James Francis

Born January 8, 2012 (on his due date)

9:33am

7lbs 12oz

21.5in

We are so in love.

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Wheats up with that?

I thought I should update you all on the "wheat-free" me.

Basically, it's working.

The last 3 years I've developed a cough I couldn't kick, and my body produced mucous by the truck load (2009-2011: starting in Nov going till March-ish), this year I've only had a few sneezes here and there.

At first I was super diligent about making sure that there was no wheat that was in my diet.  Then I relaxed a little.  When at a restaurant I would usually just order what I thought was wheat-free, rather than have the waiter do an extensive ingredient check.  After about a month and a half like this, I thought I would try a little wheat in the form of my favorite Christmas cookie.  I actually just ate a little of the dough as I was rolling it in little balls and patting it into little discs.  At most I took in 2 Tbs of flour.  The next 3 days my throat felt raw and, I was blowing my nose non-stop.  STRANGE.  Now this was not the most scientific way to go about things.  There were people around me that were not feeling well at the time, and I could have picked something up from them.  If I weren't pregnant I would totally try again and see if my body reacted in the same way.  However, I could go into labor at any moment, and the thought of not feeling 100% during labor, makes the task of natural child birth seem even more daunting.  So I'll try again in March, when my allergies have usually subsided.  My mom was even nice enough to freeze some of my favorite cookies for the occasion.  And like I said, I'm sure a little wheat has slipped in here and there in seasonings and sauces, but all in all I'm as close to wheat-free as you can be.

Note: we did try to make said cookies with gluten-free flour, but it resulted in a weird flavor, and wafers that fell apart.

Here's a list of a few wheat-free things that I have fallen in love with.  Obviously there are a ton of naturally wheat-free things (meat, veggies, fruit), but here are the substitute type foods (so much for trying paleo!).

Even better than the normal burrito, because the tortilla stays soft.
Not better, the price tag!

I seriously can't tell the difference.

I loved these even before the wheat-free thing.

Again, I was already an addict before going wheat-free,
but the fact that everything but the tortilla is gluten-free is very nice.

Okay, I haven't actually tried this one, but I hear it's the BEST!

Just wanted to keep you all posted on my life and my 9 weeks without wheat.  If you're having some crazy health problems that doctors seem to not really know what to do with, and live in the Houston area, let me know and I'll get you the acupuncturist's #.  He's expensive, but soo worth it.

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A New Year!

So many people said that I would not make it to the new year still pregnant.  Part of me hoped that was true: tax deduction, I was already off of work, Christmas time feels like nesting time when the world slows down.  It's like January 1st is the "play" button after two weeks of slow motion and pause.  But I'm still pregnant, and am now exactly 1 week from my due date, although I could go till the 16th ...

It's kind of a weird place to be: totally ready to go to the hospital any day, but not sitting around waiting and driving myself crazy.  I've intentionally left things to be done around the house, and made plans with friends.  I actually don't have a sub for this wednesday and thursday.  I mean I have people that are on call to go in if I can't, but right now I'm planning to be there.

I'm also nervous about being away from teaching.  I love my job.  I'm also a bit of a control freak when it comes to my classes, and releasing that control seems so very unnatural & scary.  And to add to it, one of my maternity subs feel through, so now my boss and I are scrambling to find someone to replace her.

I know my life will be totally different once this boy is in the world, but I can't help but think that I'm going to want to get back to teaching as soon as my body feels strong enough.  I mean it's not like a normal job that going back is all or nothing.  It's not like I work 40 hours a week.  I can take back half of my Monday night (2 hours) and my Wednesday night (3 hours), and then the next week add back Thursday and the rest of Monday.  And then it's going to be Spring Break, and I can take back a day of massaging.  I just can't imagine not wanting to get back and working with the girls to get recital dances started, and refining them for ballet testing.  But this is pregnant me talking, not mommy me.

People like to ask, "do you know how much your life is going to change once you have this baby?"  I've consistently replied, "no."  I mean, I kind of have and idea: an idea at least to the degree of change, not necessarily the "How."  I don't know, maybe I'm totally clueless.  I guess we'll see.

Well before life feels like it's changed from "play" to "fast forward" I'll recap our Christmas time!

Christmas:

We went to Christmas Eve service with both families in Kingwood.

We stayed the night at Hub's parent's house, ate a bunch of their families traditional foods, but also a lot of yummy wheat-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian foods, watched Meet Me in St. Louis, and played a new game called "Things."

Christmas morning we opened presents, ate breakfast, and then the rest of the family was off to the airport, while we headed to my parent's house.

At my parent's we opened presents and then cleaned up for all the company coming over: G&G, and my sister's in-laws.  We cooked, played cards, and games, and Hubs and I decided to stay the night.

Sit & Spin!

Dancer dog was exhausted, and still wondering where Shakespeare was!

Mom in the kitchen.

Christmas is also my mom's birthday.  This is our traditional picture!

The morning of the 26th was super chill, and we enjoyed watching Kylie play with her "Beemer tricycle."

Every year I think, "it's over?"  Christmas and big events are funny like that.  All in all it was a fun and relaxed holiday with family.  I hope you are all having a blessed beginning to your 2012.  We are looking forward to some amazing changes! :)

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