birthing classes officially paid off

last night we had our 2nd birthing class.

and last night I volunteered to sit on one of the bouncy balance ball things the instructor was telling us about.

and it was then that I decided even if I didn't learn anything else from this class - just the opportunity to sit on that ball made the class worth our time.

(I have learned other things from the class though too)

My bones ache so bad all over.

Getting up hurts. moving hurts. Walking up the stairs is not my favorite. And getting into bed is the worst. It makes me feel very old.

And it wasn't until I sat on that crazy ball that I felt any relief.

So I'm off to go buy one for myself right now.

PS - this is the first "class" Freeland and I have ever had together since clearly he was a biochem major & I was a telecomm major. He informed me the other day that he has learned so much about me just from taking this class. Like the fact that I am a nodder (if the teacher looks directly at me I nod my head to agree with whatever they are saying.. mostly because its awkward) Its like he didn't even know me! :)

And last night I laughed so hard during class I cried and even had a headache when we came home. But I do feel very informed about epidurals, pain relief options, being induced, and c-sections. I also realize we have to be open to all the options. (Even though our preference seemed 100% opposite from everyone else in the class! picture the scene from the Baby Mama Movie) We'll do whatever it takes to have a healthy baby at this point.

how to appreciate maternity leave

Want to know how to appreciate your maternity leave?

Think for 7.5 - 8 months of your pregnancy that you aren't getting one.

Then when you find out that you do get one - you will cry lots of tears of joy.

trust me - those tears of joy wouldn't have been there if I thought from the beginning I was getting a maternity leave. I would have been happy. really happy - but brought to tears? No, I dont think so.

Its true, until last week I didn't think I was getting maternity leave & I thought I would be using up all my PTO instead. (it wasn't exactly like that but I dont want to get into all the details of HR on here so Im just simplifying it. k?) Therefore I was determined to be working again after 3 short weeks (because I didn't want to use ALL my PTO for the year)

Yes, I know that's insane to think I would be working again that quickly but I figured if I didn't have a choice I would make the best of it & make it work.

Until I learned that whoever I spoke to from HR originally told me wrong and I do actually have paid maternity leave and it is for 6 weeks!!!

Dear Lord, Thank you. Love, Brooke

Then I quickly threw the whole 3 week idea out the window. Because I think we can all agree that was a horrible idea anyway. And I will still have my PTO if I feel like I need more time than that with the little one before I go back to working full time.

I couldn't believe it when I realized that I would get an actual maternity leave. I seriously made the HR person I talked to repeat it to me like 6 times and send it to me in writing because I didn't believe it.

And we checked today - as of April 1st Freeland will be pretty much done with classes and just at home studying for boards. So the timing couldn't be more perfect. Now lets hurry up and get here already March!!!

the other side of the lake

As you know we live on Lake Erie. And as you also know Lake Erie freezes over in the winter. Last year I showed you pictures of us walking on the ice and across the lake here and here.

Those were both from the peninsula side of the lake.

While my dad was here it warmed up a TON. Like it was 35-40 degrees outside! Even warmer a few days! So we took advantage of the warm weather and showed him around our neighborhood and let him see the lake frozen over.

Since we moved in June we live on the lake now. (I guess? I mean our backyard isnt the lake but if you walk a block down the road that person's backyard is the lake.. following me?)

So I thought I would show you some of those pictures so you can see the frozen lake from the other side this time.

But first, lets start with the dogs! Im pretty sure they were so excited to be able to run around for over an hour in the snow again. (even though Freeland still walks them when its colder.. its just shorter walks when its 20 degrees outside.)



my dad had the privilege of walking powers. (he doesnt pull like our dogs do)

oh and I dont "walk" any of them. I walk along side of them now... or behind them since I walk waddle so much slower these days!

Their favorite I think was walking up the hills of snow that my dad kept taking them to




Oliver got confused and crawled under Freeland. oops

Okay, here are some pictures of the lake frozen:



we're standing on a cliff looking over the bay side of the lake and the peninsula is across from us .. if that helps you get an idea of where we are.



all those little blue boxes are people ice fishing.



lots of ice



even more ice



and here are a few more of the dogs just for kicks!


powers spotted some deer running through all the trees below. Maddie did too but she tried to run along side them. which was funny to watch.


playing


sniffing


chasing

Then the day my dad left it got cold again. I really feel like January was such a "warm" month. Maybe its because last winter is all I have to compare it to and last winter was crazy.

The snow all came back this week. Or should I say its coming back?? I'm not sure. Either way. I love it.

Birthing Classes

I forgot to mention that last night we started our birthing classes. Now, if you asked me if I was nervous about labor before my answer would have been "not really".

Ask me now? My answer:

OH MY GOSH!!! I have to do what???? Please don't remind me.
(possibly with tears in my eyes)

Talk about making this all a reality and scaring the flippin daylights out of someone. (it was the videos that really made it sink in)

Don't get me wrong - Im so thankful that I can start mentally preparing myself. And I know its what Im created to do and that I will make it through.. and it will be a beautiful & rewarding thing. But the reality of the work it could take I guess just finally hit us. Which really is a good thing. I would rather not go in oblivious to what is going on.

The class itself is great. Lots of wonderful & practical information. And it really isnt all about things that scare me! :) Its reassuring & comforting also. Im glad we are doing it. There is a couple from our small group (she is due 5 days after me) doing the class with us. And the woman leading the class seems great.

It did take EVERYTHING in Freeland to not say "that's what she said" every 20 seconds though. And we laughed a lot.. especially at the end when we practiced the massages and breathing.

We have 2 more classes left. Im looking forward to see what else we are going to learn.

32 weeks and counting

this week Im in my 32nd week. Starting my 33rd on Wednesday.

Our doctors appointment went really well last week. We both love him. (Dr. Thompson if your interested) he said Im measuring exactly where I should be and "not to let anybody else tell me otherwise!" :) I was measuring 31cm my 31st week - if you're interested in that too. That was refreshing to hear.

He let Freeland check for the babies heart beat. (he lets all husbands do it he said) and we started talking about going into labor & all those details .. which was exciting.

Here are some pictures so I can get caught up:


the only picture I have from week 29 while I was traveling





surprise guest in the picture:



play fighting over who gets to be in the picture:





look! I actually do wear something else other than just black pants!



The biggest change I can see in the last week or so is that I feel increasingly ready to have this baby. Even though technically I still have a little bit to go - I feel like I only have 3 weeks left at most. And I talk to Freeland as if I only have a couple weeks left. Im not sure why? I just realized this week that mentally our due date feels so much closer than it actually is.

True story (this is TMI for some people - sorry) I went to the restroom the other day and thought something had happened (think lots of fluid) but then realized I had just sneezed and forgot about it. Glad I realized that before I picked up the phone to tell Freeland to come home!

Other than that just the normal - takes me longer to get up. And when I turn over in bed I feel like my hips are literally cracking, which is slightly painful.

Freeland's favorite thing has been feeling my stomach and trying to guess where exactly the baby is and what we can feel sticking out (his elbow, shoulder, etc.) I love it too.

5 years

Reposted from last year:

a brief photo essay in honor of the

5 years

we have been boyfriend & girlfriend:




























I said it was brief.

I didnt lie.

I woke up this morning to breakfast & flowers.

Im so glad he is my baby daddy.

*sorry I turned off my comments ...

Freeland's 28th Birthday

As you know it was Freeland's 28th Birthday on January 10th.

As you also know I was out of town for the first time on his birthday & he also had a test the next day so his actual birthday was pretty lame.

But we made up for it the next day when I got home from Texas.

After traveling all day and then a series of delayed flights I finally made it back to Erie about 15 minutes before we had dinner plans with all of our friends.

In keeping with tradition we went to Aoyama's. And lots of people came with us to celebrate. It was so sweet since I know everyone is just as busy & also on the same kind of budgets we are - but they were willing to sacrifice their time during the week and come celebrate.








oh lots of yummy sushi that I watched everyone eat.

and you cant go to Aoyama (or any Hibachi grill) without them tossing food at you to catch







after we all cheered on the cooks and then stuffed ourselves silly they pulled out the dessert. Sarah & Drew were kind enough to pick up a Coconut Cream Pie for Freeland (his favorite).



And to top it off - they decorated it too!! (those are candy rats and its an inside joke but we all almost peed our pants laughing so hard when they pulled out the pie!)



seriously soo funny!

We had such a great time at dinner & I know Freeland felt really loved by everyone who came and celebrated with us.

Then when we got home I finally got to give him my gifts. The best surprise was when I pulled out Lone Star Beer that I brought for him from Texas! Then he opened the other gifts & another gift from my Mom & Mark that I brought with me too.

And then this weekend we continued the celebrations while my dad was here. Even though it was gift enough that he came to visit - he also spoiled us rotten with lots of yummy food! (note: we went to 1201 for the first time - AMAZINGLY GOOD!)

And he also stopped and picked Freeland up a special gift just for him:





powers & maddie helped him open the gift



a baby bjorn!!! Just for him and little tumkin



along with a borders gift card for books on residency.

It was a great weekend & I love that the birthday celebrations got to last so long for Freeland. He deserves it for all that he does daily for me and everyone around him. And now he is officially 28 the year he becomes a dad.