra. I'm not going to try to psychoanalyze or reason behind this incredibly destructive way of being, after all I have been known to be judgmental toward different population types in general. But what I can say is that this realization offers me an awareness of mind that eases my choices and our decisions as parents. My judgmental ways have also minimized except when judging requires an opinionated and/or discriminating mind to make an informed decision.

Birthday Party
Although Alexandra is only 10 months, preparations for her 1st Birthday Party are well underway. I don't want to give too much away but after much deliberation we opted for an adult only party in the later part of the day. She will absolutely love to be the center of attention among all our friends.

Walking
Over a month ago Alexandra began letting go of furniture she used as walking aids to allow herself to balance on her own. Finally, during her ninth month she took her first steps around the house. The sound effects are coming from her mouth.

Enjoy.

9 months and 3 days!

2011-07-25T11:55:00.002-05:00

We visited the pediatrician this morning. I didn't like most of what she had to say. Curt asked me if I wanted to change doctors but I don't think I'm ready for that either.

At this visit, aside from getting weighed and measured --- she gained two lbs and grew two inches --- her ring finger was pricked to allow for a few drops of blood to be collected into a vial. This was for lead and anemia testing. Apparently, at this age, kids are susceptible to lead poisoning because they put everything in their mouth. Alexandra didn't scream and was intrigued by the band-aid the nurse wrapped around her little finger. Then the doctor came in.

Sitting on the exam table, Alexandra got a full examination: lungs, heart, ears, mouth, etc., and she didn't like it. She yelled and moved around attempting to push away whatever instrument came near her. She screamed and cried, losing her breadth. Only after it was all done could mama and papa console her.

Then came the MEAN instructions from the doctor:
1. Her pacifier must be removed in order to TRAIN her to sleep on her own without any aids.
2. She must go to sleep earlier, around 6:30pm, so she can sleep better through the night!
3. She needs to consolidate her daily naps to ONE nap a day.

No, no and no! Especially #2 makes me angry. I get home from work at 5:30 pm. When would I spend time with her during the week? What an unreasonable thing to ask for. And #1? Sure, I understand that little by little her pacifier will have to be taken away (she doesn't suck her thumb) but before she's even 1?? If it's not the pacifier, it will be something else she attaches to in order to soothe herself to sleep...a doll, a blanket, something!! And #3? She's been fighting her sleep lately. She rubs her eyes and rests her head on my shoulder but when I put her to bed, she refuses and cries. Am I supposed to ignore the signs of sleep and not put her to nap when she's tired? ugh! Call me a protective mother or irrational or whatever else comes to mind...but it seems unnecessary and cruel to "TRAIN" my child this way. I think, in my own inexperienced, well read, constantly researched mothering that these things can be managed at different stages with ease. Sure we have to socialize her but all in due time and at a loving slow natural (yes i said natural) pace!

Your thoughts?

Almost 8 months old

2011-06-15T12:24:00.004-05:00

We moved when Alexandra turned 7 months and it has been nonstop work (with some chaos) to settle into our new space. Alexandra finally has a nursery she will be able to enjoy....as soon as we complete it. Little by little lambs are emerging from her sheets, her night light and lamp shade, her wall and her blanket. And she seems intrigued by them...but then again, she's intrigued by mostly everything. At this stage, she stands and claps and pushes the ottoman around the living room using it as her personal walker. She manages to stand a few seconds without holding on to anything, enough to clap a few times...maybe imitating us when we see her doing something great or maybe showing off her abilities to hold her balance long enough to clap, clap, clap! Her food repertoire has increased as well. She eats broccoli and green beans, sweet potato and pears, peas and peaches, yogurt and prune juice...yes, prune juice diluted in water...yum? (this last one is more for medicinal purposes).

Curtis told me the other day that I make motherhood seem easy. I don't know if most husbands say this about their wives but he couldn't be more far from the truth. Motherhood is anything but easy for me. There are conflicting emotions and stress that I never imagined I'd suffer. And the past 7 plus months have made me reassess and discover things about myself, my life that I never thought I'd have to think about. Being a stay at home mom for the first six months provided a perspective that I couldn't have read from a book. And now, working full time also changes my ways of behaving in this new role.

Staying at home with Alexandra made me realize my limitations. I questioned why, as a stay-at-home mom (especially with an infant) I insisted on cooking, doing laundry, taking care of the home? This only stressed me out more and tired me to exhaustion. This made me moody and even unpleasant at times (if you can believe that)! And now, as a working mom I rush home to be with Alexandra -- I'm flooded with energy on my way to pick her up, to hug her and see her heart melting smile. But once at home, I feel the burden of everyday responsibilities, all while taking care of Alexandra. This burden is self imposed. Why? I don't have to be supermom...rather, I don't WANT to be supermom.

Many times Curtis has had to physically stop me from doing things...forcing me to relax, nap or just do nothing.

The abrupt changes that happened once we had Alexandra (even after nine months of preparation bringing a brand new person into our lives) required a real self reevaluation. Realizing my limitations -- that I couldn't do it all...but most importantly, that I didn't have to do it all -- was the easy part. Readjusting my priorities has been more difficult. It is hard work to ignore the laundry, to simply order in, to respond to emails later, to run errands on weekends without Alexandra, to spend time on ME things (when there are things that have to get done), to share parenting responsibilities, etc. I have had to learn to release the need for control and do things when I can, when it's possible, which many times may be later than sooner. While at the same time, I had to learn to be okay with doing things that I want when I want while responsibilities wait....

This readjustment has allowed me to be much happier to enjoy Alexandra, to be a loving wife and to be satisfied and fulfilled with myself.

Half Year Old

2011-04-22T09:36:00.001-05:00

When I turned 30 everyone asked me if I felt differently entering this new decade. I didn't. The same question came around when I got married and when I graduated with the doctorate degree. I didn't feel more mature or responsible because I was married nor did I feel any smarter or confident because I now could demand the title Doctor before my name. Even being pregnant didn't necessarily make me feel "different" (aside from the physical part of it). But now, six months into this new role of motherhood, I can definitely attest that I have changed, evolved, significantly enough for me to notice. These changes, for better or for worse, have brought a sense of confidence that I never knew I could feel. I'm more discriminating while at the same time I understand what is important enough to deserve war. I'm more apt at recognizing the difference between my whims and my convictions even if I voice them similarly. And the details of life that I sometimes dwelled on seem more relevant since they matter so much in our every day interactions with Alexandra.

I know, I know it isn't fair to attribute these significant changes to motherhood alone. The culmination of all those events that happened in my 30s and the fact that 40 is just around the corner, contributes to my introspection and this realization. And now that I'm back at work, seemingly the same, while I sit behind my desk doing the same old thing, the same old way, with the same old people I quietly burst in difference and changes I wish I could make everyone know and see. But why? I keep this new sense of self in motherhood, in marriage, as I enter my forties brewing inside me releasing bits at a time for the world to see.

* * *
At six months Alexandra talks, stands, does the downward dog? For some reason she takes the crawling position but instead of moving forward or backward, she lifts her behind up in the air, straightening her legs into that yoga pose. And she holds it, holds it, holds it and then falls back to her knees or on her side back to the rug. She seems brave to try new things. Her personality shows to be demanding and curious, involved. At six months she seems to understand cause and effect...does this mean her manipulation of us begins?

She stares at me at times, intently, lifting an eyebrow as if letting me know she found something on my face to be very interesting. And then she mimics me. She wants to touch everything, squeeze it, bury her nails into it, whatever that IT may be. And she's quick. In less than two seconds, she stuck her tiny index finger into Papa's nose and wiggled it about. Think of that image next time you meet her and she sticks her fingers in your mouth!

I sang Happy Birthday to Alexandra this morning, at least five times. She was amused by it. To commemorate this fabulous milestone, we may serve peaches to her for the first time tomorrow. I've been preparing for this day by buying the ripest organic peaches, getting her a silicone spoon that won't scratch her face, buying just the right plate that won't slip easily off the table and charging the camera. She already sits at the table with us at dinner time, on her own chair but until now she has joined us only in conversation. This time she will partake in eating real, albeit mushy, food. I was told I should start with green color foods as opposed to orange color ones since orange foods tend to be sweet (like carrots, peaches, sweet potato, squash, etc.) and starting her on sugar may not be the best bet. I don't know. I've prepared for over a month for this day and she too has been enthusiastic about finally eating peaches...well, at least that is what I interpret every time i squint, smile and repeat "peaches peaches peaches" and she laughs to her heart's content.

5 months and 1 day

2011-03-23T12:44:00.001-05:00

I know I am a day late posting this blog. But these past few weeks have been quite hectic, from dealing with the new apartment and coping with having to end maternity leave to return to the office.

Alexandra has grown immensely. She seems to show a personality that is sociable and warm already. Her smile lights up a room and brings to the grumpiest of all a twinkle to their eye. Just yesterday at lunch with a coworker, all our surrounding tables commented "what a happy baby she is"! And of course she smiles big, fueling passerby's comments further "she's so beautiful". And "beautiful" is that magic word that always, without fail, makes her smile even more. For a moment it seems, people around her, including me, forget our surroundings to drown in her toothless, squinty, open mouth smile!

I don't know how i'm going to do it. A week from this Friday I will be back at the office, full time. How does one go "back" to work? There's no going back to the way it was. No way can I return to the office like coming back from a vacation, or a sabbatical like the four-month time I took to complete my dissertation. This is not that kind of going back.

We started to practice today my time away from Alexandra. Meme Ava takes Alexandra as early as possible...today was at 8:45am...and follows a routine that sort of organically developed between Alexandra and me. We play, she naps, she eats and we play again. Then (on nice days) we go outside for a walk. She eats again and naps. Suddenly it's 5pm. But not today. Today I'm away in the bedroom, listening to her get accustomed to workdays without me (and I'm trying to get adjusted the same). And she does very well until...she cried enough to make me "intervene". I don't know what she was feeling but it hurt me to hear her cry. Little by little, I know, we both will get used to these darn workdays. I know they will be much harder for me than for her but in the end we will all be better: Alexandra will learn from and enjoy Meme Ava; I will...uh, I just know I will be better, right? Somehow.

Although Alexandra sleeps for a good amount of time at night, at least six hours, we both got used to sleeping in...sometimes until 11am. I seemed to get my 8 hours of sleep some how some way. But now that work demands I show up a particular time, I may begin to suffer the sleeplessness that many parents often complain about. I'm not sure if and when we begin giving Alexandra solid foods will assist in establishing a longer sleeping pattern at night. Some people have suggested this may help. We decided to wait another month to give her solids starting with low(er) calorie foods like vegetables. Both Curt and I are really looking forward to this time, where she can sit at our dinner table and enjoy family dinner time. With her intense curiosity we can only imagine what dinner conversations will be like...but I know I'm getting way ahead of myself.

The Countdown Continues

4 months and growing....

2011-02-22T13:50:00.002-05:00

In the cold windy snowy day we had yesterday, I walked, ran up the hill in the recently plowed streets with baby Alexandra cuddled in her stroller. Her pediatric appointment was at 1pm for her second set of shots. The wind was too much and I wasn't dressed for it. My hands were frozen and my ears ached in pain from the cold that just seemed to penetrate to the bone. But we made it. Curt caught up with us by car 20 minutes later. As usual, her head was measured, so was her length and she was weighed. I was wrong in my home calculations. She wasn't 27 inches long, but 25. And her weight was not the 20 lbs I thought she was. I realize now that I simply need to continue strength training to get stronger. The scale weighed her at 17 lbs and 8oz. Though the pediatrician did say Alexandra was heavy (her language was "off the charts"), she said it was no reason for concern. Chubby babies who are strictly breastfed can continue to thrive and grow naturally. Though at this weight Alexandra is suited for solids, we have opted to continue her on her present diet as research has shown that babies who start solids before 6 months have a greater likelihood of obesity in adulthood.

Shortly after Curtis arrived, the doctor began examination of Alexandra. She started to cry when the pediatrician examined her ears...seemed to be annoyed with that plastic pointy thing in her ear. This felt like the beginning of a worse crying fit to come once the needles containing the vaccinations were stabbed into her thick thighs. But no, the needle went in, the vaccination was pumped through and the needle was pulled out. Nothing, no tears, no cry. Impressive indeed. Then the other leg. The silence was too good to be true. This time she burst into screaming tears but within moments of getting cutesie band-aids she can't even see, I picked her up, cuddled her and it was over. She wanted Papa and once in his arms, she was back to her old self.

When we returned home, she slept for most of the afternoon. I was a bit concerned she would not sleep at night but she had no trouble falling asleep as usual.

* * *
As for me, I have been trying to incorporate exercise into my life but the time consumed by the work in our new apartment doesn't jive with the classes I like to take and I often miss them. And the cold weather doesn't help.

I return to work soon and I'm dreading it. I wish I could stay with baby Alexandra for at least a year but my job won't wait.

* * *
The Countdown Continues

Almost 4 months - 16 weeks

2011-02-11T15:09:00.000-05:00

Today Alexandra is sixteen weeks - not quite the four months the math seems to indicate. For now I'll share the video below.

Week 13 - Alexandra is three months today

2011-01-22T15:46:00.006-05:00

My arms hurt. Our next doctor appointment isn't well into February so in order to determine how much Alexandra is weighing these days we had to get creative. In our bathroom scale Curt weighed himself and then we added Alexandra to his arms. She weighs a solid 14 lbs. She is long at 25 inches and is able to maintain a sitting position for a good while now. She enjoys tummy time, an exercise intended to assist her in neck muscle development, which she dominates for quite a few weeks now. She has been able to hold her head up since the first month, leading her papa to don her the title of "Advanced Child". Yes, even the pediatrician at the last visit (at six weeks) suggested we start filling out her college application.

In the last month Alexandra (and I) had the luxury of having two grandmothers visit her, care for her, pamper her every whim. She may still be too young to be spoiled (or is she?) but she seems to have enjoyed all the attention in the arms of them. Meme Ava carried her for hours until she fell into her sleep; and Abuelita Nelly entertained her with dancing and songs that made her laugh and laugh and laugh like I have never seen.

In all the entertaining and attention Alexandra received, major changes happened. She grasped her hands together tightly like praying or deep in thought. She looks at my hands intently and then at hers and then back at mine attempting to move them the way that I do. She squeals, sighs, coos, "speaks" and "sings" along. For a while now, she discovered how to make bubbles with her saliva, and she loves to make them. She laughs and smiles and stares at me, always causing me butterflies. And her toys? Yes, she bats at them, grasps some of them and even takes them up to her mouth for investigation. And boy, does she love to look at herself in the mirror.

We seem to have gotten into a pattern. By ten pm (on workdays) we retreat to the bedroom where Alexandra has her own bed situated next to ours. She wakes at 2:30-2:45 for feeding. Then she wakes at 5:45-6:30 and then at 10am. We sleep well for the most part. On occasion I have bad nights where I can't go back to sleep after feeding her. The solution for this is easy - the gym - and I'm trying to start again that routine.

Alexandra is big, so full of expression and attitude. I'm delighted to be able to enjoy these times with her, every minute. And with this winter, with three storms behind us and with one on the way, Alexandra couldn't have picked a better time for us to hibernate and learn together about the world!

Week 8 - Alexandra is two months today

2010-12-22T14:36:00.003-05:00

Today is Alexandra's birthday. I have made it a point to take in every moment, pay attention to every change, every new habit, or development that she goes through. I've seen her follow me around with her eyes, she's talked to me with her cooing, lately she's been reaching out and grabbing things. She's very alert and curious...at the mall yesterday she almost developed whiplash from her trying to capture all that was around her...didn't want to miss a thing. She's so big and strong.

Women with children have always told me that my life will no longer be my own and/or that I will fall in love like I never loved before. They promise that their children are their biggest accomplishment. I don't know if that's true. All I know is that I understand. I don't know if this is the change they speak of or the love they feel (or what they even mean when they say it is their biggest accomplishment) but I know that having Alexandra has shown me, taught me, given me an indescribable experience that only having and caring for a child can give, especially an eagerly wanted and planned child. I won't be cliche here or mushy, it's not my style, all I can say is that I now understand that having Alexandra has provided an additional layer, another dimension of living my life. How enriching! If having a child has been a matter of debate in your mind, end it by choosing to have one. The so called hard work and "sacrifices" don't exist if your circumstances, like mine, are made up of a supportive, hands-on partner that appreciates and understands the impact of having a child in his life.

Sure my life is different, it represents change, change represents living and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Week 4 - She's Officially One Month Old

2010-11-22T12:39:00.003-05:00

The last two weeks have been more difficult than the initial two weeks. We have no patterns at all and time really doesn't mean anything. The lactation consultant who visited us last week encouraged this type of no pattern schedule. She recommended I nurse, feed, sleep on Alexandra's schedule. The specialist even recommended the baby sleep with us, next to me to allow for anytime feeding throughout the night.

At the time it sounded like a good idea but of course in reality it didn't really work out that way. She didn't say that it would be hard for me to fall asleep with her next to me in bed; that I would be required to sit long hours at a time nursing her and feeding her (two different acts); and napping when she napped? impossible. During her napping I had to do what I couldn't do when she was awake requiring my attention: I ate, went to the bathroom and stretched my legs. These aren't luxuries but necessities. Sitting for so long brought on pains and aches and led me to develop a daytime TV schedule that I'm embarrassed to share. Although we had some good nights, more often than not, at bedtime, Alexandra became irritated and let us know it by screaming her head off, fighting her feedings, or by making noises unrecognizable from a baby, all between 11pm and 2am, every night. We tried keeping her up during the day but like clock work she continued this behavior. The only thing that calmed her was if either of us carried her around, and so we did. With saggy bags under our eyes, almost like zombies we walked around the room until she finally fell asleep.

With his IPhone, Curt video taped one of these tantrums for us to share with her doctor at the next visit. The pediatrician said it's all normal and in fact noted her healthy weight gain and overall appearance between her hospital leave and now.

The past few days we have taken the lactation consultants advice (too much to share here) and modified it to better fit our lives. My doctor and Alexandra's pediatrician did warn me against taking the well intended advice of lactation consultants word for word and instead recommended we do what works best for us. I recognize this and tell myself often that if I'm not okay (in pain, too tired, hungry. etc.) then Alexandra isn't going to get the best of me.

Last night Alexandra slept with us waking once for feeding and changing. There was no dramatic tantrum during her usual 11pm to 2am hours. Everyday we learn more and more to read her as she becomes more patient with us.

Week 3 - November 12, 2010

2010-11-12T08:30:00.004-05:00

Alexandra is 3 weeks today. Between week one and now has been an unbelievably hectic learning and getting-used-to experience that confused our sense of time, tested our common sense, pushed our patience, revealed our survival instinct in our struggles to function with little sleep. Most importantly, as Curtis says, we have reacquainted ourselves with our humanity: what it means to protect, care for, feed, rest, and be aware of bodily functions...not only for Alexandra's but our own, each other's. We have felt joy and helplessness. We've been annoyed and mesmerized. And we've become overwhelmed by a profound affection for the most simple gestures and sounds that baby Alexandra reveals -- we create our own narrative about what these could mean and we respond in our attempts to communicate and share with her.

"You can't spoil a newborn!" - These words have resounded in my brain after a day of attempting to 'train' Alexandra to a particular schedule for sleeping and eating. At this stage of her development it appears that anything goes. We learned that baby Alexandra is much too young to be forced into a particular timetable, feeding style (bottle, breast, pacifier), or sleeping pattern. The pediatrician at the hospital did tell me this but for some reason we had conflicting advice from various sources that confirmed patterns needed to be established now. Once we adopted the idea that a newborn could not be spoiled (made sense to us) and that instead we must respond to her cues, we learned to understand her more. She sleeps nicely at night and wakes once for feeding (3 or 4am) which papa has taken up to do every night with formula in a bottle. During the day she breastfeeds every other hour. And at times she doesn't want to eat but simply enjoy the feeling of a pacifier (I told myself I would NEVER give my child a pacifier...ha!).

My bad days are decreasing. I haven't taken advantage of the cool weather to walk around the neighborhood as I should. My medication intake has decreased as well. My biggest complaint now is the soreness that develops from milk production. But the extraction of the milk makes the soreness well worth enduring...being close to Alexandra as she eats to her heart's content is truly a tender experience.

Week 1 - Home with Alexandra

2010-11-01T09:12:00.007-05:00

It's been a week since we arrived home with Alexandra. The stay at the hospital was uncomfortable with constant interruptions throughout the day and night. From the morning of the Friday Alexandra was born to the afternoon of Monday when we were released, there were numerous specialists, doctors, technicians, custodians, catering service workers, social workers, etc. coming in and out of our room. Everyone had something to do and express to me whether I was asleep (or trying to) any time of the day. It was nice to know that we had assistance during our entire stay but at one point it just became overwhelming to deal with the barrage of questions and instructions. The first two days I was high on anesthesia and further drugged on narcotics for pain control so it was easier to deal with all the "support". On day three and four, once the catheter was out and I was no longer on IV and was required to get out of bed and walk about to get my circulation going and the minor swelling down -- swelling resulted from the large amounts of liquids pumped into me via IV -- I became more alert and even reduced the amount of narcotics opting for ibuprofen for pain relief -- the "support" was a little harder to manage. Just when I was falling into that wonderful sleep i'd hear a knock at the door "excuse me, Ms. Rojas!" Ugh! My blood pressure needed to be checked every few hours; Alexandra's hearing test needed to be done; checking the cesarian incision; testing Alexandra for jaundice; how is mama's temperature; ah time to eat; Alexandra's blood needs to be drawn for genetic testing; can the cleaning crew come in to tidy up a bit; the lactation specialist provides instructions; the nurse comes in to bathe Alexandra; and it goes on and on and on....

Finally on Monday I heard those magic words "you will be discharged today." Yay! At 5:30 in the morning a doctor came in to remove the staples from my incision. It didn't hurt. The next requirement before we could fill out the paper work was that my blood pressure was reduced to a manageable number. The night before I had been required to watch a video on shaking baby syndrome. This video, combined with the narcotics and the anesthesia I was still trying to purge, took me emotionally to a very dark and scary place. I couldn't stop crying. The video was a heart wrenching sensationalist video meant to scare straight anyone who ever thought of shaking their baby. Once I came to the realization, or rather, once Curtis helped me manage my feelings, I realized that this video was a poor quality attempt to educate parents of this problem. And I let them know it. Again, under the influence of the drugs (maybe that's my excuse) I told them that judging from an educator's perspective, the quality of their video was not only sensationalist but insulting and I went ahead and told them how I could make it a real instructional/informative video that really served its purpose rather than traumatize. So on Monday, the trauma of this video didn't help in maintaining my blood pressure at that ideal number. And so I was prescribed blood pressure medication. Ugh! More drugs!

By noon I had done my best to relax, thinking happy thoughts and anticipating being home. My hair was tangled beyond recognition...i even thought some parts couldn't be salvaged and I may have to simply cut it off. I wanted to be home to shower for an hour and sleep on my own real mattress. I was very friendly with the blood pressure techs who would repeat the test if it resulted too high. I watched TV. But at the same time, I packed. Finally, around 4 we were given the green light and we headed home.

The past week has been a test in scheduling. We fell naturally into time sharing where I sleep through the night while Curt wakes twice (or more as needed) to care for Alexandra. Anytime between 6:30 and 8am I wake to take care of Alexandra until noon. We are then both up where we share Alexandra's needs until again about 11pm. And then we start again. During the sharing of time we may take naps, cook, do laundry, go shopping, etc.

It has been tough for me to do much more than take care of Alexandra and me. For now I take my pain medication (which now it's just ibuprofen -- the Oxycoden gave me hallucinations), iron (which I hate because it causes constipation), stool softener (because of the iron), blood pressure medication and multivitamins. None of the medications affect my breastfeeding so from day one I have made it a point to feed Alexandra this way. It serves both of us well. When I left the hospital my uterus was still swollen to the size of a six month pregnant woman and breastfeeding assists in the contraction of the uterus sooner than later. And I actually feel it. I feel internal pops as she breastfeeds. Weird.

Everyone talks about sleep deprivation. And it's true. Curtis is suffering...5 or 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep for him is not enough. Eventually, when I'm back to feeling normal, I may begin to suffer sleep deprivation the same. For now though, it is the least of my complaints. Constipation is number one, getting used to breastfeeding is number two (scheduling a lactation specialists sometime this week will hopefully help), and the incision from the cesarian is number 3 (with pain relief, I hurt very little). Whenever I feel sleepy I go take a nap and the night sleep is just fine for me as well - so far. I want to be back to normal as soon as possible...I would like to stop taking blood pressure medication and would like to walk at a normal pace, drive and run around as usual...but i understand, it's just been a week.

As we begin another week and Alexandra continues to grow I can only anticipate more and more what will come.

(FYI: after an hour in the shower with lots of conditioner I was able to detangle my birdnest ball of hair and it was all salvaged)

Week 40 or A New Chapter: Parenthood - October 25, 2010

2010-10-24T21:03:00.020-05:00

As convinced as I was (or wanted to be) that Alexandra would allow us to have yet another weekend to ourselves, Thursday morning proved otherwise.

Timeline
(warning: for some of you squeamish and/or overly sensitive individuals who find certain inalienable facts TMI proceed with caution).

6:00 am - I woke up with my usual need to visit the restroom but this time, on my walk to the bathroom I experienced an unusual yet familiar pain. A pain I hadn't felt since sometime in January: menstrual cramping. In a matter of seconds the pain went away and I went about my business. A few minutes later the pain returned but just a bit stronger, also for a few seconds and then it was gone again. This happened for about half hour to 45 minutes before I realized the pain was pattern-like and more painful as time progressed. It was then that I decided to shake Curtis out of his sound sleep to let him know something was going on.

10:30 am -- After a couple of conversations with the doctor on the phone she determined that it was best we drive to the hospital to determine whether these contractions were false labor or indeed the real thing. In order to be armed with all the necessary tools to articulate the situation, Curtis had pulled out his timers to help me breathe through every painful contraction that i suffered that morning. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 breathe in 2 3 4 breathe out 2 3 4....And like textbook, there it was, 1 minute lasting contractions with 3 to 5 minute breaks between them.

11:00 am -- Once we reached the hospital we were whisked into the triage room to check vital signs and monitor the consistency and strength of each contraction...basically to prove with medical machinery that I was telling the truth.

Contraction in Action

Like a California earthquake measuring 10 on the richter scale!! Ow!

12:30 pm -- After enough time monitoring me in the triage, everyone was convinced that I needed to be prepped for labor even if I was still only 1 centimeter dilated. My blood pressure was too high to simply send me back home to waited out. The combination of high blood pressure and my age made the decision a no brainer. My doctor asked if I thought of taking an epidural and...I can tell she wanted to ask something else, but I didn't bother waiting to find out, i said "Epidural yes, and NOW! please?"

Relaxing on Epidural

12:30 to 5:00pm-- So we sat around for the next few hours allowing the contractions to happen pain free. The doctor checked in every once in a while and other residents came in and out as well making sure the dilation was progressing and we were on track.

Curits Passing The Time While I Ate

5:30pm - 6:30pm-- By evening, the doctor expected my water to have broken and it hadn't. And the process of dilation seemed to have slowed down. So they decided they were going in....they were going to manually break the water hoping for faster progression. I didn't mind at all, even when i saw their line of instruments, one of them long and sharp. I knew I wasn't going to feel anything so it was simple to cooperate. And then it happened. A gush of water flooded, penetrating the linen and overflowing on to the floor. The doctors finished what they were doing but quickly moved out of the way. The nurses rushed in with extra towels and a new set of bed linens. Quite the scene. After all the changes were made I was told that I had dilated substantially and they expected good results, which meant that within hours I should have reached my 10cm and be ready to push.

Then Evening Turned into Night

9:00pm - 12:30-- By this time, I had been in the hospital approximately 10 hours. The doctor performed an internal test and discovered I had one centimeter left to go. She also said Alexandra's head was within reach and expected the process to begin any minute. But we waited and "any minute" turned into an hour. After 10pm the doctor explained to me that Alexandra was what she calls "sunny side up" meaning that she would come out facing up rather than the typical position of facing toward the back. She said this position made it especially difficult because the arch of her body naturally forced her head upward in the process of pushing bumping the pelvic bone. So my pushes needed to be especially forceful and purposeful to fit under the pelvic bone. So not only did I need force in my pushing, but also form and the best way to accomplish this form was lying on my back --which as many of you know, makes it more difficult to push. Again, if she had been positioned in her normal place, sitting during the pushing would have been the way to go.

My doctor and the nurse sat at the end of the bed as Curt held my hand and cheered me on to push. And I pushed through several transactions but Alexandra's head kept bumping into the pelvic bone. And we tried again. And then we tried some more. My pushes were very calculated...no screaming wild uncontrollable dramatic scene.

Nothing.

I had been told that if after trying several times which caused the child's heartbeat to fluctuate affecting her negatively (exhausting her and reducing her heart rate) the final option would be to perform a cesarian.

The pushing went on until right passed midnight. After that final try, as I watched the news discuss the start of a full moon, my doctor alerted me that I will be prepped for a cesarian. Within minutes I was given anesthesia, Curt was given a gown proper for the operating room and I was whisked down the hall to a room full of people who talked to me about everything they were doing.

1:00am October 22, 2010 -- Curt held my hand and talked to me about the joy and love and magic that filled him...I shook uncontrollably and for a moment forgot what I was doing there, lying there on the operating room. Curt reminded me and then I heard someone yell Happy Birthday and Alexandra was brought over to me put next to my cheek for me to kiss and feel and touch and kiss again.

And then I felt this awful pain and my doctor said she was putting my uterus back in. Suddenly I felt pain where she was operating, real or not, I felt it. And I let them know it. Curt told me that the doctors decided to put me under because I wouldn't let them work with my loud complaints.

I wake up again with Curtis next to me and I'm wheeled to the recovery room.

Week 39 - 5 days to the due date

2010-10-19T13:36:00.003-05:00

Monday we visited the doctor for our last official prenatal medical appointment. My numbers again were stable and the doctor recommended I begin doing some walking and squats to stimulate progress. She examined me as well and determined that things were definitely brewing and it is only now a matter of time. She suggested we maintain an appointment for the day after the due date just in case baby Alexandra decides to give Curt and I another weekend to ourselves.

I feel as ready as I can be. I'm open to whatever needs to get done to have a healthy delivery for both of us. We have what we think we need and we've prepared for her homecoming. Curt has started and is maintaining a list of people who he will send via text details from the hospital.

Time for stretching and a few squats. More to come!

Week 39 - 7 days to go...give or take a few!

2010-10-17T10:57:00.003-05:00

Just yesterday I had to tell Curtis that he was on his own. Yes. I have finally come to the point where I can no longer cook, pick up after myself, organize, or do any kind of activity beyond the necessary. Sure sure I can make myself a cup of coffee or put dirty dishes in the dishwasher but I can't do too much lifting, bending, moving. I think this is the time where you just enjoy being pregnant and let others do for you. I wish I could say "i can get used to this" but I can't. I rather do for myself. I'm glad that Curtis and I see eye to eye on how things have to get done and he's more than capable...and quite talented in the kitchen...for caring for the household as needed.

I still try to stretch but I realized that stretching makes me sore beyond what i'm naturally already experiencing. As I walk around the house, I feel what seems to be my pelvic area expanding...it's magical. I remember feeling a similar ache when I over do it at pilates. At night I sleep well except for the occasional bathroom run I have to do --- these depend on the amount of water I drink the evening before...sometimes i wake once a night...the most I wake is 3 times. I don't have to even look at the clock any more to determine what time it is. If it's easy to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, it means it must be after 6am. The 1am or 3am bathroom runs are difficult...a crane would be useful during those times.

On our Thursday visit to the doctor, we had an ultrasound to measure my amount of amniotic fluid. Too much fluid can be a bad sign as it shows the baby may not be swallowing enough of it and she could be in distress. I was hoping to get a good look of her in this ultrasound but apparently, the bigger she is the less visible she can be...the lack of room in the belly makes it hard for the technician to get a good angle. The ultrasound revealed normal to high amounts of fluid but nothing to be alarmed about. She also indicated that Alexandra's weight is at 8 lbs 6 oz. Yikes! My doctor didn't believe it and I have also read that it is virtually impossible to be absolutely accurate when measuring weight in the belly.

In addition to the ultrasound, my doctor revealed the results of the tests conducted on my Monday visit where she predicted the possibility of having to check into the labor room if the bed rest didn't help my numbers. Though we readied ourselves for the possibilities of labor by choosing a pediatrician, setting the car seat, packing the hospital bag in the trunk, taking final belly photos, and having a clean apartment, we were happy to know that the results of the tests were good. Bed rest had indeed worked. My blood pressure had gone down and this time there was no protein in my urine. Unfortunately my 24 hour urine collection test did show elevated numbers of protein that did not qualify for a dangerous situation that may require induction but did demand bed rest and close observation. The safe NORMAL numbers are supposed to be in the 100s. Anything above 300 is alarming. My numbers were in the 220s. So for now, I maintain my routine by resting and waiting.

Tomorrow we go see the doctor again for what should be my LAST prenatal appointment. By this time next week I will either be in the midst of it all or we will have little Alexandra home and I will be writing about a whole other experience. Or could she be late?

Progression - 20 30 and 38 weeks

2010-10-14T10:26:00.007-05:00

38 weeks and 13 days to go? maybe not!

2010-10-11T10:47:00.002-05:00

Just returned from the doctor and I'm home. I had another week of work planned but today my doctor said she was putting me on bed rest and I needed to quit work immediately.

The Run Down:
1) Last week my blood pressure was slightly high and I had not gained any weight.
2) This week my blood pressure was slightly higher than last week and I gained 4 lbs.
3) Protein was found on the urine sample.

What does all that mean?

Although I'm not swollen (my strappy ankle sandals still fit and my wedding ring fits the same) the doctor says that those three symptoms could be a result of developing what is known as preeclampsia. Because of this result, I will be required to pee into a container for the next 24 hours that will be delivered to a lab for further testing. On Thursday, my next doctor appointment, I will have an ultrasound to check for the levels of amniotic fluids and the total well being of the baby. IF the doctor finds that my lab results are not normal OR my blood pressure is still going up, or it's abnormal still, I will be required to check into the labor floor on Friday for induction. That's right. Baby Alexandra may come into the world this Friday.

Stay tuned!

Still 37 weeks...19 days to go

2010-10-05T12:36:00.003-05:00

Pain!

We went to the doctor's office this morning for my weekly check up. Aside from having to travel all the way to midtown during rush hour, we had to wait over an hour for our doctor because there was some kind of emergency she had to attend to.

The office was much fancier...it was on Madison Av after all...but it was also much busier and slower to get things done and going.

Maybe this is what made the results of my blood pressure different this time...it was higher than normal. The doctor mentioned it but didn't say anything much about it. In addition, the nurse noted that I showed signs of dehydration, despite all the water i drink through the day. She did make me feel better when she said that it is often normal to show slight dehydration in the early mornings after a night of 8 hours or more of not drinking anything while asleep. I admitted I had reduced my evening drinking to avoid waking up in the middle of the night to use the restroom...I'm trying to sleep as much as I can now...and I am!

In terms of weight, I didn't gain or lose anything, though I was told it was common to fluctuate between losing and gaining these last few weeks.

After an hour of sitting in the examination room, covered with a white sheet from the waist down, the doctor finally came in to listen to the heart beat and for an examination of the cervix. The heart beat, as usual, was pleasant, beating loud and clean.

And then came the cervix exam.

It is during this time that the doctor determines whether the cervix is moving, dilating...opening up...readying. Last week, she said, it was on lock down, closed for business. This time? a different story...

Using her hand in a fist to illustrate the cervix she showed me the sections that needed to open and which were beginning to show signs of flexibility. She assured me that there wasn't a possibility that Alexandra would come this week (whew!) but that the process had begun and things are definitely in motion.

It was during this examination, where she feels her way around the cervix, that I experienced incredible, unsettling, unfortunate pain. Pain so awful that my eyes watered. My threshold to pain is almost nonexistent. And the doctor noticed this..she asked "You're going to do this with epidural, right?" I assured her that I would, without a doubt.

Maybe I need epidural for these examinations.

37 Weeks - Officially Full Term - 21 days to go

2010-10-03T12:33:00.003-05:00

I thought I'd share the daily movements of baby Alexandra.

I wonder what the heck she's doing in there!!!!

35 Weeks - 34 days to go!

2010-09-20T09:19:00.008-05:00

Much to report today.

We went to the doctor this morning for our last regular appointment. Beginning next week, we will begin our weekly meetings for more detailed tests and observation.

As I mentioned last week, I am more slow these days and the fact that I can't work out has been really tough emotionally. Exercise for me is more than for the heart or the waistline but also for my brain, helping me release those chemicals that make me a happier person. It's a vicious circle...I don't walk as fast so i can't exercise so i get moody and i don't sleep as well. Not good. To make things worse, last week, as I have already told many of you, I slept (accidentally) on my back (an absolute no-no) and woke up with excruciating pain, like getting hit with a baseball bat. Took me half hour to get up from the bed to go to the bathroom. Once I returned to bed I was able to position my body on its side (as recommended) and I was able to sleep well until 7am. Although the pain was almost gone by morning, all day I feared the pain would return. I felt miserable, annoyed, useless even.

The doctor used her little machine this morning to detect the heart beat. Within seconds the thump thump thump of the heart resounded through the medical office, like saying "yup, I'm here"! I was weighed and I have gained an astronomical amount of weight in a very short time....6 lbs in one month! That brings my total weight gain to 21 lbs from the beginning. And I feel it. I feel heavier, and even my maternity clothes (not my regular clothes, go figure) is beginning to fit a little snug!

I'm happy to know that I was given the clearance to go swimming. I will start something tonight (hopefully). I need to get the body moving, the heart going and hopefully those nice chemicals in my brain flowing!

Last week we went to our last and final birthing class. In the middle of a storm that was classified as a tornado, we arrived to a mostly useful class that offered simulated contractions as well as breathing techniques to help with such contractions during the labor process: four different breathing techniques and a few pushing techniques to help the baby come through just how she needs to. But then the nurse thought it would be a good idea to set up the TV for the viewing of 5 vaginal births and a cesarean birth. I'm not sure why she thought that this would be a great idea. It really wasn't. The grainy 1980s footage showed women who "embraced" the natural, no-epidural, labor process. The moanings and groanings and grimaces can be liken to what I imagine slow torture by a sadist looks like. Why?

Last week I mentioned the incredible movement that baby Alexandra likes to participate in most of the time. My doctor confirmed her head is already down and her little butt is the one I most SEE when she stretches and wiggles on top of my stomach. Her feet are situated on my side and these she tends to wiggle often tickling me unexpectedly and during the wrong situations. Below are some pictures that show the round belly and then the distortion of that round belly due to her repositioning of her butt.

(if you want, you can click photo for bigger viewing)

34 Weeks - 41 days to go

2010-09-13T09:48:00.005-05:00

My fear peaked at last week's baby birthing and caring for infant class. Though I classified this class as a traumatic experience I now also see it as an eye opening learning experience that provided me with tools and information that made most of the unexplained, unreasonable, incomprehensible aspects of the process make sense. While providing every possible scenario that may or may not be part of my particularly unique experience, the class attempted and succeeded in demystifying the "you will know" and "mother instinct" and "it's natural" explanations that offer me really no tangible or substantial answers (at least answers that satisfy my sense of knowing - whether real or not), which I really need and seek.

The class offered:
1) the possible baby positions and their effect on the birthing process
2) common expectations for contractions (this part made a lot of the husbands squirm)
3) techniques to pushing the baby out -- "not like you are passing a bowel movement (those are the wrong muscles) but like you are doing crunches". The nurse emphasized this because she said many doctors/nurses still now advice mothers to push with the wrong muscles causing nasty unnecessary accidents.
4) pain and its possible severity, pain control, pain management
5) postpartum expectations, in terms of hospital processes with both mother and child as well as managing physical trauma
6) newborn looks: flaky skin, wrinkly skin, yellow skin, dandruff, dark patches, cone head, dented head, blue hands and feet, etc
7) and practical things like: changing diapers, taking off and putting on onesies, sponge bathing around the umbilical chord, holding and passing the baby, breastfeeding and its multiple positions for holding the baby in this process (I prefer the "football" hold), burping, etc.
8) what to pack in our hospital bag both for the labor room (not much) and for the postpartum room (everything you need/want).

Our next class is this Thursday where we will have an even more detailed approach at understanding the contractions that will dictate our trip to the hospital. We are required to bring a stop watch and we will practice Lamaze and other techniques that will hopefully assist us during this time.

* * *

Physically I've slowed down dramatically. I have completely stopped going to the gym but we try to walk around the block in the neighborhood as much as we can -- almost every evening after dinner. Since our neighborhood is hilly, halfway up hill I find myself out of breadth having to completely stop to catch it. I still stretch and it feels wonderful every time. The nurse at the birthing class suggested we do squats often throughout the day, practice kegal exercises, and walk walk walk. Driving too has become a chore. My right leg gets too much of a workout with my switching break and accelerator pedals through a typical commute causing me discomfort at the end of the day. Sleep is still good. Eating is more substantial now -- some days more than others. And her movements are severe, constant, visible, maybe making a point that it is getting a little too tight for comfort. Everyone says it is great that she moves a lot, aside from the obvious (that she is alive) no one had really explained why this was important. Finally I learned that movement reflects the baby's development of reflexes and strengthening of her muscles in the womb...the more she moves, the more use of these she's making. If that's the case, I'm expecting her to walk out of there once it's time.

Week 32 - 55 days to go

2010-08-30T11:33:00.007-05:00

I skipped updating the blog last week because there were no developments to report. This week, on the other hand, we visited the doctor and though health wise I (my vitals and other crucial numbers) remain on track I do seem to feel much different.

Eating
I have noticed that my eating has definitely increased. I eat the most between the hours of 7am and 2pm and I prefer fatty foods. Although I've gained 2 lbs since my last visit (a total of 15lbs since the start of the pregnancy) I do notice that my food choices have changed -- and not necessarily for the better :-(.

Exercising
I still try to stretch as much as I can while at home. But visits to the gym have dramatically decreased from 3 to 4 times a week to 1 time a week, if that. In the last week I visited the gym one time and walked around the block (uphill and up stairs) one time as well. I get out of breadth much too quickly.

Physiological Changes
I've read that my blood volume has increased up to 50% supporting the size of Alexandra. In turn, her increased size is pushing and squeezing my lungs not allowing for normal breathing to occur, hence the running out of breadth so quickly. I walk much slower now and this uncomfortable heaviness has only intensified. As if that weren't enough, I've begun to experience Braxton Hicks, contractions that though are not painful, do hardened my belly making it difficult to position myself comfortably. I rub my belly until the contractions go away (not more than 30 seconds). At times only a certain section of the belly will get hard; this feeling is different. This morning that feeling happened while at the doctor's office. The doctor felt it and said "oh that's just her butt". Alexandra is already positioned head down and her feet and arms are in constant motion -- no matter the activity I engage in she always seems to make her presence known. Curtis is always in awe when he feels the rapid punching like motion or the slithering slow motion that rolls visibly on my belly.

My final regular doctor appointment will happen on Sept 20th. After that, we are required to visit the doctor on a weekly basis. This is it, the home stretch, the final few weeks. We are preparing by taking next week's hands on classes on Lamaze and baby care and we are getting ready for her arrival by finally making a commitment on at least one of the most important baby items: the car seat -- since this item is required for hospital release.

Week 30 - 10 Weeks to go!

2010-08-17T14:11:00.005-05:00

Last week we had two major things to handle after our doctor's visit on Monday: 1) attend a meet and greet with our doctor group and tour the hospital ward; and 2) have an ultra sound to ensure that all is fine with Alexandra. We did both.

The hospital visit was very interesting - better than I expected. The doctors were very matter of fact about procedures, routines and answered all the questions people had, from the use of forceps to private postpartum rooms to general safety and security. Everything's still a bit of a blur to me. I can only remember stuffing myself with cheese and crackers as each doctor introduced him/herself and discussed a particular topic. Each took questions from the audience, including Curtis's question about pain relief (he's very concerned about pain). What stood out the most for me were the labor rooms. These are expansive rooms with large bathrooms, flat screen TVs and amazing views of Manhattan. Private, of course.

In addition, security of the babies also seemed to make an impact on me. The baby stays with the mother/father all the time, even when she's taken down to the nursery for her check up and the installation of her security bracelet. Apparently, the hospital takes security very seriously and dons babies with super-sensitive bracelets that will detect the baby's whereabouts at all times. It seems that there have been incidents where babies are stolen from hospital nurseries by deranged people. A woman's husband didn't appreciate stories of stolen babies and let the doctor know it, in front of everyone, in a very emotional way.

The postpartum rooms also intrigued me. I've heard crazy stories about having a roommate from hell - the one with a dozen visitors every hour; or the one who can't deal with her crying baby; even the one who still uses aqua net and heavy perfumes. We had already decided that whatever we needed to do we were going to request/demand a private room for recovery since it is standard, I'm told, that I stay for two nights after the (natural) birth and even spouses must follow regular visiting hours in those shared rooms. For $400 a night I can have my own room and Curtis will be able to stay all day and night! Insurance covers the basics and the private rooms come at a first come first serve basis.

We have planned our trip to the hospital that fateful day. Although it is convenient for us to take a cab from home, there is also the option for valet parking. Seems easy enough. Yikes!

Friday we went to get an ultrasound. In a few words I'll say that all was normal: her height, her weight, the amount of amniotic fluid, her movements, her position and even her strength. During one particular moment, the technician told me she was going to apply a bit of pressure to the tummy. Alexandra didn't seem to like that because she fought back so strongly the belly visually moved rapidly up and down as if rejecting the pressure the technician imposed on her.

Here's a picture of her:

Week 29 - 11 weeks to go!

2010-08-10T09:54:00.002-05:00

So this week I am a little late posting my weekly blog because my guest blogger scheduled for this week has slacked. But I know that you, my reader(s) (I put the S there just in case there's more than one faithful reader out there - hoping, anyway) are impatiently waiting for this week's update. Until my slacker guest blogger decides to get down to business, I will update you with all those details we received from our late doctor's appointment yesterday afternoon.

I feared I had gained too much weight. I must clarify that I'm not fearful of getting fat, chubby, wobbly, blubbery. NO. My fear is to gain unhealthy weight that will put the rest of the pregnancy in jeopardy. There are many complications that arise from weight gain and this is what freaks me out. I've had a pretty easy time so far so I wouldn't want to negatively affect it with unhealthy pounds that come from unhealthy choices. So to my surprise, though I feel tremendously heavier and so much bigger, I have gained 3 lbs (total of 13 now - seems on track since a healthy amount of weight should be from 15 to 25 for a person like me and I still have a couple of months of growing to do).

Again, the blood pressure was normal, all the other little tests they do were also normal, the heart beat was thumping away, loud, strong and she was moving around incessantly. Lying on my back, the doctor pulled out her measuring tape to measure the size of the belly: 27.5 cm. According to the "rules" the belly should measure in cm the same as you are in weeks so if I'm 29 weeks, I should be 29 cm. I am 1.5 cm smaller than "normal". Looking at me, the doctor says it is possible that since I'm "little" that it could be possible that baby Alexandra is also little and/or the way I carry her doesn't allow for the measuring to be as exact as the rules mandate. But to be on the safe side, the doctor recommended an ultra sound for later this week to better see Alexandra's growth.

I asked her if I could continue working out on the elliptical machine - I try to do it 3 times a week (at least). It's great for keeping the digestive track moving and flowing, if you know what I mean ;-) and I sleep so much better when I work out. The doctor asked if I had back aches and when I told her I didn't because I stretch often, she actually wanted to know the details of the exercises I do. Pilates, mostly. Don't get me wrong, I don't do hardcore pilates even if the pregnant instructor with her belly comparable to mine does everything including "the hundreds" (for all of you pilates people out there, you know the hundreds are anything but easy especially for a pregnant woman).

So there it is, this week's update. We have another class this week. It's actually more of an informational meet and greet at the hospital. We will meet all the doctors within our doctor group and get a tour of the maternity ward. I'm sure lots of details will be answered. Our ultra sound is Friday. Can't wait to see Alexandra again.

Week 28 - The 12 week countdown begins!

2010-08-02T09:07:00.002-05:00

As expected, the third trimester is tough. I feel heavy, uncomfortable, ready to give birth. As far as I'm concerned, i feel like I'm due any minute now. My belly isn't much bigger than it was back on July 3rd when it was measured at the LA baby shower: 37 inches then, 39 inches now. Somehow though, those two little inches have dramatically slowed me down. I still stretch with Pilates which always make me feel fantastic. And I do the cardio on the elliptical machine for 30 minutes (or maybe longer depending on what show I'm watching at the time). The cardio makes me feel like a million bucks! Energized and nimble (if only temporarily). And sleeping is wonderful. I sleep through the night with four pillows and a folded feather comforter under me and another pillow between my legs. I roll (literally) out of bed every morning ready for the world, but after breakfast I begin to feel the heaviness and uncomfortableness I will experience throughout the day....sigh!

Fortunately, I've become more at ease with the idea of birthing. Right on time too (with 12 weeks to spare). I'm not completely at ease, but I'm beginning to feel more comfortable. This is due primarily to our first class which we attended last Wednesday - topic: Anesthesia. The purpose of the class was to inform birthers about the different possibilities, causes and effects and science behind the use of different types of anesthesia. Specifically the talk dealt with the famous epidural which to my surprise seemed not only indispensable for pain control (after all, what other medical procedure requires/allows the patient to suffer serious pain during the process?) but safe for both the mother and the baby. One particular thing that caught my attention was that recently (in the past 5 years or so), patients are provided with a minimal amount of numbing medication as soon as they request it. And as pain progresses the patient, at the push of a bottom, releases more medication as needed. After all, only she knows the amount of pain she can resist. I like it!

In terms of Alexandra, she remains very very active. I read recently that she should be moving 10 times an hour, at least. That sounded astronomical. So I counted and within the 6 minute mark, she had moved 10 times if not more. The feeling has changed from tiny little pokes to crawling movements that I feel in several parts of my stomach. The visible stomach jiggles are more common now as is her tap dancing on the bladder although I have managed to control that tap dancing a bit. A squeeze of the kegel muscles always relieves that issue! ;-)

Our next doctor's appointment is late next Monday - I wonder how much weight I've gained since my last visit and what happens next.

The End of the Honeymoon! - Week 27

2010-07-26T08:53:00.003-05:00

I received my usual weekly email regarding the progress of my pregnancy. It seems this is my last week of the second trimester and I'm entering the last and final months of the pregnancy.

Don't I know it!

Overnight things have changed. Yes, I still feel well, and I'm still exercising and sleeping (at least) 8 hours a night. But there is something different.

For a few days now I feel like my walk has changed. My stomach feels heavier and tighter. I feel uncomfortable for a large part of my day constantly reminding me that I am INDEED pregnant. At moments part of my belly gets hard, weird hard. I rub it like a Buddha statue's belly and baby Alexandra seems to get the message, she re-positions her little self to make momma comfortable again. The belly returns to its bouncy soft state.

I don't mean to rant, complain, but picking things up are a hassle more than ever. Walking around is not fun either -- I see myself waddling (and my belly isn't even THAT big). I don't have pains (yet) but my belly seems to be constantly in the way of things.

I have a feeling it isn't going to get any easier from now. I'm dreading what's to come. This constant heavy-ness isn't pleasant and the constant reminder that I can't bend, turn, lift, run, move fast, is really annoying.

Of course, in the midst of the complaints I present and the constant uncomfortableness I experience, I also get the bounces and kicks and movement that remind me there's actually someone there. Baby Alexandra is growing and experiencing her own changes so I can't help but smile.

Week 26 - July 19. 2010

2010-07-19T11:11:00.002-05:00

Last week's test results showed that my glucose levels were normal and my anemia numbers, though lower than what it would be if I weren't pregnant, are still within the normal range. The doctor just suggested I maintain an iron rich diet consisting of broccoli, spinach, steak, etc. I'm certainly not complaining since I love a good steak.

Last night for the first time we saw the belly move, literally. I felt a lot of motion and suddenly, like jello, the belly moved, reverberating. Not only was it a strange sight to see but the feeling inside was like none I've ever experienced. Not like hunger pain, nor gas. Just strange. I can feel her heartbeat often. And I have felt(as Curt has) small movements that remind me she's with me. I have felt the pressing on the bladder that makes me visit the bathroom too many times in one day. But I had not felt nor seen the belly move...

Some physical changes:
1) The belly has grown an inch and quarter in less than two weeks. It seems to really be on a growth spurt now.
2) Linea Nigra is the technical term for the line that has become slightly visible on my stomach. This line runs from the belly button downward. I understand that this line is always there but with extra hormonal production, the pigment of this line becomes darker, hence more visible.
3) Speaking of the belly button, at this point it is no longer an innie..
4) I learned about a new "condition". So it appears that pregnant women, again, due to the excess production of hormones, develop what are known as skin tags. These are hanging excesses of skin in any part of the body. I learned this because i found one, right below my eye. These are painless, benign, and removable little pests that are just unsightly (to me, since it wasn't there before).
5) It was hard before, but now, tying my shoes is a real chore, especially sandals.
6) I know my metabolism is working hard, but I've noticed that my sweat has increased enormously on the elliptical. Within minutes of pedaling on I begin to drip sweat...feels good and I always feel refreshed after the work out though drenched.

Nothing else is new. The most common question I've gotten is in reference to the heat. We are suffering a heat wave in the East Coast but I have not been affected by it. Even on the evening that we lost power and were stuck with no AC I managed well, even if it was just for a short time.

Week 25 - July 12, 2010

2010-07-12T11:37:00.002-05:00

I took a blogging vacation while we physically took our vacation to Texas and California. It has been a while - two weeks - since I've written about the progress of baby Alexandra's development.

Today we had a doctor's visit. The primary reason for the visit was to perform a glucose screening test (GCT) to check for gestational diabetes and anemia. I was given a super sweet drink (so sweet the drink gave me nausea)- similar to what southern folks would describe as "Orange Color Drink" -- and waited an hour for blood to be drawn. While I waited I visited the doctor for our monthly meet. She assured me the emergency room medication I received in Texas was safe and confirmed things were going as planned. I seemed to have gained 10 lbs now, reasonable for my progress and the size of my belly also seems to be on target. Alexandra's heart rate was beating fast as usual and could be captured all over my belly showing her constant movement, especially after my having had such a syrupy sweet drink!

During our meaningless chit chat, I told my doctor about my fears, my petrified feelings of giving birth. So in the manner that so many doctors do, clinical, scientifically, rationally, matter of fact even, she said my fears were guided by the unknown (duh!) and the best I could do would be to educate myself by 1)attending a meet and greet of the doctor group at the hospital and taking a tour of the maternity ward; 2)attending birthing classes that cover pain relief, labor & delivery, cesarean process, induction process, breastfeeding techniques, baby care, relaxation exercises, and breathing techniques; AND 3)avoiding looking at or listening to birthing stories from friends, family and strangers. My reaction to her response didn't change from my initial freaked-out-about-birthing look i gave her at the start of the conversation so she tried to assure me that taking those classes would help. Siiiigh! Sure, sure, we'll attend the classes but I'm not holding my breadth!

I'm happy to report that not much has changed. I still sleep well, sometimes I don't even wake up to visit the bathroom as I did earlier in the pregnancy. During vacation I had some back ache toward the end but nothing a little Pilates and/or the elliptical didn't fix. I'm still wearing my favorite platform sandals/high heels (sure I don't wear them to shop around the city or even walk more than a block or two), mostly at work while I sit most of the day and/or walk very short distances. The heat has been brutal the past few days but because I'm always in AC I don't suffer it nor really deal with it much. My eating habits haven't changed. My moods are neutral -- no up and down swings. And though the belly is growing and my belly button is popping out, becoming an outtie, I don't itch as I have been expecting.

Our next doctor visit is scheduled for a month from now although the results of the GCT test tomorrow may change that.

Week 22 - June 21, 2010

2010-06-21T12:54:00.005-05:00

We are going on vacation this week. I can't wait. I'm feeling energetic and ready to do and see and meet and mingle. Although I do have some concerns. Like today we are having a very hot and humid day in New York City and I've had bad moments of feeling awfully uncomfortable because of the heat. We pumped up our ACs in the office to keep me attitude-free!

So not much has changed since last week. Alexandra's movements are ever so increasing. She moves constantly, often after I eat, which is many times throughout the day.

Curtis asked me to write about my emotions and how I felt about having a child because most of my entries here have been more about the physical aspects of this life changing event.

So I thought about it. How do I really feel?

Maybe it's naive expectation, ignorance of what it means to be responsible for another human being but truly I couldn't be more excited, more happy, more eager for little Alexandra to come live with us. I know that people say that "you could never fully plan or be prepared to have a child" but I feel that I could not be in a more prepared position than I am now. I was never the mothering kind of woman, the one who looked forward to marrying and having children so it's interesting to find myself in this place. Elated.

I am prepared for Alexandra because I have Curtis. I feel ready because we have a family that is enthusiastically anticipating for her. I know this couldn't be a better time because I have the luxury to make her my only worry, my only thought. In short, I feel lucky though I know that luck is but a tiny percentage of life. I feel that our hard work, our planning, our dedication has brought us here. And I am wildly, passionately longing for our little girl to reacquaint us with living in the world.

Week 21 - June 14, 2010

2010-06-14T14:04:00.003-05:00

Wow how time flies! Most of you have seen the 20 week photo shoot I posted on FB that shows the protruding belly making its way out of my shirt. Though it is obvious for many who know me, I think there are a few who may just still think I've been eating a bit too well.

We visited the doctor this morning for our monthly check up. Our wait time was longer than our actual visit. The sonogram we had two weeks ago revealed nothing serious but a normal development and everything in its place. The doctor measured my belly and poked it defining the location of the baby declaring it to be just in the right place. She explained to me what to expect in terms of growth and said she didn't anticipate that I would get too big because of the way I was carrying -- whatever that means!

Alexandra has been pretty active. I feel her constantly and she tickles, a lot! I've gained 6lbs in total, since the first doctor's visit and everything else seems to be as planned, in order, textbook, normal, as expected. Thank God!

The doctor said I will be feeling great for the next few weeks, maybe even until my 30 something week. And it's true so far. So we are taking that last vacation before the duties of parenthood come.

UPDATE:
Fashion Woes
Even though I decided to stick with mostly regular clothes rather than buying "maternity fashion", I did have to purchase pants with the elastic waist to fit my growing belly. In addition, a friend provided me with her old maternity clothes which I was more than delighted to receive. So, so far, so good.

Aches and Pains and Itching
Last week, after an impromptu three hour shopping marathon I suffered a serious back ache. I realize now that what would make me simply tired before, now gives me a serious back ache. So no more standing for long periods of time. I returned to doing Pilates regularly (and quit the treadmill for the elliptical) which serve to stretch me and bend me and turn me every which way making me feel like a new woman afterward, every time. I'm still waiting for the itching to happen. The belly cream I purchased contains an anti-itch ingredient that may just be doing it's duty!

Sleeping and Night Bathroom Visits
I still sleep as usual and I still wake one time a night to visit the bathroom. No complaints.

Possible Issues
1. I read that the hormone that increases oil production is in full swing. This may cause acne. Great.

2. It seems that both the increased progesterone that causes the walls of my veins to relax, as well as the increased pressure on the veins in my legs (because of the extra weight, I presume?) may produce varicose veins -- the chances are greater if these run in your family. Great.

Well, next week (midweek) we start our vacation. I hope that travel (and lack of routine) will not create a new set of issues. I hope I can continue to enjoy the normalcy that I have enjoyed so far.

Week 20 - June 7, 2010

2010-06-07T11:15:00.004-05:00

This week I begin my fifth month. There is no significant difference as of yet in terms of my looks...in other words, I can still walk around without being noticed as a pregnant woman (even if my waist has expanded 7 inches). The seemingly unbearable symptoms and complaints I wrote about last week have remained in the past. I'm no longer swollen (no need to add an extra link to my watch) and the itchiness that disturbed my sleep on some occasion has also gone away. I really blame the sudden rise in temperatures and humidity that we experienced then for my discomfort.

After learning about the sex of the baby, we have changed (consciously and unconsciously) our ways of thinking about our child. Claiming and proud of my feminist ideologies I notice that I've become much too self conscious about how I think about Alexandra, for example, the toys I choose/like, the books, the clothes, even the colors I think for her. I also know that it is not possible (or even desirable) to avoid, change overnight (and with MY child) long standing social norms that dictate what it may mean to be a little girl and how to represent girlhood. Even Curt admitted to thinking differently about Alexandra now than when she was just "the baby". The baby is a girl now. What does that mean?

I don't mean to get philosophical but I don't seem to take many things as a given, including those often uttered generalizations and language that define girls in certain ways - soft, ladylike, calm, easier, gentle, daddy's little girl, shopping etc (these are terms that have been commonly used ever since I've shared the baby's sex)-- defining terms that may very easily confine what is possible for her.

Next week we will visit the doctor to discuss the details of the recent ultrasound.

Sex

2010-06-03T11:02:00.003-05:00

Today we visited the doctor's office for the long awaited sonogram. It is almost (and I emphasize ALMOST) 100 per cent certain that our baby will be (drum roll please.......) named Alexandra (yes, like HER momma). There you have it! Please welcome the newest lady into our family!!

Week 19 - May 31, 2010

2010-05-27T15:31:00.010-05:00

I don't know if it was the higher temperatures, the 90 degree heat, that we experienced this past week or the advanced pregnancy status I find myself in now. Possibly a combination of both. This past week was tough. Invoking my 1980s San Fernando valley girl, i mean, it was like totally, like, oh. my. gawd! Beginning to feel the changes of pregnancy was not pleasant.

Below is my list of complaints:

1. Swollenness. Midweek, I began to feel the tightness of my ring and my beautiful amazing best gift ever Cartier watch. The watch pinched my skin through its links! Ouch! It still looks cute though!

And on Tuesday, after the treadmill, my feet hurt. They looked swollen but I'm not sure since my shoes weren't especially tight. I was told to put them up for a while. This seemed to help as they appeared to return to normal. I've been a blueberry fanatic for ages and I've heard that aside from it's fantastic high antioxidant value, it also helps with keeping good blood circulation (great for those who want to avoid varicose veins) so I've made it a point to be more purposeful about my intake of blueberries -- I can eat a pound of those things in one seating! love 'em! Of course, I will continue to drink water and hope this swelling becomes, if not manageable, tolerable!

2. Itchiness. Not just my belly itches. Feels like ants crawling. I rub on my "goop" as Curt calls it, and the stretch mark prevention cream mildly relieves the itch. I know, I know, I've been told not to scratch...and I don't...scratching actually doesn't help because when I scratch here then it itches there...never-ending!

3. Sleeping. The most annoying thing for someone who loves to sleep is not being able to enjoy a long deep 8+ hours a night of sleep. Getting comfortable in bed was a bit of an issue one night. I tossed and turned while I itched all over. I tried reading to distract myself. Didn't work. I ended up falling asleep at 4am in the living room sofa...for a moment. I woke up and took myself back to bed managing to sleep until 7am. I'm not sure what that was about. I had a very light dinner that evening which could have affected my sleep. I really don't know. I suffered the next day at work but at night, I slept soundly!

4. Clothing. My Bella band is beginning to annoy me because of the heat. It's just an extra layer of clothing I don't need when it's hot outside. I hate shopping and will have to drag myself to the maternity shops to find some reasonable pants. My shirts seem to still fit...I guess I've been wearing maternity shirts for years!

5. Pain. Back pain and soreness are common now. I've learned to keep my posture and engage my stomach muscles often, including while I'm at my desk working (in, out, in out, in out) and of course while I'm on the treadmill. Like magic, engaging those stomach muscles seem to reduce or even eliminate whatever pain I get on my lower back. I found a few other little exercises I can do while watching TV that can help with strengthening the core...I just hope to be consistent with them. ha!

6. Driving. The seat belt has begun to annoy me. A sudden stop here or there will press against my belly making me very uncomfortable. I read that as the belly grows I will have to accommodate the lower part of the seat belt above my belly (below the breasts) -- that sounds waay more uncomfortable...

7. Smells. I don't know if its my sense of smell or the changes I'm going through but I seem to smell differently. I'll leave it at that.

8. Bending down. I hate hate hate dropping things. Bending down to pick them used to be a breeze. Now? The belly gets in the way. I have to think about how to bend down as opposed to instinctively doing it. Doing my OWN toe nails is out of the question...which brings me to the silver lining of all this...I just (legitimately) HAVE TO go (more often) to the nail shop to get my feet done. :-)

9. Teeth. It appears that during pregnancy gums and teeth are more susceptible to bacteria and can become sensitive and diseased faster. I will have to call my dentist this week to set up a cleaning I overlooked last month and to check for any possible issues. I am suffering from sensitivity. I hope it's nothing. If it is something, then I understand that novocaine is safe during pregnancy...i hope it doesn't come to that.

* * *

I know that I promised I would announce the sex of the baby this week. Our appointment is later in the week so stay tuned for a midweek blog update! ;-)

Week 18 - May 24, 2010

2010-05-24T14:38:00.002-05:00

I am officially half way there: 4 and half months pregnant. I have begun to show and so I have taken the liberty to spread the word. This will take anyone out of the uncomfortable position of pulling me aside to let me know I've let myself go.

Fashion:
I'm still wearing the Bella Band with my regular pants but I think I really should begin wearing pregnancy pants. I haven't taken myself to all the suggested maternity stores that were offered to me..some are too pricey. I don't think I want to spend $100 on a pair of pants I will wear for two or three months -- unless I wear them everyday. Yuck. I ordered some dresses from Target...that's right, I said Target...and surprisingly one of them seemed to fit. The fabric is cheap and the style is generic but it will do for now.

At last week's doctor appointment, I was told that I had to reduce the height of my heels. The change in my center of gravity will cause me to easily trip. Sucks. Mostly all my shoes are heels...this just means I will have to go shopping for new shoes. Oh darn it! ;-)

Eating:
According to my weekly email, I'm supposed to have an increased appetite. I'm not sure that it has increased but it seems I am able to have a complete meal without feeling exhausted or too full. I still don't get hungry so if I miss my scheduled feeding I suffer the consequences with nausea or pain. Just this past Saturday, while on vacation in Toronto, with no feeding schedule, I didn't eat for over six hours. Suddenly, a sharp pain overcame me. Luckily we were headed to a restaurant at the time. Immediately after the first bite, the pain disappeared. I usually keep granola bars for situations like that...but on vacation, this slipped my mind.

Exercise:
So again, according to my weekly email, my joints have begun to loosen and my ligaments are relaxed causing me to become easily sore and suffer from back pain. In the last week, although I have not exercised at the gym, I have been active moving about and walking a lot with the wrong shoes (high heeled) causing some irritating back pain that goes away after a good night's rest. This week I will go back to my usual gym workouts and see how those go.

* * *
NEXT WEEK: I won't make any promises but as far as I remember and my calendar indicates, our ultrasound WILL BE next week. Until then, we will continue dreaming of Benjamin and/or Alexandra!

Week 17 - May 17, 2010

2010-05-17T16:42:00.002-05:00

We have been looking forward to this week for a while now. This morning both grandmothers, here visiting from Los Angeles and Texas, anticipated with us the results of the long awaited detailed ultrasound that would reveal the sex of the baby. We met for a nice light breakfast and Curt and I left to the doctor's appointment as they waited at home for my return.

For some reason the waiting room was busier than ever and my doctor seemed to be running an hour late. A WHOLE HOUR! We sat patiently. Forty-five minutes later, the nurse called us in for the routine weigh-in and other tests. No anemia, gained 3.75 lbs (4lbs rounded) since the first weigh-in, heart beat beating as expected, all good. Then the doctor walked in. We looked at her with obvious anticipation and she looked at us back perplexed. Turns out we made an error, and in our desire to find out the results of the baby's sex we got ahead of ourselves. It is much too early to have a detailed sonogram which main purpose is to examine the baby's organs close up to determine the progress of their development.

Needless to say, I returned home to restless grandmothers who were not pleased by my news. We will have to be patient for another two weeks before we can begin to refer to him or her by his/her proper name.

Week 16 - May 10, 2010

2010-05-10T08:28:00.004-05:00

Finally. Last night I used the gym's scale which i trust much more than our digital scale at home and it showed that i have finally gained weight: 2 lbs. My weekly email stated that our baby is the size of an avocado and weighs significantly more at 3.5 ounces. The email also alerted me to expect a growth spurt. Yikes! The uterus is capable of growing hundreds of times its original size and it seems that from now on, it (the uterus) will take such liberties and grow, grow, grow, stretching, extending, blowing up as if showing off its capabilities. My profile has already been modified showing a rounder midsection. Curtis insists the backside has also expanded, "but in a good way"! Uh huh!

Needless to say, I spent the weekend scouring maternity fashion websites (maternity fashion, maternity fashion, maternity fashion -- sounds like an oxymoron, this is why i have to repeat it to myself a few times). A couple of weeks ago I purchased the Bella Band, a great little accessory that allows you to wear your regular pants for a good while through your pregnancy -- wish i was wearing it now...my fat pants are beginning to fit too tight for comfort. I looked for dresses, pants, shirts for work, and casual wear. Curt suggested I buy dresses for comfort and to better deal with the heat of midsummer when my belly will be reaching a good part of it's maximum size. I think he's right, except that he seemed to point out mostly to moo moo type dresses that I would think would injure my self esteem if I had to wear them. There's got to be something more fashionable out there, REALLY fashionable! Siiiiigh!

I ordered a few items online yesterday, guessing my size. I know I've never been Ms. Fashionista, but for some (obvious) reason, my appearance and my stylin' is suddenly a bit more important.

Week 15 - May 3, 2010

2010-05-03T08:57:00.004-05:00

Fears

This is the beginning of week 15 of the second trimester. Some of my clothes are beginning to fit tightly, or not fit at all. These are mostly newer pieces which I bought more fitted, or as Curt says, my correct size. It seems I have been planning for this period of pregnancy for a while because most of my older clothes which I wore as a non-pregnant person were too large for me in the first place allowing them to fit quite well now. My belly is beginning to expand, not protrude, but expand -- round and on my sides. I don't picture a basketball type of belly growing, no, I picture a globe, like the one my fifth grade teacher had in the back of the class, big, obvious, making its presence known.

According to my weekly email, I'm told that the baby is now the size of a navel orange or an apple, weighing 2.5 ounces. And by this time, I should have gained at least 5 lbs and should be showing. I seem to be right on track. But even though everything seems normal, and I seem to be well (despite the annoying sinus headaches that lead me to take the dreaded Tylenol) I can't help but think about what is to come: big belly, stretch marks, bigger boobies (is that even possible? oh no!), the third trimester, transforming into a swollen uncomfortable unable to sleep unrecognizable version of me, the birthing process, the pain, the hospital process, breast feeding, leaking, more pain, postpartum depression, and as if that weren't all, I worry about transferring all my poor qualities to my child, subconsciously...I know this last thing is just beyond irrational, and most likely inevitable, unpreventable, I suppose...

This week I promised myself to return to my daily exercise routine...I don't have sinus issues (this morning, yet!) which prevented me from attending the gym the past two weeks. I think the workouts will help maintain better mental balance and accept willingly (and maybe happily) the extraordinary changes that are to come.

Week 14 - April 26, 2010

2010-04-22T19:57:00.004-05:00

Week 14 is supposed to be the beginning of normal, where I begin to feel like myself again. And like a textbook pregnancy, this morning I felt "normal". I've been suffering from terrible sinus pains and a cold that lasted over a week. I wasn't able to exercise for most of last week and I felt too tired and annoyed with the lingering sinus headache to even give exercise a try. I hate to take drugs, even those considered safe during pregnancy...Benadryl and Tylenol...but I had to take them. I did a couple of nasal cleanses which helped a bit but didn't take the pain completely away. This morning all seems to be well. Woke up with no headache, breathing well, feeling normal. Spring in NYC this year seems to be more pollen-thick than previous years...

There aren't any major changes to report. My smallest pants still fit (wearing them today, for that matter). Our next appointment is May 17...I believe we will have a detailed sonogram of the baby's organs, including determining the gender. I can't wait for this since I want to stop calling the baby "the baby" and call him/her by her/his name.

Everybody seems to think that the baby will be a boy. I was thought to be a boy too but I surprised everybody when I turned out to be a girl. I was a big girl too, 9 lbs, with a massive amount of hair -- i hear the doctor needed a scrunchy to put my hair back.

I hope to start my exercise regimen again today. And meanwhile, I'll continue to wait for those physical changes to begin to show.

Week 13 - April 19, 2010

2010-04-19T11:45:00.002-05:00

Beginning the Second Trimester

So as you are already aware, we have sent out a mass email alerting all of our friends and family about the news. I let my boss in on it as well, but just a handful of coworkers.

We had a doctor's appointment this morning. I was asked to pee in a cup, weighed and measured for blood pressure. Every time we visit the doctor, apparently this will be the routine. The pee measures my protein and glucose levels, which according to Curt my glucose should be sky high because of all the fruit I eat. Of course he's wrong, but I'll just let the numbers prove it. And they did.

Though my waist is getting thicker, I weighed exactly the same as I did at my first visit back in early March. The doctor didn't say anything about that, so I assume it's normal. I have heard that some people even lose weight that first trimester because of the vomiting they suffered.

A little machine was placed on my belly to hear the baby's heartbeat. The nurse said i shouldn't panic if i don't hear the heartbeat right away. She said that it is difficult sometimes to catch it. No such thing. As soon as she put the cold jellied handle on my belly, there it was: thump, thump, thump...still fast!

So after talking about my Diana Ross type hair, the doctor talked about my over all state and asked for any questions. In our anticipation, our desire for preparation, our eagerness to know the details, we asked the question that we probably weren't ready to hear the answer to, though once discussion was over, we were glad we asked. "What are our birthing options?" I'm sure you are familiar with the natural birthing movement, where women have their babies in a tub of warm water, at home, with a birthing coach, and a midwife. Of course, there's the traditional way where you are in a hospital bed, with (or without) the aid of painkillers where you push and push until the baby comes out. And lastly, there's the controversial cesarean where an incision is made in the lower part of the torso, organs are shuffled around (sometimes in and/ot out of the patient) or bruised, and the baby is removed that way.

Although we are leaning toward one type more than the others, we were glad we asked the doctor since she revealed to us that her intent is to satisfy the needs of her patients regardless which way we decide to go. Whew! I've heard stories where doctors demand and promote only traditional forms of medicine regardless of their patients wants.

Week 13 - April 18, 2010

2010-04-18T15:10:00.002-05:00

OMG my waist is thickening...

Being Pregnant - April 15, 2010

2010-04-15T11:27:00.003-05:00

The Waterworks

Say it ain't so....but unfortunately it is. I'm especially vulnerable now because I have a cold coming...sore throat, a bit of a cough and annoying lingering light headache. So I believe that probably, I'm just more susceptible to episodes like this. The emotional roller coaster everyone speaks about seemed to have shown its head last night. After a serious life discussion with Curtis (discussions we have often, of different topics), I began to cry...not sniff sniff, nooo, but some serious snot producing, swollen eyes making, Niagara falls-type tears crying. At times I thought "why am i crying so hard?" and then I'd have devastating pitying thoughts about myself.

After watching a little reality TV...American Idol...I cleaned myself up and felt better.

Being Pregnant - April 9 2010

2010-04-09T12:05:00.006-05:00

Genetic Counseling

Wow! What an incredible thing! It seemed we sat through 10th grade biology all over again as we heard the genetic counselor discuss the various ways that chromosomes can form (23 from the mom and 23 from the dad) to suit the natural balance of the body. In turn, she discussed the various ways that such chromosomes can also form the wrong number (45 or 47) at any given time. There are tests that a pregnant lady at any age should have to measure for the many possible birth defects -- specifically for Down Syndrome. In addition there are tests that are suggested specifically to pregnant ladies beyond the age of 35 that can measure with further detail what those earlier tests do not tell including other syndromes like Turner Syndrome and Klinefelter Syndrome. This test for ladies over 35 is called CVS and carries a risk of miscarriage. It is for this reason, that only IF the preliminary tests that all ladies take show an issue, will CVS be recommended.

Miscarriages, usually early in the pregnancy, CAN be attributed to instances where the right amount of chromosomes were not formed, creating an imbalance and self destruction. I thought that was quite interesting.

After all the testing talk and hearing about our options (Curt insisted, that if we did opt for further testing, that we opt for the option that excluded the insertion of a needle directly into the stomach - the thought made him queasy - as if he were the one getting pricked) we were sent to another ultra sound.

The baby was significantly bigger than when we saw him/her the first time (how fast they grow, even if I don't show). The head was distinguishable and her/his arm moved about like a batter swinging. The body was clear. No way to tell the sex yet though. I was hoping. We heard the heart: 161 beats per minute. It's strange too, to be able to SEE the heart beat, but there it is, beating fast fast fast.

Some blood was taken and now I just wait. The genetic counselor will review the tests and call me sometime next week to determine how to proceed from here. Waiting stinks.

UPDATE: Tuesday, April 13
The Counselor called today and said my results were, and I quote, "comparable to those of a 20 year old". I'm not bragging, I'm just reporting the facts. No CVS needed. Needless to say we're ecstatic. Sure, down the line there are further analyses that will have to be done via ultrasound that may trigger the need for an amniocenteses (yea the big needle in the belly test, yikes)...but for now, everything's in good shape! yay!

Being Pregnant - April 8

2010-04-08T09:52:00.003-05:00

SOME CHANGES

1. Feeding schedule: I've learned to eat better. And by better, I mean that in order to avoid that feeling of overeating, over fullness, I've modified (almost instinctively)my eating schedule. I eat every three hours (which I love) and I have little portions (from what I'm used to). So far so good! ;-)

2. Dealing with a Slowing Digestive Track: So it's common for that fancy hormone progesterone to slow down the pregnant lady's digestive track causing some irregularity and discomfort...especially if you're not used to it. Being aware of it is solution number one. Solution number two is maintaining a little more fiber in the diet, which for me it's not a problem...i eat strawberries like crazy and other multi-grain fiber rich foods. Of course, when all else fails, a little walk on the treadmill and/or some pretzel moves in Pilates always seems to make that difference!

3. Waking up in the middle of the night: So this is new. I'm not sure if it's pregnancy related or if my late night working out (9pm or so) and drinking water is making me wake up in the middle of the night for a potty run. Before pregnancy I used to do more classes and less treadmill. Now i do more treadmill, less classes. Classes are in the evening, treadmill is whenever I get there and it seems I get there later these days --I'm usually back home by 9:30 or 10pm. I drink water then. Hmmmm... I do know that these potty runs increase as pregnancy goes on...

Being Pregnant - March 31st, 2010

2010-03-31T08:56:00.003-05:00

I realize that many of the things I write here may illicit a "duh" response. But for someone like me, who has never carried a new born, or changed a diaper, or fed a baby, or dressed one -- for someone who has never babysat for a niece or nephew or taken care of a toddler, for someone who ate and drank whatever I wanted without having to worry about how, say deli meats, can affect a baby...all this IS new. Anything I read about pregnancy and child birthing and caring for an infant is fascinating and I can't imagine not having these different sources of information available to me.

Some people tell me that caring for the baby will come naturally -- I don't really know what that means. Others say my life will completely change, again, i don't know what THAT means either. I hear stories about sleepless nights and loads of laundry. I hear about relationship strains and emotional roller coasters.

I don't know what will be, all I know is what I have experienced these past few weeks. And I anticipate what is coming next.

Being Pregnant - March 27 2010

2010-03-27T09:21:00.004-05:00

The Beauty Salon

It has been months since I've been to the salon and almost a year since I've had a haircut. I hate going to the salon...i hate the sitting around and the chit chat and the meaningless gossip that goes on amongst strangers.

When I made my appointment for the haircut and the root job and the manicure I needed done, I told them I was pregnant and wanted to make sure that whatever they used for my roots was safe and natural. They guaranteed it and made a note next to my name to alert the stylist.

From the moment I walked into the salon, from the receptionist to the shampoo lady to the coat check/tea server I was congratulated and asked a multitude of questions about the pregnancy. Other customers chimed in too asking "is this your first?" "how far are you?' "what's the due date?" "is it a boy or a girl?". I was even asked my age.

Two hours later I realized the fascination of all those ladies around me was more than borne out of simple curiosity, instead, maybe, they knew that this would probably be my last time visiting the salon and so they had to get as much out of me all at once.

Pregnant ladies don't visit salons often, and new mothers even less. Out of all the ladies there that night only ONE had a child, and her child was 13 and she wasn't a customer, she was my stylist. I thought about my friends who do have children and those who don't and compared the times that in their routine they visit the salon.

I've never been a frequent type, a on-a-weekly-basis type customer anyway...i just hope that when nights like last night arrive, when the NEED is there, I just hope that I am always able to continue to incorporate it into my mama lifestyle.

Being Pregnant - March 24, 2010

2010-03-24T10:20:00.008-05:00

THE BEGINNING

Back in January I began to worry that we weren't getting pregnant. We started, seriously and purposefully to work on the pregnancy in October hoping to be pregnant immediately. But that didn't happen. After the holidays, I came across an article in the New York Times that discussed the experience of a couple in the UK who downloaded an IPhone app that measured their fertility successfully making them pregnant within three months.

I thought, "wow, there's an app for that?"

Needless to say, I immediately downloaded the app to my IPhone, followed directions and just let time prove its claims.

Nine weeks pregnant indicates the miracle happened that January! ;-)

In case you are interested click here for your own FMC (menstrual calendar) app!

Being Pregnant - March 23, 2010

2010-03-23T08:43:00.003-05:00

Eating and Sleeping

This morning I woke up at 6am and I couldn't go back to sleep. I should have, SHOULD HAVE, taken advantage of the early wake up to attend the 6:15 yoga class at the gym but it was gloomy and rainy still so I decided to catch up with DVRed shows and have a lofty breakfast.

I read last night that I should get used to sleeping on my side so I tried. I normally can sleep standing up. I never sleep less than 8 hours a night (on weekends I may sleep 9 or 10 hours) and I sleep hard, sound. But last night, changing my usual position was a struggle. I woke up several times a night finding myself on my back, a no-no for pregnant ladies (in the third trimester, when the belly is bigger, heavier). I'd reposition myself forcing a comfortable "appropriate" position falling asleep for a while until I'd wake finding myself on my back again. Sigh! Maybe I'll try again tonight or maybe I should wait?

After my lofty breakfast this morning of cereal with banana slices, a flourless raisin toast with blueberry marmalade and a delicious latte topped with cinnamon I felt, as usual, the heaviness of a very full stomach. My normal breakfast consists of just toast and a latte. After breakfast, more than having a full stomach, this time everything I did felt strenuous, I felt exhausted and all I could do was sit down and breathe. It felt like when we were in Bogota, above sea level at 10,000 feet, shortness of breath, mildly dizzy. It seemed all my body could do was digest needing every bit of energy and as much oxygen to do so. I still had to get dressed and drive myself to work...seemed like an impossible task. Of course I did it. I was sweating through it. In the car the windows were steamy on my side while Curt's windows remained clear.

It's 10am now. I feel better but will be sure to eat smaller for 11am snack and lunch and afternoon snack and dinner.

Being Pregnant - March 22, 2010

2010-03-22T10:49:00.005-05:00

I thought I was seven weeks pregnant. It turns out that I'm actually nine weeks pregnant. I just learned that doctors begin count two weeks prior to conception. Technically I was right but officially it seems that 9 weeks is where I must count from, from now on.

We had a sonogram or was it an ultrasound? -- we had the chance to see the size of the embryo: about an inch long. The heart beat seemed healthy and fast, fast, fast. The little chest visibly throbbed incessantly...I could almost hear it. The doctor printed a couple of copies of the image and gave us one.

I had a million questions to ask and though I asked them away, I felt there were still more I hadn't gotten answered. Seems daunting to think about the tests I, at my age, should/need to get done.

In two weeks, at my 11th week (or 9th week from conception)we will return for a genetics appointment and another sonogram -- i think that sonogram will detect the sex of the baby! Can't wait.

Being Pregnant - March 20, 2010

2010-03-20T12:22:00.012-05:00

Okay, so it's been about 7 weeks of pregnancy (i have to count in weeks now, rather than months). I've been doing some reading (anything I can get my hands on) about what to eat, how to exercise, what to avoid, what to expect, how things will change, etc etc etc. Some stuff is daunting, some stuff is easy. There are certain things that I feel that I haven't really found any explanations for...i guess these are the things that most websites/books/doctors refer to when they say "everyone is different, and everyone suffers symptoms differently".

Morning Sickness
I've read that this is something that happens any time of the day. I've read that morning sickness can be as severe as spending many times a day hugging the toilet or as mild as not a sign of nausea throughout. For me, morning sickness has been almost non-existent unless you'd consider that feeling of having overeaten way beyond what your stomach can handle a part of this. I feel this way every time i have a full meal, a real meal like a hamburger, or salmon or a sandwich. If I have a yogurt or a piece of toast the feeling of fullness is still there, but not as heavy. This sensation of feeling overly stuffed, full to the max sometimes, depending on the real amount of food i consumed (it's hard to know whether you've eaten too much since this overstuffed feeling happens with small portions - it depends on the type of food), will bring a moment of nausea that lingers for a bit and then goes. At night it seems to be more common than during the day -- i assume this is due to the full portion I have at dinner time (as oppose to the little portions I have throughout the day) and the fact that I've been sedentary for the rest of the day after dinner.
UPDATE: In talking with a recent pregnant lady, she told me that the pre-natal vitamin can cause nausea and since I've been taking it at dinner time, it seems that could be the culprit. Inneresting.....
UPDATE 2: I came across a piece of info that said that most women who begin taking pre-natals before they actually become pregnant have a higher chance of having NO morning sickness symptoms. Makes sense for me since I started taking pre-natal vitamins 8 months before I actually got pregnant. hmmm....

Eating for Two
So this is a joke, right? Yes. The idea that eating for two is what pregnant ladies are supposed to be doing is the biggest scam/excuse women came up with so they could eat as much as they wanted, guiltless. Sure, at times i want to eat everything in sight (i feel like a pizza slice now, but i don't think that's the pregnancy talking - in other words, I'd want that slice now even if I weren't pregnant) but as in any other time in a person's life, it is appropriate to eat portions that suit the daily caloric intake for a person's height and healthy weight +300 calories...or an extra peanut butter & jelly sandwich, as my ever so creative doctor put it. I may start measuring my intake just to see where I am on that scale - can't hurt!

Cravings
I have to admit that I have been wanting more ice cream lately. And I have been more impulsive about eating it. I customarily had or craved ice cream twice a year, this changed to craving ice cream almost once a week, so I noticed. There is this strong powerful desire for it. I try to fool my cravings by making my own ice cream....a little juice, plenty of frozen berries, a little goat's milk and half a banana blended until smooth and voila! homemade ice cream...and my cravings dissipate. It's really hard to notice any other cravings (or maybe i just haven't had any) since I'm such a food lover and I eat everything and anything, at least once!

Things I Cannot Eat/Drink That Have Me Bummed Out
1. raw fish - sushi (boo hoo)
2. jamon serrano or any other types of smoked uncooked deli meats (oh how i will miss my jamon)
3. high mercury fish (i don't think i eat these much anyway, so won't miss these)
4. soft cheeses like triple cream brie, mmmmmm (sucks)
5. eggs over easy -- only scrambled or well done from now on
6. freshly squeezed (unpasteurized) juice - I found an organic brand that IS pasteurized and ALMOST tastes like the real freshly squeezed thing...
7. liquor (had my last drink on Valentines day - was already pregnant then, yikes!)
8. herbal and regular teas

I'll make it through!

Exercise
Ah! So I can do everything and anything for now. I can continue Pilates and Total Body (sans jumping - which i never did anyway), and the treadmill and whatever else i feel like doing! I have been a little more tired lately, sluggish. It's a little harder to get to the gym and make it through the whole class (it was hard before, now at least i have an excuse, i mean, a good reason). Mid way the Total Body class I anticipate the mat exercises to lie down a bit and relax and mid way Pilates I extend the stretching exercises a little more. I missed Pilates today :-( One interesting controversial thing i did find out about exercising is that pregnant ladies aren't supposed to allow their heart rate to go above 140 beats per minute because of possible loss of oxygen to the baby --- oxygen rushes to those parts of the body that overheat to reduce the overall body temp neglecting the baby. 140 beats per minute seem to be pretty low impact....

Physical Changes
Well there are a few changes that I'd rather spare you here but there are some I can share. I feel heavier, tired, lazy and I can't seem to concentrate. I've been accused of having ADD before...now? worse. I'm not emotional or sensitive or irritable (YET!). That's good for both me and Curtis -- i'm sure he's happy about this.

Monday we go to the doctor for a sonogram and we begin our 8th week.

Mac Vs. PC

2009-03-30T14:58:00.003-05:00

So I began working with a Mac a week ago. I decided to abandon the PC and become part of the cool kids. So here I share a bit of my experience:

Complaints:

1) Whoever said MACs were easier to use? Curtis says the idea that MACs are easier comes from decades ago when PCs were based on the DOS command and macs were based on mouse clicks like now. Whether it was the Champagne talking at the time he told me that or the truth doesn't matter. The fact remains that I think MACs are much harder than PCs.

2) Computing is intuitive: I shouldn't have to kill myself thinking about computing functions when I already know how to use a computer, regardless of the computer make and model. That's like saying I have to relearn how to drive a car because I no longer drive a Toyota but a BMW. Sure, there may be fancier features but I shouldn't have to retake driver's ed to get a hold of it.

3) Where does everything go? I'm still very confused about where my data is and where I can put it and how I can manipulate it the way I do on Dells. There's a little magnifying glass that I can use to find my data but where was it? And why are there duplicates?

4) I'm so slowwwwwwwww on the Mac: I'm faster than my PC. With a MAC I feel like I only have my index finger available to type a book -- a very slow process for an overwhelming task. I'm afraid to lose things or duplicate them or worse, delete them. I need to pay much more attention to my fingers and my choices as I navigate through the MAC. And I have to look for functions. I worked on a word document for half an hour that would have normally taken me 2 minutes to do on a PC. Okay, maybe not half hour...but it was frustrating.

BUT of course, not all is bad. Actually, what is good makes me endure what is bad, see possibility, embrace the challenge because the reward will be worth it.

Praise:

1) One Word: IPhoto. Just rocks. I was able to load all my 15K+ photos and map them. I use Faces to identify several people through them. I created two photo books and am waiting for them in the mail. They should be here any minute. I use Flikr and Facebook with IPhoto. Fantastic.

2) Contacts and Mail: I've sorted and organized all my contacts with pictures. All duplicates have been eliminated. The MAC eMail serves all my email clients. A breeze.

3) Chatting: I am able to use all of my IM clients easily. Although on PCs I use Meebo (which I love), I like the choice of using IChat for gtalk and AIM. I use Yahoo IM for Yahoo and Windows Live. Although I was able to use Skype on my PC, I had to connect an external mic (how annoying). MAC has a built in mic and nice and loud speakers for me to have plenty of long distance conversations! Yeae!

4) ITunes: I've used ITunes on a PC and have always loved it. The transition has been seamless.

5) Safari: Although I am forced to use Firefox to check my Hotmail email, Safari is far superior in speed and functionality. Like it knows what I'm thinking before I start typing it. Whoa!

Not Crazy About But Patient to Learn

1) Word
2) Numbers
3) IMovie
4) Installing Programs: I had a heck of a time installing Acrobat Professional 7.0. Curtis said 7.0 was outdated and the MAC rejected it. Hmmmmm. Anyway, he found Professional 9.0 and it worked beautifully.

I think my move to the MAC is promising.

Valentine's Day 2009

2009-02-16T10:27:00.002-05:00

Inauguration Weekend

2009-01-23T15:03:00.006-05:00

Although I was apprehensive about the Quality Inn Suites room we reserved in College Park, MD, I was excited and eager to reach Washington DC. Comments on tripadvisor.com warned against this hotel – bedbugs, dingy walls, dirty towels, scary hallways – but nothing could stop us from making this historical trip down to the capital city for the weekend. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Around 2 hours into the drive a warning yellow light came on alerting of low tire air pressure. This light had been going on and off in the past week prompting us to dismiss it more quickly than attend to it. “It’s probably a censor problem” Curtis said. Suddenly, as we crossed the state line from Delaware into Maryland we heard a rumbling noise coming from the back of the driver’s side. A flat tire. Curtis thought he could change the tire himself except my MINI doesn’t bring a spare. Instead they come with run flats and apparently we had ran on flat for the maximum mileage permitted. Within minutes an operator of the Maryland Courtesy Patrol eager to assist and offer the best customer service, reached our car ready to remove the tire and plug the air leak. This is a free of charge service offered by the State of Maryland on I-95 (aka The Kennedy Highway) during holiday-travel periods --- yes! It was Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend! Fifteen minutes later, the elderly man screwed the last bolt, packed his tools and bid us a good trip. Curtis offered to buy him lunch but he refused, saying it was against policy to receive anything. What a guy!

We arrived College Park without incident. “Go ahead, inspect it!” Curtis said. I hadn’t stopped talking about the bedbugs I’d read about. Surprisingly, the mattress was almost new and the sheets were a crisp white – I removed the yellow bed cover and discovered a white fluffy comforter – very nice and warm. Sure, tripadvisor.com hadn’t gotten everything wrong…the walls looked dated, the bubble TV (circa 1992), the holes in the sofa bed, the linoleum in the kitchen…after all, this is a hotel that normally charges $80 a night on non-inauguration-holiday-weekend occasions! We decided to rest a bit before heading out to lunch and to the concert at the Lincoln Memorial. We spent about 15 minutes unsuccessfully trying to fix a brownish tint on every channel of the TV --- tripadvisor.com was right on this one too – and then we headed out!

Three blocks away we walked to the College Park Metro – we bought two metro cards with a black and white photo of Obama’s face on it -- commemorating the inauguration – and jumped on the Green Line to downtown.

We walked into the first restaurant we saw – Gordon Biersch -- Curtis ordered the beer sampler which included the InaugurALE! I’m not much of a beer drinker so I ordered my usual – a margarita, I think!

It was impossible to reach the Lincoln Memorial. A cabby suggested we take the metro to Foggy Bottom on I street and 23rd St – once there, we figured a few hundred people were similarly advised. The Lincoln Memorial is on 23rd near C Street. But there was no way. Hundreds of people had already taken their spot on 23rd and so we were directed to move down to 21st Street and when we reached that, it too was at its capacity, so we continued on to 17th Street – there we were able to turn toward the Mall (from I street past C Street)– as we reached Constitution avenue, it was nearly impossible to see the JumboTrons and so we had to move further back toward the obelisk, the Washington Monument near 15th street. We could see the stage but it was easier to view the gigantic TV screens with Bono singing his heart out! The crowd was thick and family oriented – mixed too but most evidently black and white. The chill was tolerable. When Samuel L Jackson came on, the crowd roared! A middle aged white lady standing near us with her child turned to us and said “it would so make my day if he said ‘I had enough with these motherf’ing Snakes!’”

And so Obama was announced. He reached the mike and the crowd could barely contain itself. Everyone stared at the giant screens, smiling. It was exciting. The sound reached us first before his mouth formed the words on the screen, like a badly dubbed Chinese movie. He spoke for 10 minutes or so it seemed…always pausing giving the crowd a chance to burst into scream in unison. When his speech was over and the claps and screams subsided Beyonce came on stage and sang the last song.

There were no protesters. A few carried signs demanding Bush be jailed. I saw Peta promoters, in their heavy layered sweatshirts passing out fliers to a sea of fur wearing crowds --- then there were the street vendors selling lip balm, or what they called O-balm-ma – and there were earrings: “Obama earrings! show your pride, on both sides”. And buttons and shirts and programs and bookmarks and hats and posters and postcards and pens…you name it!

The crowd left the Mall patiently. Humvees blocked certain streets to guide the crowd in an orderly manner. There were military personnel dressed in camouflage at every corner – some stood alone, others gathered in clusters of five or more, depending on the street and their expectations. Buses were crisscrossed on street corners to block both human and vehicle traffic -- everything was so well organized.

The concert ended right on time – for Curtis anyway, who was eager to get to the nearest bar to see the football games. Tired from the drive and endless walking throughout the city, we decided to find a bar near our hotel in College Park. Next to the Quality Inn there were two places: a diner and Applebee’s. We so hoped the diner had TVs but no luck. We called Thomas (my friend from back in the day in LA) to join us for a drink and the game! During the game he suggested several places for us to go to dinner and visit while in DC – he suggested Ceiba for dinner and Old Ebbitt Grill for drinks – one of the oldest restaurant/bars in DC!

On Monday we slept in, ate well at the diner and decided to drive into the city – to take photos of the monuments from afar. We managed to get around a few places but the traffic was too difficult to navigate --- the foot traffic affected the flow of vehicle traffic and most people didn’t know how to drive through thick crowds bringing the New Yorker out of me – I honked and zipped through the slow drivers with North Carolina or Georgia plates. I took several photos with my IPhone in slow traffic through the sunroof – it was convenient. I stopped once or twice for Curtis to take his equipment out and shoot the perfect photo. We saw the media setting up on the route of the parade; and small gatherings surrounding a woman being interviewed; and the buildings were dressed in the red white and blue flag; and we saw banners that welcomed Mr. President to the job.

For that evening we took Thomas’s suggestions and made reservations at Ceiba - We drove back to the hotel to rest for a while before driving back to the train station where we parked in anticipation of returning too late to take the hotel shuttle or walk in the dark and the cold those three long blocks that seem longer in 20 degree weather.

Ceiba was buzzing. The bar was full but we managed to get a couple of seats near the corner of the bar. We ordered some drinks while we waited for Dennis Jr., aka Diesel, who was joining us for dinner. Though Dennis Sr. didn’t plan to join us he came into the bar for a quick drink before heading out for a date of his own. Dinner was delicious. I think I ate for three that night. I had the whole crispy red snapper – Curtis went Brazilian with the Feijoada and Diesel chose the rib eye Churrasco! Mmmmm. It was during dessert that we heard a bit of a commotion – a civilized commotion – coming from a few tables back. Groupies of Meet the Press surrounded David Gregory, the newly elected anchor of the prestigious Sunday news show. I pulled out my camera as well and shot a picture as he walked toward us.

The city was throbbing with people and opened restaurants and bars. We headed toward the White House in search of that famous Old Ebbitt Grill – known as one of the oldest places in the city and for its famously frequented clientele – the who’s who of Washington. I recognized the place. I had visited a few years back with mom and aunt for lunch. We headed directly to the bar. We pealed our layers off, got comfortable, ordered some drinks and enjoyed the scene. Some ladies, in elaborate gowns (maybe too sexy for Washington) appeared to have abandoned their swanky inaugural balls in preference to this bar. The majority of people though, were dressed in street clothes enjoying the night the way we hoped to. And we did. After a couple of adult beverages and Perrier we decided to hit the next bar – a hotel bar maybe. We were told the hotels were infamous for party goers! It was then that I got that sunken feeling. My red scarf was no where to be found and my purse had disappeared with it. My IPhone? Gone. My wallet? Gone. And then it hit me…my car keys! Gone. We asked the waiters, the bartenders. We checked trashcans and I walked around the bar. I warned ladies with their unattended purses and demanded answers “How could this happen?” The manager helped me as best he could – I suppose. Called 911. Curtis canceled AT&T and Diesel checked the men’s bathrooms. I soon began to experience -- just for a moment and quietly -- separation anxiety...my personal things were gone. Then I began to think about the hassle of canceling credit cards, getting a new ID, ordering a new car key and trying to remember what I had in my purse.

The manager said there was a camera directed to the bar but not facing our location. He said the city was working overtime and there were no officers that could come to the restaurant to take my report. After an hour or so of devising different scenarios, feelin g incompetent and realizing how we had been taken – I mean, Diesel on my left (and the name Diesel fits his size) and Curtis on my right and the purse in the middle – How?? Whoever took it was brazen and opportunistic – the manager called me to the phone where an officer awaited my description of the incident.

Deflated and tired of looking at trash cans in the vicinity, we waited patiently for Dennis Sr. to pick us up. Once in the hotel, I got into solution mode, canceled credit cards and contacted MINI roadside assistance who couldn’t do anything but tow the car to the nearest dealership – not what I was hoping to hear. For a moment I thought of foregoing the inauguration but Diesel insisted I needed to keep my focus and understand why I was in DC in the first place. We’re glad he said that.

Eventually by 9am I was able to contact the right dealership who would cut me a new key by the next day. We reserved an additional night in the hotel, called work and headed out to the inauguration.

The scene we experienced the day of the concert at the Lincoln Memorial multiplied. It seemed that all streets were closed to vehicle traffic and everywhere we turned there was a line – a line for those entering the parade route and a line for those holding tickets for the inauguration and lines to pass through metal detectors and a line to simply walk up the blocks. You had to choose between the parade and the inauguration. Those who chose the parade stood in line and at their post in the parade route from early in the morning until 2:30pm when the parade was set to start. We chose the inauguration and without tickets we had to make our way passed the ticket holders and passed those who had made it to the Mall long before us – possibly at dawn. And again, we walked and walked and walked and walked to find a location where we could see the JumboTrons. It was colder that day –and a little windy.

Diesel and Dennis Sr. had gotten to their location much earlier than us. They left at least an hour and a half earlier than we did. After many blocks, passed many crowds, we finally found an area from where we could see at least one giant TV screen. The stage was at the Capitol Building, we were 1.7 miles away at the World War II monument. To offer some perspective, think about being on 59th street and Columbus Circle near Central Park and the stage being on 94th Street and Central Park West --- that’s 34 New York blocks away.

By the time we were in place it was 11:45am. Introductions had already started and emotions were high. Boooos resonated when Bush was introduced, a stark contrast to the cheers that emanated from the crowd at every glimpse, no matter how small, of Obama on the gigantic screen. Finally. We were there. In just a few moments Obama was to be sworn in. I looked around at all the eager faces. I know there were people there who in the past year, never imagined that they’d be standing there. First Joe Biden. Then, the real moment that brought the hundreds of thousands of people from all over the United States to this small 2 mile patch of land: “I, Barrack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear…” Even with Justice Roberts’ hiccup, Obama fulfilled his oath and the crowd went nuts! In our own little spot of grass, 1.7 miles away from the stage, Curtis and I clapped and laughed and woo hoooed! Everyone around us too. Some hugged, like New Years Eve in Times Square.

And so he began: “My fellow citizens…” Despite the mediocre grades certain reporters and historians gave Obama’s inauguration speech, it was evident he moved the people. He rang true, tough, determined and humble. In his collective address -- his constant use of WE -- he seemed to give power to the individual. Although there were a few great lines, one resonated with me – I turned to Curtis and mouthed the words “WOW”:
“To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”

No one complained. No one pushed or rushed. We walked away from The Mall any direction – didn’t matter – just away. Military led the massive crowds strategically. At one point we walked shoulder to shoulder down 19th street. We passed G, H, I streets. And for just a moment you could hear silence. It seems that hundreds of us simultaneously contemplated the moment, the experience we had just had. Hundreds of us walking down 19th Street trying to get anywhere else.

On 19th and K we found a Cosi Restaurant where we stopped to eat and wait for the Dennises. Little did we know that it would be impossible to take the metro back to our hotel. The crowds were jammed into the metro station up the escalator spilling on to the street. Cabs were no easier to catch.

Close to M Street and 17th Street we encountered the Mayflower Hotel – made famous by our elegant ex governor Spitzer aka Client #9. We ordered some drinks at their bar and enjoyed the parade on their flat screen TV.

We arrived back at the hotel in the evening. Tired and ready to call it a night. Out of the blue Maria sent Curtis a text message – something about a call that someone had found my belongings in a dumpster. It turns out that a church, two blocks from the Old Ebbitt Grill, found some of my credit cards and my university ID and called the College’s security office to report the find. Security then called Daysi. Daysi didn’t have Curtis’s number, so she called Evelin, who also didn’t have Curtis’s number so Maria was contacted who had the wrong number for Curtis. So Maria called Gwen who contacted her boyfriend Danny who gave the number to Maria. By this time a little drama ensued. Dumpster? Belongings? Oh no!

The next day we visited the church where most of my credit cards, medical insurance cards and other university cards were found. We walked around the church when suddenly I saw other things I recognized as mine. Curtis collected the papers thrown about: my car insurance card, receipts and a lottery ticket (I checked the lottery ticket and it was a winner!! $3! Yes!).

That afternoon the Dennises took us 40 miles west to MINI of Sterling in Virginia. There it was, my new key! We drove around the Washington Redskins training site and then drove back to College Park to pick up the car.

The drive back was without incident. We encountered 45 minutes or so of heavy traffic – no biggie. As we approached New York City, we opted for the Lincoln Tunnel and drove directly to the 5th Avenue Apple Store. :-)

I returned to work yesterday. Around 3pm I received a phone call: “Were you at the Inauguration this past weekend?” A lawyer from Colorado, on her way to the Inauguration, at around 5am, under a bridge, found in the gutter my wallet with NY State ID and other cards. She said she put it in a padded envelop and mailed it yesterday.

Halloween in Las Vegas 2008

2008-11-30T15:13:00.002-05:00

You Could Be Fooled Too!

2008-10-05T18:15:00.002-05:00

Last night we sat at the dinner table to enjoy a delicious pork dish Curt made -- marinated in brown sugar, soy sauce and bourbon -- with a side of vegetables. We remembered we had a left over bottle of wine we had received from a recent get together, so we opened it to accompany the pork dish. I'm not a wine connoisseur but what happened next was downright fraud.

We served ourselves two glasses of wine. Curt took a sip and casually said, "hmm, this wine doesn't taste so good." I looked at it. The see-through burgundy red wine did look strange in the glass. I swirled it in my wineglass, and though there was minor coating, no streaks remained. I put my nose into the glass to inhale its aroma. Nothing. There was a faint sweet smell to it, that's all. Finally I decided to taste it. Again, a faint sweet taste that evaporated from the palate just as quick as the liquid passed through the tongue. Bland. No tangy characteristics, no smokey oak, no cherry, chocolate, dark walnut traces. Nothing.

Curt read the label and this is what it said: California table wine, water, sugar, concentrated juice, natural fruit flavors, citric acid and carbon dioxide.

WHAT??!??!!!

We felt taken. WHAT? Juice? Sugar?? The label said Chateau Diana Winery California Merlot, and in smaller letters: wine product. Wine Product?? What in the world is a Wine Product???

Take a look, I think you too would have been fooled:

Chateau Diana Merlot's website says:
Suggested Food Pairings :
Cheese: Provolone, Aged Cheddar
Entrée: Pizza, Beef Stew

There is a lot to like in the Chateau Diana Merlot. Bright fruit, dark ruby color, and some oak aging, create a well-balanced wine with fantastic body and a long elegant finish.

A lot to like? ewwwwwww, We beg to differ.

REGISTER

2008-10-01T11:49:00.003-05:00

My Birthday September 2008

2008-09-22T08:36:00.003-05:00

I woke up Sunday morning to an apartment covered in red and yellow dots, literally -- confetti everywhere. Even outside the apartment, there was a trail between the front door and the elevator -- red and yellow little dots everywhere! In the bathroom, in the stove, on the bookshelf, in the nooks and crevices of the walls and floor and furniture. Some were stuck to the wood floor --the sticky margarita spills dried, permanently gluing them to the wood --- plastic party cups, almost empty except for the lemon wedges, water (remnants of what had been ice, I'm sure) and red and yellow dots sprinkled in them. The helium had given up on Sunday morning -- most balloons floated around the living room, near the floor, hovering above the carpet at the mercy of the air conditioner -- some balloons made it down the hallway, don't know how!

It all started when we decided to celebrate my birthday 12 yr old style! We had the party hats, the piñata, the candy bracelets, and lollipops, we had noisemakers and balloons, ice cream cake, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, pixy sticks and hubba bubba bubble gum, we had bubbles and root beer, balloons floating all around and tops to spin around. Of course we also had fresh made guacamole, chicken salad sandwiches (without the crust, of course), seafood gumbo Texas style, beef "the best" lasagna, and crabcakes. To drink,the adult beverage of the day was a couple of pitchers of margarita and an occasional Patron shot (its good for digestion, I've heard).

The guests started to arrive around 3pm:

It didn't take long for most people to pop open the margarita pitchers and enjoy the delicious fresh "guac" Gwen and Danny brought. Thanks Gwen and Danny! Unfortunately for them, um, I mean, me, Gwen and Danny had a wedding to go to and left the party early. So for them, I relate what happened after their departure!

Once the Margaritas started to flow, it didn't take long for the games to begin. We started with Pin the Tail on the Donkey. The rules required a Patron shot, turns to the right, turns to the left, a shake side to side, and a blindfold. Ebony was the first to go:

Then it was Evelin's turn who was not even close:

Then we gave Maria a swirl:

Roosevelt was quite confident going in saying, and I quote "i can find an ass anywhere" -- in reference to the donkey, of course:

My turn, my turn, my turn (I was so cloooooooose!):

Andre thought he could be the champion:

After Andre, we thought we let the REAL 12 yr old participate, so Patty went next (just so you know, the rules changed for her, there was no Patron shot, only the twirls and the shakes):

Finally it was Curtis's turn. With all the confidence in the world, he walked over to the wall and pinned the tail (somewhere) on the donkey:

The grand prize of the hubba bubba tape bubble gum went to Roosevelt (he was right):

the winner always gets the groupies:

The party continued:

Another shot and few more twirls led to the breaking of the Piñata (with all the goodies inside it, people couldn't wait to break it open). What follows is a series of action shots:

Then it was Dennis's turn:

Broken apart:

The gumballs were hard to chew:

I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday with me. I had a blast. Thank you Gwen and Danny for the delish "guac". Thank you Maria for that spectacular lasagna you always make! Thank you Evelin for my favorite Fekkai! Thank you Dennis for the always necessary bottle of Rum! Thank you Ebony and Andre for the most thoughtful and suiting gift from Teavana -- I'm enjoying some Teavana right now!! Thank you Jeff for the yummy bottle of wine. And thank you to Ramona, who although wasn't present, she was present in spirit, thank you for lending us the bat to beat the Piñata down and for the mani and the pedi I so desperately need! And of course, if it weren't for Curtis, who put this all together, who blew up the balloons, who cooked the amazing food and prepared the fabulous drinks and entertained the guests with smart and witty conversation, none of it would have been possible! :-)

Until next time......

Labor Day Weekend in New York City

2008-09-03T13:18:00.007-05:00

Leuvenia came to town over the weekend to visit with her sister who was also visiting and from across the pond, but also to help me with shopping and advice pertaining to that other thing happening sometime next year. On the first day of her visit we went to SOB's for a night of salsa and Brazilian food. I don't think I'd rate the place high on my list, but it was nice to have gone --- it was fun watching the salsa instructor go over some simple moves that perplexed the sadly awkward students. I'm no expert, but i'm certainly not going to dislocate a hip bone trying to do my moves.

After a light breakfast and pilates on Saturday, we had my (in) famous fish tacos with freshly made guacamole (I will post the recipe some time in the future). We digested, rested and headed out to Yonkers (of all places) to shop. Thanks to the good ol' IPhone we didn't get lost. After looking around, trying stuff on and buying nothing, we decided for Montien in the east village -- the best Thai restaurant in all of NYC. We skipped dessert in order to try Chikalicious, also in the east village -- Chikalicious is a dessert bar that serves three course desserts: an appetizer dessert, an entree dessert and a dessert dessert! It's a fabulous experience. Unfortunately, when we arrived to Chickalicious there was a line and a sold out sign at the door. The last person in line said he was the last person who would be served and we were sent on our way. :-(

So we headed to the mall. We got to Landmarc, situated on the 3rd floor of the Time Warner Center Mall in Columbus Circle for dessert. It was here that Leuvenia opted for a new husband:

Leuvenia and Botero's Adam

Leuvenia and me with Botero's Eve

And then we did some touristy things:

The Spectacular Plaza Hotel on Fifth Av and Central Park

Rockefeller Plaza

Another Shot of Rockefeller Plaza

And the Rainbow Room

The next day, Leuvenia, a hardcore fan of Brazilian culture, persuaded me and Maria and Evelin to join her at the Annual Brazilian Festival scheduled for the Sunday before Labor Day. 46th Street, AKA Little Brazil, and the surrounding areas in midtown Manhattan are transformed into a concert and street fair to celebrate.

On our way to 46th Street

We decided to search for food and so through the crowds, holding on to each other however we could, to avoid getting separated, we bumped into a group of people congregated. Not sure what they were doing we approached the group when suddenly, out of nowhere Evelin loses her breathe, removes her sunglasses and she gasps as she says "hold me back!"

It was a group of oily topless male models selling their calendar that took Evelin's breath away!

She managed to hold herself together for this little pose!

After random Colombian food at the Brazilian Festival Leuvenia requests the obligatory shot with New York's (so called) finest:

The GIANT TV screens

The Crowds

At the end, when we realized we missed the main act, Jorge Ben Jor, we headed to Brooklyn. Maria suggested a sushi place for dinner...a sushi place I had been dying to go to for ages: Blue Ribbon Sushi. I knew about the one on Sullivan Street downtown, but I never knew there was one in Brooklyn.

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge

On Monday we opted for more shopping and touristy things:

St Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Av

Walking on 57th St and Fifth Av

A hint for Damon -- isn't some special occasion coming up?

On Madison Av

Later for dinner, we finally hooked up with Brenda for dinner at Rue 57 (my favorite)

Brenda and her boyfriend

I look exhausted (and I was)!!!!

The Sisters

Outside Rue 57

The End

The Culinary Weekend Experience Final Chapter

2008-07-13T21:49:00.000-05:00

The long awaited day finally arrived: CHAMPAGNE SUNDAY BRUNCH with special guest Chef Mark (yeeaeeee)!

Curt's itinerary: Sunday
---------------------------------
Sunday is the day that we turn the kitchen over to you and let you wow us with your art. We've invited some friends over so expect to be cooking for 6 to 8. We'll have plenty of bubbly and let us know what you would like us to help with and we'll be a helping hand.

And as it was to be, Chef Mark took over the kitchen to begin his masterpiece. Curt and I took charge of reorganizing the living room and writing up a souvenir type menu that our guests could take along with them.

The Menu

Meanwhile, Chef Mark performed his magic in the kitchen. Within a two hour span, Chef Mark was able to create a spectacularly delicious and diverse menu. Everything was done from natural herbs and spices, mixed, stirred, shaken, beat, seasoned, etc. all in our tiny little kitchen -- who knew our kitchen could assist in creating such a meal.

Chef Mark at Work

And so, once the masterpiece was done and the special guests had arrived, the feast began:

IN THE BEGINNING

Lump Crab Avocado Salad with Sea Scallops & Prawns

Raddichio leaves filled with tequila marinated lump crab meat, fresh avocado, diced tomatoes, cilantro & diced red bell pepper; accompanied by seared sea scallops and cocktail prawns

Rosemary Rack of Lamb
Roasted lamb rack, marinated with evoo, fresh garlic & rosemary; seasoned with sea salt & cracked pepper

THE MAIN COURSE

Pepper-Crusted Fillet of Beef Tenderloin
Pepper-crusted petite filet of beef topped with Roquefort cheese

Gorgonzola-Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Yukon gold and red potatoes combined with kosher salt & pepper, Gorgonzola cheese, fresh garlic and parsley

Blackened Salmon Fillets
Fresh, Canadian, farm raised salmon seasoned with Creole blackening spices & brown sugar

Jasmine Vegetable Rice with Garden Vegetables
Jasmine rice with diced squash & carrots with sauteed Asparagus, Squash & Asparagus

THE DESSERT COURSE

Bananas Foster
Classic dessert made with bananas, brown sugar, butter and bourbon whisky; served with vanilla bean ice cream

The Guests

A very special thanks to Mark! And thank you to our guests for coming! Great Times!

The Culinary Weekend Experience Trilogy

2008-07-12T00:00:00.005-05:00

The Saturday itinerary read:

We can play the morning and early day by ear. Lets talk about it and see how you feel.

We have early dinner reservations at one of my favorites and one Ms. Alex has been wanting to go to. It's considered one of the TOP restaurants in NYC.

Arrive 5:30PM : Gramercy Tavern, 42 East 20th St. NY, NY

Fortunately, I had managed to work my magic and move the reservation to a later time: 6pm. It is difficult to get into Gramercy Tavern on any day, let alone a Saturday night with such short notice (I made reservations four days before Mark's arrival).

Unfortunately, 6pm was just too early for us -- the reservation intervened with the rest of the day's plans -- whatever they were! I think Mark and Curtis spent a little time doing touristy things in and around Rockefeller Center -- at least that's what the pictures show! And we learned, at Blue Hill, that the same chef from the Gramercy had worked with the chef at Blue Hill when they first opened the restaurant. So we figured it would be best to try something different, even if Blue Hill was spectacular! So for dinner we decided to instead go to one of my favorite places, where reservations aren't needed, and where the food and the service always seem to reach it's mark: Rue 57. I made a reservation anyway, just in case, for 9pm.

I picked Curt and Mark at the Marble Hill station in the Bronx to drive down to our favorite liquor store in Inwood -- we had to prepare for Sunday's Champagne Brunch. We stocked up with lots of champagne, some tequila and a couple of wine bottles (just in case the champagne isn't enough!).

We rested for a while and headed down to dinner at around 8pm.

Rue 57, a brasserie Parisienne located on
57th Street and Avenue of the Americas

We started with a fresh order of West Coast Oysters...mmm

We requested some assistance for the wine selection and

we were recommended a California 100% Syrah

For the first time in our history of going to Rue 57, the waiter service lacked their usual professionalism and warmth -- it was evident in the waiter's behavior from the start:

1) he served tap water while he dictated the specials in a monotone, robotic way

2) we had asked for sparkling so as he poured the tap water, I attempted to interrupt him to let him know his mistake, but he ignored me and continued pouring only to have to remove the glasses after his uneventful "specials" speech

3) he mistakenly put in an order for Skirt Steak instead of the filet mignon for Curt and Mark's order

But as expected, the management came to the rescue. All of our plates were returned to the kitchen to be exchanged for the correct ones -- after several embarrassing apologies. Meanwhile, we were offered champagne, complimentary of course, which we gladly accepted, and a few minutes later the correct meals were served.

I ordered the RUE 57 GRILLED SIRLOIN BURGER
on ciabatta roll with Roquefort and pommes frites
-- at $13.95, can't be beat!

Both Curt and Mark ordered
the FILET MIGNON with homemade mashed potato, and pearl onions
- though Curt substituted his mashed for pommes frites

Enjoying it!

For dessert Mark and Curt selected the
CLASSIC VANILLA CREME BRULEE - VANILLA COOKIE

I, of course, had to get something made out of chocolate, so I went for the
WARM CHOCOLATE VALRHONA CAKE - WHITE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

After dinner, as a rule, and as the itinerary demands it, we headed out for a night cap. It is Saturday night after all. So we headed down Broadway towards Times Square.

The obligatory tourist shot

We arrived at the 7th floor bar of the W Hotel on 42nd and Broadway --
The Living Room Bar:
"Intimate arrangements of white leather seating squares
and streamlined hanging lamps.
Glowing resin alcoves line the perimeter.

Savor a beverage. Meet someone new. Watch something different. Play a game. Live the life."

And we lived the life indeed!

Rue 57
Ambiance: A
Food: A-
Service: B+
Experience: Go on an empty stomach

The Culinary Weekend Experience Part Deux

2008-07-11T23:57:00.015-05:00

And so it continued...Curt's itinerary:

Let's wake and have some fruit for breakfast. I like watermelon, Ms. Alex likes toast and coffee. Have your pick. We should probably plan on putting together a grocery list for Sunday and snacks during the stay. I figure that we'll take the commuter train down to Grand Central Terminal and see that place. We can explore the city a bit this morning and see some sites. We can also plan to hit some really great gourmet specialty shops and pick up anything that you may want.

We do have to meet up with Ms. Alex at 3:30PM or so at our favorite grocer up in Harlem. Fairway. We'll put all of our loot in the Mini and roll back to Riverdale to store the stash. We can also rest a bit and catch up.

We have late dinner reservations at Blue Hill Restaurant. Maybe Cocktails after Dinner?

True to their plans, Mark and Curt took the Metro North down to Grand Central to do as much as they could during the day. Unfortunately for me, they did not plan for the subway to get stuck coming back from South Street Seaport so I didn't catch up with them until about 4:30 on 72nd and Broadway. We stopped at Citarella but neither Mark nor Curt were impressed. We headed up to Fairway to do our weekend brunch shopping.

Five hundred dollars later, we were stocked and ready to get home to rest a bit before our evening dinner plans. This night's restaurant was Blue Hill. Chosen for its tasting menu, great reviews, farm fresh ingredients and known superb service, we dressed to the nines and headed downtown for our 10pm reservations.
Located on the garden floor of a brownstone on Washington Place in Greenwich Village, the restaurant's elegant, clean decor and perfectly lit dining room sets the scene for a dining adventure that is both sophisticated yet warm and familiar. From the start the very knowledgeable waiter approached us to describe the various possible pre-dinner cocktails we could indulge in. This night I decided to abstain from my usual girly Kettle one and cranberry. Curt and Mark, on the other hand, took advantage of our waiter's expertise to select a scotch and/or other manly, chest-hair-growing variety of liquor. Not long after, we decided on ordering the tasting menu -- a 5 course menu. And so the dance of flavors began:

Tiny mushroom (and other veggies) burgers on sweet bread,
freshly churned butter and arugula salt for the warm mini baguettes

Farm fresh salad served on a black slate tile with roasted tomatoes
and lightly sprinkled with a zesty dressing

Seared Hake fish accompanied by a medley of seafood in parsley water

Our well informed waiter selected a pinot noir from New Zealand

that complemented each course well

Grass fed lamb done medium and served over a corn and vegetable salad,
and a creamy corn puree

Freshly made, creamy corn ice cream topped with juicy blackberries

Three dessert wine parings:
a light crisp French wine from the Alsace region;
a medium flavored Spanish wine from Jorge Ordoñez; and
a sweet Riesling from Germany

Cherry soup with fresh no pit cherries topped with mint ice cream

The menu was only 5 courses but as a gesture from the chef to another chef (Mark), we were served a third dessert and a red wine pairing - complimentary, of course. By this time I had had too many ratatouille moments so I can't recall the details of this dessert, except for the delicious bed of blueberries this fluffy delight sat on.

It was 12:30am when we paid our bill. The restaurant was closed and we were the last to leave. Thoroughly satisfied with the meal though not feeling overwhelmed nor overstuffed, we decided to head over across the Village to the meat packing district for a nigh cap.

We stopped at the Gansevoort but the after 1am line was around the corner and we just don't stand in lines. So we went around the corner to another bar where only guest list and table service was accepted. We don't do well with all these rules so we headed toward yet another bar. Especially in this area, where bars are a dime a dozen, it isn't necessary to suffer the unreasonable demands of the pretentious. And so we ended up at Highline, a bar (and restaurant) with open ceiling-to-floor doors that allowed the techno music to spill out into the sidewalk. We drank mojitos and martinis and dealt with the pushy foreigner getting cozy with Curt's behind. And then we headed home. Back to da BX.

Blue Hill
Ambiance: A
Food: A
Service: A
Experience: A Culinary Delight
Drawback: pricey

The Culinary Experience Weekend

2008-07-11T08:45:00.020-05:00

Chef Mark arrived from Houston yesterday. Curtis gave him direct instructions on how to proceed once he arrived into JFK:

Welcome to NYC. Grab your bags and find the nearest taxi stand. There may be a long line but be patient, it will eventually move. The occasional hustleman or two will temp you to offers of towncars and limos for cheaper fare. The airport's public address system will loop reminders that such practices are illegal. Pay no mind to it all. Simply wait your turn in the taxi line and experience all sites and sounds...and smells that New York City offers. The cab ride will cost you around $50 or so with tip. The attendant in line will finally ask you to which New York destination do you seek. You tell him Manhattan and hop in the next available yellow cab. When the cabbie asks, "what street you go to" you tell him: "Times Square, 42nd & Broadway". The Center of the Universe. Enjoy the Ride.

FIRST IMPRESSION

We'll have lunch after you arrive and maybe grab a cocktail at a Rooftop / Penthouse bar. We can chill there until around 6:30PM. We have dinner reservations at Phillipe Chow. Reservations are for 7PM. We'll meet Ms. Alex at the Bar around 6:30PM.

After a tour and lunch at Bryant Park Curt followed his itinerary to the letter.

This is where I met them: 230 Fifth Rooftop Garden

After a couple of martinis and a few stories about old times we scoured the bar for our waitress who had been MIA for some time, to pay the bill. It was after 6:30pm and we still needed to get to midtown east to make our 7pm dinner reservations at Phillipe Chow.

Phillipe Chow is owned by a previous chef of the infamous Mr. Chow restaurants. The cuisine is haute chinese - not the corner China Fun type. Located in the first and second floors of a narrow building on 60th Street near Madison Av, with two oddly situated tables on the sidewalk, you first enter into a crowded waiting area with a bar. The hostesses, all dressed in black are polite and slow, though eventually, since we did have a reservation, managed to respond to our request to be seated very quickly. As we were led to our table, we walked passed the the bar on one side and a sunken dining room on the other with lots of tables. We were led to the second floor, to a small room with no more than 5 parties, including us. We were rushed by wait stuff with water bottle choices, drinks and menus -- some dressed in white (official waiters) others in tan color outfits with red Chuck Taylors. At first I thought it was just one employee but when i looked down, I noticed they all wore these sneakers. At $12 a bottle of mineral water, we decided to stop at two. We chose a nice Spanish wine 2001 from the Rioja region. For appetizers we chose their famous lettuce wraps and chicken satay. Dinner entrees are offered for two i.e. Chilean Sea Bass $58/2 -- you do have the choice to select half an order, I imagine for half the price. We chose a 7lbs Peking Duck to share. The menu indicates this dish will take 80 minutes to prepare, but lucky (?) for us, it took less than 30-45 minutes.

The menu wasn't specific about the ingredients of the sauces or cooking techniques but the pink chicken Satay came with a deliciously creamy sauce that brought the chicken pieces to a whole different level. The wait staff continually approached our table removing whatever they thought wasn't in use --- i had to fight them off a couple of times when they insisted on taking away the dish the Satay came in -- there remained lots of sauce on it, thee best part. The Shrimp lettuce wraps were missing something --- um...basil perhaps? --- don't know, but they were dull. And finally the duck was served. We ordered fried rice on the side as well. The duck was descent though it got cold quickly -- I wonder what they can do about that. And the rice? well, China Fun anyone?

We decided to skip dessert and instead head over to the Ava Lounge at the Dream Hotel for a night cap.

And so the night ended. We headed back to the "bougie bronx" um, i mean, Riverdale.

Phillipe Chow
Ambiance: A
Food: C
Service: B
Experience: Go for drinks

Cancun 2008

2008-07-04T15:12:00.002-05:00

At the Red Chair Grill and Rokjohnson Lounge

2008-06-20T22:43:00.002-05:00

Philadelphia in April

2008-04-28T08:19:00.006-05:00

At 11:20am or so Curtis and I picked up Maria and Roosevelt near the famed tunnel that promises cell phone connectivity underwater: the Lincoln Tunnel. We crossed over into New Jersey and quickly, after a maze of signs and roads that went every which way, we decided for the NJ Turnpike headed south. Thanks to the good ol' IPhone and it's google maps capabilities we didn't have to turn around once. The drive itself was uneventful, except for the occasional whiff of rotten eggs, or toe jam that seem to engulf the car and remind us why New Jersey's other name is "dirty joyzee" or "stinky jersey".

We arrived exactly on time for lunch. We didn't have reservations but had in mind a place known for having the best burger in America --- well, one of the best places! Rouge. In Rittenhouse Square, across the park, the sidewalk seating was evident a block away. Unfortunately there was major construction in its surroundings, which made eating outside rather unpleasant, so we opted for inside..a much better choice.

We started our Saturday with champagne and a full stomach.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art required reservations for their Frida Khalo exhibit, which we had, so at 3:15pm we headed to the museum to meet with Gwen and Danny. There, at the top of the Rocky steps sat Danny and Gwen waiting for us. What followed was a complicated and suffocating experience. We stood in line at will call for our tickets. We noticed other lines were required to get into the museum and the will call line wasn't moving any faster so in order to save time, Maria stood at the other line for us. She arrived to the roped area earlier than we got our tickets, where a museum employee awaited, only to be barraged with instructions and directions on how to carry her bag and how to wear her jacket inside the museum. Finally, after what seemed a good 15 minutes, we received our tickets at will call and walked over the amusement park-like line that zig zagged through two sections of the museum. When we finally made it to the gallery, each piece was crowded with a minimum of 6 open mouthed people impressed at the photographs and/or art work. Thank goodness for the audio tour -- it was a good way to block the crowd and focus.

Some of our favorites:

We decompressed at the museum's cafe before heading out to our next adventure.

And of course, we couldn't leave without "doing the Rocky run":

At 6:30 - 7pm across the street from the museum, we met with the guys from IGlide Tours, a company that specializes in Segway tours. Segway is a personal transporter that works via sensors -- and that's the tricky part. We were given our bicycle helmets, our wireless audio gear and we signed our rights away before heading over to the 6 Segways lined by the George Washington statue.

It looks easy, fun, smooth. And so the birthday boy went first: Curtis. He made it seem like a breeze. He zipped from one side of the immediate area to the other like he had been born doing it.

And then it was my turn. No problem. Except that the machine does not balance itself -- you're on two wheels -- once you're on and it senses your weight, it rolls back and forth and eventually it finds a place to balance. It's really tricky. And so I was left alone to practice my hip movement which controls which way the Segway will go. And little by little, we all got on, Danny, Gwen, Roosevelt and Maria. Oh Maria. As we all practiced individually Maria was coached by one of the experts. From my view I saw the Segway turn on Maria, like an angry horse turning on its rider. Maria put one foot off on to the grass, and suddenly, like Keanu Reeves on the Matrix, she flew into the air, in a horizontal position, at least 5 feet above ground -- flat in the air. Thank goodness for the bicycle helmet. Like a stunt woman, gracefully, but painfully, she fell hard on her right shoulder followed by her head on the hard concrete. We all stopped in our tracks. I started to freak. I couldn't stop shaking. It was cold, but I think I was shaking more from fear. And then my Segway got a mind of its own and started to move backwards and no matter how I moved the hips the thing did its own thing. THE ATTACK OF THE SEGWAYS. The next sci-fi movie coming to a theater or dvd or local tv station near you. I got the attention of one of the workers who helped me off. By this time Maria was sitting, in pain but okay. I sat next to her on the stairs contemplating whether I should continue on. And meanwhile Curtis zipped by from one side of the statue to the other -- like a breeze!! Soon Roosevelt demanded to be let off as well and refused to take the tour. Gwen and Danny and Curtis were ready to do it and so my fear of regret took over my fear of riding -- I gulped and got myself back on.

After the tour we were ready for margaritas and delicious Mexico City style dining...we continued the Mexican theme we started with the visit to the Frida Kahlo exhibit. We went to Xochitl. What a place! With drinks named after the popular Mexican comedy Chespirito and a "guac" so absolutely delicious that we had to order TWO, this restaurant ended the day nicely. Gwen remembered that La Hora Feliz began at 10pm to midnight --imagine that? happy hour at 10pm? We finished our dinner around 11 and headed down to the lounge to take advantage of the $5 margaritas. The DJ was spectacular mixing James Brown and the Notorious B.I.G. and the Jackson Five making Roosevelt get out of his chair and blame his moves on the alcohol! Even Maria, with pain and drugged, couldn't contain herself. Close to 2am, feeling the margaritas, Gwen, Danny, Maria and Roosevelt headed to Greyhound while Curtis and I drove 4 blocks up to our hotel.

We couldn't leave Philadelphia on Sunday without enjoying Champagne Sunday. Just around the hotel, on Market street, we found Patou: a French restaurant themed after St. Tropez. En route to NYC we discovered that the 2am bus that was supposed to depart Philadelphia with the rest of the crew didn't show up. In fact, Gwen, Danny, Maria and Roosevelt spent most of the night with the crack crowd complaining to the "i don't want to hear it" Greyhound employees about their lack of service. Even at $13 each way, it is irresponsible for Greyhound to conduct business this way. I heard Rooselvelt fell asleep on the floor, Danny destroyed Greyhound property, Gwen defended her man, and Maria started a guerrilla movement with the other 50 or so stranded passengers. But I'll let them tell it.

Sugar and Simpson and News Reporters

2008-03-28T09:08:00.006-05:00

Last night, after work we went to the Sugar Bar to welcome our dear friend known as El Presidente, back to NYC, to the right coast! He did some time in LA where the whirlwind of women and money and silicone took him beyond his grasp ( literally). So he decided to jump into his Jetta and drive 3000 miles across America. We just HAD to welcome him back over martinis and spicy chicken wings.

The famous 1970s and early 1980s duo Ashford and Simpson own/run/roam around a little bar on the upper west side of Manhattan, near Broadway and 72nd Street. Known as the Sugar Bar the shack like feel of its interior, with straw and raw wood, instantaneously transports you from the hard concrete cold of early Spring in New York City into an african/caribbean style bar fitting of any island resort. Sunshine, the appropriately named bartender, introduces herself with a firm handshake and reveals her mixoligist expertise as she runs down the list of drinks she is able to shake and stir into existence for you. She remembers your name and fills your glass as needed. I had a (couple) of pomegranate martinis, others had grown-folk-chest-hair-raising hard liquor, while yet others indulged in a mix drink originally called the Nut Cracker -- not for Sunshine though, Sunshine renamed the painful sounding drink and instead served Nut Massager! And there were plenty of those on our bill -- wishful thinking, maybe!

So by chance we sparked a conversation with a guy who seem sort of familiar to many of us. His name is Gary Anthony Ramsay. You may or may not have heard of him. Most likely you haven't -- unless you live in New York City, watch our local news station NY1 and kept up with the news on the NY Times, NY Post and Daily News back in November, December of last year. But I get ahead of myself. I'm not seating close enough to him to hear his impassioned conversation -- I sort of get bits here and there. He talks about his field, the media. He reveals his dissatisfaction with the limited ways the media racially represents itself across the country by limiting its diverse reporters -- diverse meaning black -- from reporting on meaningful stories. He tells us about his plans for the future, a new network maybe, that caters to the needs of the black communities -- of all classes and backgrounds. And he sounds a little frustrated even cynical about mainstream media's inability to deal with new media/technology like with the influence of the blogosphere. I mean how could CBS fire its new media folks in order to afford Katie Couric? Really! The conversation gets political but always through a media related slant with the behind the scenes speculation. Interestingly, our media informant of sorts forgot to mention his own improprieties, somehow he did not mention his sexual harassment suit (you can read all about it on the article entitled "What A Bunch of Boobs" from the NY Post) at his old job, or the reasons he was either forced out or fired from the NY1 station for disguising himself and calling in during a talk show at the same station to argue against the way the media - his boss - was situating a particular story (again, you may indulge by reading about it on the NY Times or Daily News)! Maybe the stories reported are half truths, twisted, unreliable, unfair, unjustified -- an example of what disturbs him so. Maybe he didn't partake in peppering the female reporter with questions like "Would you do a black man?". Maybe he didn't mean to violate his journalistic integrity by calling in to the talk show as someone else. Maybe he is indeed disturbed by the inequities in his field and maybe he does want to make a difference by building a new news network that truly speaks for "his" community. At the end he distributed his homemade business card, overloaded with mottoes and information about his motivational company where he resides as the President and CEO. Before returning to the drink he held on his wedding ringed hand, he shook each of our hands as we said good bye but not without giving Eve a nice rub and squeeze as she exited the bar.

Wooo weeeeeeeeeeee!

2008-03-25T13:56:00.002-05:00

Wandering In Seattle

2008-03-08T20:48:00.002-05:00

Cartagena Nights Part Two

2008-03-02T14:42:00.002-05:00

An Afternoon in Bogota

2008-03-02T12:57:00.000-05:00

The Best of Cartagena

2008-03-02T12:23:00.000-05:00

Cartagena Nights

2008-03-01T17:23:00.001-05:00

Back in NYC to Snow

2008-02-29T23:50:00.001-05:00

Bogota, Colombia Day 7

2008-02-28T11:22:00.004-05:00

The 7th day we rested. We slept and ate and watched HBO and slept and rested some more. We requested late check out at the hotel -- late check out meant 5pm. Lovely! We went to the 10th floor of the hotel for dinner before heading to the airport well ahead of time to assure everything went well. Curtis was feeling much better at this time. We had a wonderful dinner and everything else went smoothly. We returned this morning at 6am. Curtis is resting at home while I'm back at the office -- working hard to keep awake!

From the airport hotel at dinner time:

More to come! :-)

Cartagena-Bogota, Colombia Day 6

2008-02-28T10:55:00.006-05:00

This was our last day in Cartagena. As usual, we woke up early and headed down stairs for a wonderful start of the day with a buffet breakfast.

The hotel's courtyard where breakfast was served:

Rustic and Old World Furniture

After breakfast we packed our bags, headed to the airport to fly out to Bogota. Our layover there was 8 hours so we figured we would take advantage of the time and visit a little of the big city:

Avianca Airlines Flight Attendants

We drove directly to downtown to see the important government buildings, etc:

(the banner says NO TO KIDNAPPINGS)

And then things got tough. The altitude of the city took a toll on Curtis. He felt dizzy but hung in there for a stop at OMA Cafe for a taste of real Colombian coffee. But it seems the coffee made it worse for him. As it got later we decided to go for dinner at Harry's Restaurant famous for its steaks (one of the Harry Sasson's famed restaurants in Bogota and in Colombia). The food was amazing but Curtis really couldn't enjoy or even swallow the food.

Desperate for Oxygen

The restaurant was too dimmed for any adequate pictures:

So during dinner Curtis decided he was not well enough to travel. After dinner we returned to the airport where the airline changed our flight to the next day after receiving appropriate paperwork from the Health Emergency Room at the airport. Once Curtis was designated "certified unable to fly" we were changed to the next Bogota-NYC flight due the following day at the same time: 11:50pm. Although Curtis refused the shot from the nurse, he did take the oral medication given by the doctor on call. We found a hotel near the airport and crashed until the next day.

Cartagena, Colombia Day 5

2008-02-27T21:40:00.002-05:00

Today we woke up late, had a wonderful breakfast and relaxed at the terrace. Here are a few samples:

Later that day, early afternoon, my mom and sis came by to have lunch together before they departed to Bogota. We had lunch at an amazingly decorated restaurant called El Porton de Santo Domingo:

And then we just walked a little around the city:

After a nap and some more relaxation, we decided to take some serious photos around town before the sun came down:

This is Restaurante Cafe Del Mar

Then we got hungry and went for dinner at Restaurante San Pedro:

Seating there, having a drink and Curtis smoking a cuban, we met a trio of local musicians who joined us for drinks, music and politics until 3am (those pictures will be on later).

Cartagena, Colombia Day 4

2008-02-25T00:24:00.005-05:00

Nelly's Birthday

Today was my mom's birthday. It was our day to plan. We reserved a horse and carriage for an hour and a half to tour old city. Our driver shared with us his list of clients, including Julio Iglesias and Bill Clinton -- now he's going to add us to his list. Our dinner reservations were made for 6:30pm. On top of a fort like wall sat restaurant Cafe de Mar. Beautiful views of the beach and the new high rise condos were also visible in the distance. The wind was strong so we sat semi indoors near the bar. Once we ordered a bottle of Cabernet from Chile and our seafood and steak dinners, Curtis reached into my purse to reveal Nelly's birthday gift: a 18 karat gold pendant in the shape of coffee bean adorned with a small emerald. The sales lady at the jewerly store where we purchased the pendant told us the piece was representative of Colombia's most priced goods: coffee, emeralds and gold.

Here are some pics:

Cartagena, Colombia Day 3 Parte Dos

2008-02-24T01:38:00.003-05:00

Dead tired on Saturday night. All I can say is here are some images of the evening out:

We started on the Chiva bus where they have live music and rum and coke for everybody

First bar -- not too happening

At Babar -- one of the hippest place in town:

Late Snack

more to come...

Cartagena, Colombia Day 3

2008-02-23T17:23:00.004-05:00

Early this morning, after breakfast, we walked across the front court of the hotel towards the International Film Festival theater, passed the naval museum, across the street to the Pier. We were to meet my mom and sister to take a speed boat out to the Isla del Sol -- a private island about an hour away from Cartagena. Together with 46 other tourists, mostly Colombian, some Argentinian and 1 English speaking American (Curtis) we headed away from the city towards paradise.

Once we arrived to the island -- after a few quick explanations and descriptions -- we dropped our bags, towels and such, and boarded back on a smaller boat. This time we headed towards the coral reefs with our snorkeling gear. Check out some photos:

After snorkeling we hung out at the SALTY pool:

Room service just rang...going to eat before heading out club hopping!

More to come....

Cartagena, Colombia Day 2

2008-02-22T23:03:00.006-05:00

After a great nice sleep we went to the lobby's courtyard for a buffet breakfast. My mom and sis planned a day of site seeing and dinner with traditional Colombian dancers so we were due to meet them around 2pm to hop on the chiva (click here to find out more info about the chiva bus) to explore the town's best. We wanted to get a sim card for the celly, just in case so we left early from old town, where we are located, to Bocagragrande, the area where El Caribe Hotel is located and mom and sis awaited.

Although there are numerous interesting incidents to tell, my eyes can barely keep open and we have an early morning tomorrow to board a speed boat out to the islands...more tomorrow..for now, enjoy:

Going for the Buffet

A view of Cartagena

Seafront Condo, anyone

University of Cartagena

Fort from Afar

Another View of Cartagena - From its highest point

Bocagrande - A neighborhood in Cartagena

Santander Avenue

The Fort Upclose

Posing in front of the Chiva Bus

Palenquera - traditionally dressed black woman from Cartagena

Shopping

Performer at Caribe Hotel while having dinner

The Dancers

Back at Old Town at our Hotel having a night cap

more to come...

Cartagena, Colombia Day 1

2008-02-21T22:21:00.007-05:00

It's only 10:20 pm and we are already in bed. We still managed to catch the last hour of the Barack and Hillary debate on CNN but now, we are ready to pass out. Our day started at 4:30 am when within half hour we had to be down at the lobby where the reserved taxi was to pick us up to deliver us to JFK. Luckily there was no traffic but even luckier for us we arrived with enough time to spare to stand in the mile long line -- a line of travelers made up of older ladies shorter than me with pile high suitcases; and men shaving while selecting the row and seat at the counter; and of course, the checking in of saran wrapped suitcases that had to be weighed one by one, slowly and precisely. We travel light. I had one suitcase to check in and one carry on. Curtis had two suitcases to check in and one (the laptop) to carry on. None were overweight or unshapely, or oversized. So when the lady at the counter asks us to make a decision about which of the three checked in bags will be the "provisional" suitcase, we were confused, unclear, not sure. Apparently, Avianca Airlines asks its costumers to make a decision about which checked in suitcase is of less importance and does not have to arrive at the destination with the rest of the bags. Exactly! WHAT???!?!! So it turns out that according to their policy, if the flight is too full, each passenger is only allowed and guaranteed one bag -- the provisional bag arrives any other time - whenever - and it is you, the customer's responsibility, to pick up the bag when it arrives, whenever, at the airport. Idiotic. I'm writing a letter of complaint as we speak. We rearranged our bags to make sure we followed policy and received ALL bags at the same time.

The flight was easy. The food was good. Customs was a breeze. ATM easily accessible. Taxis were abundant and well organized and easy to hire and reasonably priced (JFK should learn from this).

The trip from Barranquilla Airport to Cartagena runs between 1.5 hours to 3 hours... depending on who you ask. The taxi driver we hired said he could make it in 1 hour 20 min. We quickly learned his optimism was based on his need for speed. Unfortunately, we couldn't experience his 1 hour 20 min record as we arrived in Cartagena within 2 hours. I'm sure that if he hadn't stopped for gas, if he hadn't craved for a little snack for the road, if he hadn't been pulled over by the cops AND if his taxi hadn't malfunctioned and needed the assistance of the very cops who had pulled him over to give it a little push in order to get it started, we probably would have made it within his record time. Needless to say, we made it.

The hotel is beautiful. We are staying at an monastery. Of course it is completely renovated. Flat screen TVs, hip courtyards, terrace bar/pool, and centrally located near all and everything. We had dinner and drinks here but later met my mom and sister for dessert in the middle of town.

I have fantastic videos that will be up on YOUTUBE as soon as my patience and my computer meet -- but for now - here are a couple of pictures I captured enjoying the warm Caribbean breeze.

More to come....

Obama for President!

2008-02-06T20:52:00.000-05:00

Go NY Giants!

2008-02-03T23:27:00.000-05:00

Go GIANTS!!

A Touch of Nonsense and Hilarity

2008-01-20T17:11:00.000-05:00

Last night a few of us took on the night -- a New York City night in January. Cold into the teens and a breeze that hurt everything it touched -- ears hurt, fingers hurt (forgot my warm cashmere lined leather gloves at home), nose hurt...brrrrr. Lucky for us we found a parking spot right on Broadway near Touch NY, a club near the middle of Times Square. When we first arrived we confused the crowd with the common theater crowds exiting a popular Broadway play but quickly we realized that in fact it was the venue we had planned to attend -- people weren't leaving, they were in line waiting to get in -- two lines, one for regular cover $20 for men and $15 for ladies and the other for anyone interested in purchasing a table with a two bottle minimum at $350 per bottle -- yea! imagine that! I was offended, how dare they charge $20 cover? Nevertheless, we stood in the cover line and patiently waited our turn.

Oh how many memories arose as I saw the barely 18 year olds getting special treatment at the front or how the extra cleavage managed to get a group of girls easily past the line or how the boys, yea, the boys haggled with the bouncers as they displayed their scantily clad lady friends by their side....aah memories -- The wind was harsh and the line wasn't moving any faster than a drive during rush hour, but we waited, in awe mostly, cold and incredulous about the twelve year old looking girls in knee high boots and no IDs -- no IDs?? what were they thinking? Did they think that getting in front of the line in knee high boots would make the bouncer dismiss the fact that they could have sneaked out their bedroom window from their parent's home, driven over 50 miles from Long Island, or Jersey (either works), to get their party on as if they were adults in a New York City nightclub? Obviously their age showed in more than just their looks. Don't get me wrong, I know the bouncer could care little about how they got there, or where they're from but apparently, even a possible $200 bribe didn't convince him to let the wanna be Britneys enter the club.

Finally, after a few hours -- okay maybe not hours though it seemed like it had been -- we reach the fabulous bouncers with their cute clipboards at the front -- oh my! And so the dance begins....
Bouncer: how many are you?

we respond.

Bouncer: Okay I can get you a table for you and it will be a three bottle minimum.

we look at each other -- i'm certain we were all thinking "but aren't we in the "cover" line? Isn't $20 for men and $15 for women?" One of us says it out loud.

Bouncer: (bouncer touches his ear) I'm sorry but it just got "hot"!

we think: huh? hot? huh?

Bouncer: It just got hot so let me tell you what i can do for you. You don't have to get a table but you do have to get a bottle and at the bar.

we think: huh? that's a special? a bottle is $350 and we don't even get a table? Wait and what is this "it just got hot" about? It just got hot?

And so WE bounced.

We walked a few blocks in the cold toward the W hotel. That was much easier. We took the elevator up to the 7th Floor, and enjoyed the cocktails at the Living Room Bar. After a while and a few drinks later we danced ourselves down to the Whiskey bar where the $20 cover didn't seem so bad since we were given our own little table and sofa. The music was good and dancing was possible, except for the every now and then spills or (as it got later and later) the vomit splashed around the floor. The mix of tourists and locals made people watching entertaining, especially when the former do their best to do what they would never do back home.

At 3am we felt the weight of the night and so we left our younger more energetic company to dance the night away.

2008-01-19T16:28:00.000-05:00

Alex Acts Like She Is 28 Years Old

Alex is a twentysomething at heart. She feels like an adult, and she is optimistic about life. She feels excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

She is still figuring out her place in the world and how she wants her life to shape up. The world is full of possibilities, and she can't wait to explore many of them.

What Age Do You Act?

Alex's Travel Personality Is: The Adventurer

For Alex, travel is how she learns about the world. And she likes to learn the stuff that's not in guidebooks. She truly has wanderlust. When she is not traveling, she is dreaming about where she'll go next.
And her travels are truly legendary - they leave her with stories she'll be telling for the rest of her life!

What's Your Travel Personality?

Alex's Inner Child Is Surprised

Alex sees many things through the eyes of a child.
Meaning, she is rarely cynical or jaded.
She cherishes all of the details in life.
Easily fascinated, she enjoys experiencing new things.

How Is Your Inner Child?

The Holidays

2008-01-02T19:23:00.000-05:00

I took December off. The first two weeks of December were mandatory rest, sleep, lots of chicken soup and legal drugs. After my quick run to LA I arrived back to the BX feeling awful -- unable to barely speak, sinus pain and sooooooooooooo very weak.... Needless to say, I watched a lot of morning tv, drank a lot of fluids, tried to read but the loud humming in my head didn't allow me to concentrate. So i slept and watched more useless morning tv and sitcom marathons and a couple of movies here and there. Around December 8 I started to feel better and made a big mistake of going to Danny's birthday party -- it was his induction into the dirty thirties so i had to attend:

But then i suffered.

Around December 12 I began to feel better again so i decided to get back to work but that only lasted about three days....so around December 15th we began to celebrate the Holidays!!!!

Xmas

A Vegetarian Holiday Dinner

Dessert: Orange Sorbet

Discussing the rules of Cranium

And...

New Years Eve at Ciprianis

Happy New Year to all!
clink clink

Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade 2007

2007-11-23T15:38:00.001-05:00

For Photo Stills Click Here

Simpson-IZED

2007-08-02T08:47:00.000-05:00

Although we are not crazy fanatics of the Simpsons, we appreciate the show. I'd like to see the movie when it comes out on DVD, why not. I like Milhouse and the Comic Book guy and of course good ol' Dr. Hibbert who will help you out in any situation, as long as there is cash up front. We decided to see what we would look like IF we lived in Springfield and became part the Simpson world. What do you think:

Me & Curtis

Long Live Spain!

2007-07-18T11:54:00.000-05:00

So we just returned from Spain...what a whirlwind. We flew into Bilbao, rented a car towards Pamplona but stopped in San Sebastian via the scenic route. We celebrated the San Fermines in Pamplona and flew down to the Mediterranean -- to Barcelona! Once in Barcelona we decided to take a convertible roadster to Costa Brava - Sant Feliu de Guixols - for a day at the beach. As you may already suspect we have over 1000 photos and over 50 videos of eating, sightseeing, hanging out, celebrating, and appreciating all that Spain had to offer. Sure there were some flaky moments like when we were charged 21 euros for a hamburger that looked like and tasted no better than a three day old White Castle burger (21 euros is $29 - yes) and of course, too, there was the time when while at Costa Brava, our fancy schmancy Smartcar Convertible Roadster stopped working -- the key ran out of batteries and without unlocking the doors automatically (to disengage the alarm system) the car can never be turned on! How DUMB is that?!? The Smartcar turned out to be a Dumb car! But no, we weren't stranded at Costa Brava (over an hour's drive outside of Barcelona) -- we called our hotel where we rented the car and they happily sent a tow truck for their car, they also sent a paid taxi to drive us back to our hotel and around 10pm we received a bottle of Cava (champagne) room service. Salud!

If you'd like to see some of our adventures, click any of the links below. Let me know what you think!!! :-) When viewing pictures you may click on View as Slideshow (click on photo once slide show has started to see photo comment/title) or click on each individual photo!

Bilbao

Guernica and San Sebastian

Pamplona

Costa Br ava

Barcelona

Curt's Birthday Surprise

2007-04-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

Diesel and Aggie in NYC Redux

2007-02-22T15:07:00.000-05:00

D said this time he was coming to NYC for a toy conference. He wanted to visit during the winter time with lots of snow and when earmuffs and scarves and gloves and thermal underwear would be required. So he came early February. Although there was no snow, there was a need for all the extra pieces of clothing to protect him from the bitter 20 or so degree weather and even colder wind chill. He managed to get a room at the Hudson Hotel. Trendy. Artsy. Snooty. So we met him and Aggie at the Hudson Bar to welcome them to NYC with a few drinks.

D tried to take more photos but the VIP-ness of the bar/hotel disallowed photographs of the décor. Yea. What the!??! Um…that’s what we said! Anyway. We arrived rather early – around 7 or so…the 5’3 bouncer with the sweater two sizes too small hadn’t arrived yet – he’s the one with the all powerful clipboard that carries the all exclusive list – a list that suddenly becomes irrelevant once you A) show your room key or B) pass him a $20 bill for your party of 6 –

So everyone met everybody – although it seemed everyone knew everyone already from photos and stories told through the years – really – it was like meeting old friends.

D wonders what Herve is saying! D is pleased with my reply. "Whatsamatta with you?" I ask.

"Wow, she knows what she's talking about" D considers. "Haha! She set him straight" D laughs!

We had a few drinks. The mannequin-like waitress served us martinis, cranberry/vodkas and plenty, oh plenty of attitude—overflowing! D quickly showed her what customer service is about but she wasn’t able to catch on!

Herve suggested a restaurant within walking distance. He said the restaurant was called Ah Zucka, ahzoocar, a sucker, Azucar! Ah yes! A Cuban joint. The real name of the restaurant was Guantanamera. Not sure where the sucker, zucker, azucker came from. The hour wait went by quickly since we guzzled down flavored mojitos and shots and Aggie had the opportunity to roll her cigars!

Dinner was delish. The live music made it even better!

After dinner we returned to the Hudson Bar where we had the pleasure to ignore the little man who turned us away at the entrance. We ignored the noise coming out of his mouth and we entered into the glowing dance floor. Curt’s Jersey crew was in the crowd – as always, looking sharp!

Great night!

Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T15:50:00.000-05:00

I received these most beautiful flowers today from my Valentine! Gorgeous, aren't they? The fragrance of the roses envelops my entire office. The flowers came wrapped in a white paper with red little hearts sprinkled all over it. I ripped the paper apart to remove the vase from the pedestal cardboard box where it is secured. There I found a surprise.

Slyly slipped there was this pass – a complimentary pass, no less – for one free week at the gym - at Equinox Fitness. The pass looks similar to this:

Hmmmmm…is my Valentine trying to tell me something?

When I thanked him for these most beautiful flowers, I also thanked him for the gym pass. Confused he said WHAT?!?!? And swore to contact the florist to warn them about their tacky and so insensitive mistake.

Hmmmmmmm!

The LA LA Whirlwind

2007-01-16T23:36:00.000-05:00

It's 2am in NYC. I have serious jetlag. I took the red eye from LA last night arrived four and a half hours later at 7am and slept for most of the day. Now I can't sleep. Out of the thousands of pictures (literally) I selected a few here to share -- I'll share the rest at a later time.

Malibu and Venice Beach
The first day we woke up early in the morning to take advantage of the surf and photograph the famous California surfers at work. Unfortunately, the surf was low and we arrived to Malibu well past 7am -- too late to catch any surfers but we captured a nice sunrise and avoided most of the morning traffic. After a few shots of the Malibu coast we headed to Venice Beach for champagne breakfast at the boardwalk at Sidewalk Cafe.

Hollywood
After breakfast we headed down into El Segundo, Hawthorne, Inglewood and stopped over at Jon's new digs! After a short visit, we took the scenic route through Crenshaw, Slauson past Ladera Heights, Baldwin Hills, Leimert Park into Wilshire towards Highland up Hancock Park. Once we got to Hollywood Blvd we parked the car to walk the street towards the Mann's Chinese Theater. We parked right in front of Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum where we were solicited by tourist operators who tried to conviced us if we took their tour we were guaranteed to see a movie star! ha!

Taking the Train to the Staples Center
Exhausted, we headed back to rest for a few hours before heading out to downtown LA since D had suite tickets for the LA Kings at the Staples Center. We met Brian at D's. Brian introduced us to "Rick James", we had a couple of drinks and then we headed towards the LA Metro for a 15 minute ride to Downtown LA.

At the Standard Downtown
After the game, the five of us took a cab to the Standard Hotel located about about two blocks from the Staples Center (nobody walks in LA). For some reason we had to wait for wristbands before being allowed up to the terrace bar so we played pool for a while (the Jarman's narrowly won). The terrace had a nice view of the city -- the layout was nice too, decorated with waterbeds in red pods near a small lit pool. It was a little chilly, even with the heating lamps strategically placed throughout the area.

Getty Museum
Whew! All that was just the first day --- the next day, we decided to take it easy. Slept a little late, had breakfast at my old favorite Jumping Java and then headed to the Getty Museum in Brentwood. We spent a nice leisurely afternoon there taking some photos of the spectacular views of LA -- built on top of a hill, the museum's views of LA are the most comprehensive of any reachable mountain top in the city -- views from the Valley, to Century City, to the Beaches, to Downtown LA can be seen from the Museum's garden and external walkways. The art work inside the museum is ecclectic. I was confused at first -- the museum seemed to be suffering an identity crisis - but i then overheard someone explain that the selections were idiosyncratic because they represented the personal collection of J Paul Getty.

Dinner with the Family
Late afternoon we picked up my mom and headed over to my sister's house to spend sometime before the 7:30pm dinner reservations at Blue Velvet Restaurant. My sister recommended this place after seeing a piece like the one here on TV. The food was worth it and the atmosphere - we sat in the Red Room - was warm and welcoming. (press the play icon to view)

Universal Studios
The next morning we woke up early to go to Universal Studios. D hooked us up with not only tickets to the park, but VIP passes to skip all possible lines - we entered through a special area called GATE A. Lidia, my goddaughter, came with us. She's so tall, so mature and beautiful. We had champagne breakfast at Wolgang Puck at City Walk before entering the themed park.

Hanging Out with Friends
We left Universal Studios early afternoon in order to rest for a bit before heading to Next Door Tapas Lounge to hang out with my LA people!! Thanks everyone for coming -- we both had an amaaaaaaaaaazing time!!!! We hope to see you soon in NYC or LA or anywhere in between!!!

Trip to Rosarito
Even after the fun night out, we had to wake up early the next day to head down to Rosarito, Baja California - Mexico - for a lobster champagne lunch. The drive was a two and half hour drive south passed the beautiful San Diego beaches, across the Mexico-USA border into Tijuana down the Mexican coast. We stopped at a town called Puerto Nuevo -- a few minutes from Rosarito. We ate at Villa Ortega restaurant, with excellent views and friendly service. After lunch we walked the town and bought some delish mexican sweets. Then we headed back but not before a cruise through the famous Tijuana's downtown famous La Revolucion Avenue.

Los Angeles - Here we come!!

2007-01-09T11:39:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I received a "cute little" spam letter (I know, they're never cute nor little) that reminded me of my home town and rooted some of my peculiar, out of the norm ways that seem to every so often stand out as strange here in New York City. I thought I'd share some of those here, especially since I'm going back for a few days and may return expressing and behaving in those so peculiar ways. So as the spam letter said:

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHEN...
- Your monthly house payments exceed your annual income.
- You drive next to a Rolls Royce and don't notice.
- Getting anywhere from point A to point B, no matter what the distance,takes about "twenty minutes".
- You drive to your neighborhood block party.
- If your destination is more than 5 minutes away on foot, you're definitely driving.
- You don't stop at a STOP sign, you do a California Roll.
- You think that Venice is a beach.
- The waitress asks if you'd like "carbs" in your meal.
- You have a gym membership because it's mandatory.
- You know what "Sigalert", "PCH", and "the five" mean.
- Las Vegas is the once a month party destination.
- It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: STORM WATCH".
-You've partied in Tijuana at least 3 times and you don't remember at least 1 of them.
- You classify people you meet by their Area Code. An "818" would never date a "562" and anyone from "323" or "213" is second class.
- The Terminator is your governor.

I can't wait to visit, catch up - it's been like totally too long since I've seen all my 818 people!! See you soon!!

Strange Weather

2007-01-06T15:22:00.000-05:00

If it weren't for the used christmas trees piled up on the sidewalks, I would say today was Spring. The humidity is high, the sun is shining and New Yorkers are wearing shorts and tank tops -- in JANUARY!

Happy New Year!!!

2007-01-01T01:56:00.000-05:00

New York on New Year's Eve 2006-07

I'm sure you'll feel the video ends abruptly -- we put our cameras down and positioned ourselves to welcome the New Year the right way - :-)

My Christmas Present

2006-12-27T16:44:00.000-05:00

Click for MoreChristmas 2006 Dinner Photos

Thanksgiving My Colombian Way

2006-11-24T13:17:00.000-05:00

This year we decided to do something different for Thanksgiving. We invited Evelin for the feast and I decided to serve a Colombian menu. Luckily my office closed early on Wednesday giving me enough time to head over the bridge to Queens - to Flushing/Jackson Heights - to pick up the already-made-just-warm-up Colombian dishes I planned to serve. Even with the extra time, the ride over the Triboro took me almost an hour and a half. I wanted to cook the food myself – I did, I really really did – but the ingredients, of all the recipes I found, called for ingredients that “grow in the Andes”. Um, yes, the Andes. Where could I get these? Certainly not at Zabars or Gourmet Garage. Instead, I headed over to Queens with my list: Tamales Tolimenses (Tamales from a region/‘department’ in Colombia called Tolima), chorizo, potatoes, aji (spicy sauce), pan de queso (cheese bread), Queso Montañero (Colombian cheese), Bocadillos (guava paste), Arequipe/Manjarblanco (often referred to as Dulce de Leche –though I beg to differ), chocolate wafer cookies, Bretaña (Colombian version of Pellegrino/Perrier), Colombiana (champagne soda), Empanadas de Carne, Empanadas de Pollo (a sort of meat/chicken patty a la Jamaican style but smaller and with a much thinner shell – in addition to the meat or chicken the stuffing includes potato). For drinks, we started with the usual kettle one and cranberry and reserved the red wine for dinner. Evelin brought a French burgundy, which we opened first and then continued with the usual Pinot Noir from California. We concluded our meal with Jasmine tea.

Warming up the potatoes with the chorizo and empanadas.

The Appetiz er. Mmmmm. So good.

Meanwhile, the Tamales stuffed with peas, potatoes, chicken, beef, pork, carrots, eggs, rice--wrapped in banana leaves. 30 minutes over high flame. We had a salad.

Unwrapped and ready to eat. Very filling.

Too much to eat at one seating.

Lots to drink for digestion. :-)

3 hours from the start of our meal, we were ready for dessert.

Jasmine tea with chocolate wafer cookies, arequipe and bocadillo. mmmmmm.

Nashville, Tennesse

2006-11-21T13:56:00.000-05:00