Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I am sorry that my blog has languished so much lately! I have started to write (but never finished) posts on several topics including moving my studio space downstairs and getting the room ready for the new baby, the opening of the new IQSC Museum, about the comparative value of Pampers vs. Target diapers, a review of the new R.E.M. album Accelerate, and more on my political stances.
Unfortunately getting ready for the arrival of the new baby and life with a toddler (and now also a newborn) have occupied my time to the extent I haven’t kept up with the blog as I should. Look for upcoming posts soon on catch-up material. I will also try to do better at adding new material. I have at least finally added some new pictures of Nadia and Aidan.
Friday, May 16, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Yesterday was an interesting day. I started the day by going for my prenatal appointment. I was measuring a bit small for how far along I was in the pregnancy, and the baby’s heart rate was unusually fast. Dr. Vandenhul reassured me that she didn’t think there was a problem, but she strongly encouraged me to go in for an ultrasound to make sure everything was going well with the baby. Jeremy was very anxious and frustrated that he couldn’t be there since he is currently in New York City for the American Educational Research Association conference. Thankfully everything turned out to be just fine. We did find out the gender this time. It looks like the baby is going to be a girl! :-)
Monday, March 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I hope everyone had a happy Easter. We spent Saturday with Jeremy’s parents and on Easter Sunday we went to church and then celebrated with Nana, my parents, my Grandpa Wirth, and friends of Nana’s, and had a good time.
Monday, March 17, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone! We’re not planning on doing too much to celebrate (and probably wouldn’t even if the holiday didn’t fall into Holy Week). I will probably put on something green to wear today. Jeremy bought Irish soda bread and made corned beef with cabbage and potatoes on Saturday. He is planning to experiment with grinding a corned beef brisket and making a shepherds pie tonight. (Sounds tasty to me!).
Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 8:00 AM
In some ways pregnancy is easier the second time because one knows what to expect, but I’ve heard people say that no two pregnancies are exactly alike. There have certainly been differences between this pregnancy and the last.
With Aidan, I suspected and found out I was pregnant early in the pregnancy. This time around I didn’t find out I was pregnant until I was almost through the first trimester (I was still nursing at night with Aidan at the time and hadn’t had a period since before he was born. As pregnancy is usually dated by the first date of last monthly period I joked with the doctor about being two-and-a-half years pregnant ;) ). I had not been feeling well for several weeks, but thought I had been fighting off a flu. Jeremy asked jokingly a few times if it was morning sickness, I didn’t think so until it had gone on long enough that I thought I actually might be pregnant and should probably get a pregnancy test.
I had trouble with pregnancy tests both times. Last time when I was pregnant I got an e.p.t. test that is supposed to show + = pregnant or a – = not pregnant, but the test showed a vertical line. So we bought a different brand of test with one or two lines. So this time I skipped the +/- style test and immediately bought the two line version. However the results were very unclear. It looked like only one line, but if you held the stick at a certain angle it looked like maybe there was an extremely faint line, or is it just an evaporation line? Again the solution was to buy another brand of test – forget messing with reading lines, let’s just do a digital test that clearly states “pregnant” or “not pregnant”.
The last pregnancy was planned for the most part. (We weren’t exactly trying to conceive, but we weren’t trying not to conceive). This time was a bit more of a surprise. I had wanted to have another baby eventually. I wasn’t planning on quite so soon, but after the initial shock we’re very happy and excited to welcome the new addition to our family. Although we didn’t find out that I was pregnant until much later in the pregnancy than the last time around we had our first ultrasound much earlier in the pregnancy at 10 weeks, in order to determine how far along I was. (I didn’t have my first ultrasound last time until 18 weeks.)
I had quite a bit of morning sickness with both pregnancies, enough that I actually lost weight in the first trimester both times. I will say with this pregnancy that it is not pleasant to change a toddler’s dirty diapers while suffering from morning sickness! Thankfully I am past the point of morning sickness, but morning sickness lasted longer into the second trimester than it did with the last pregnancy. When I was pregnant with Aidan my sense of taste changed. I found foods with too much fat, salt, or sugar to be unappealing throughout the whole pregnancy (too bad that didn’t last). I haven’t had that happen this time around.
I was able to feel the baby moving earlier in the pregnancy than the last pregnancy. However Aidan was much more active in general than this baby. I think Aidan must have been doing Jazzercise or something for most of the pregnancy! This baby seems much more mellow. Aidan would get very active if I hadn’t eaten in a while. It doesn’t seem to affect this baby’s movement patterns as much.
The last pregnancy was anything but routine. We had a lot more ultrasounds last time than this time. Thankfully this pregnancy is going much more smoothly than the last time around. One of Jeremy’s coworkers (who is due around the same time as I am) was complaining how pregnancy seems so much more boring the second time around. Jeremy and I both feel like “Hey, boring is good”. So far there have only been a couple of quirks. We had a scare early in the pregnancy when the doppler didn’t pick up the baby’s heartbeat (which turned out okay). The other concern is apparently I’m quite anemic. Two appointments ago my iron tested low, so the doctor prescribed an iron supplement. At the appointment before this one my iron had dropped even lower despite taking the supplement so she prescribed a stronger prescription. This time my iron was still lower yet so she wants me to take the stronger iron pill twice a day in addition to my prenatal vitamins. (Too much more iron and I think I’m going to be pooping magnets – if I can still poop at all.)
Aidan was not shy for ultrasounds. It was almost as if he was posing for the camera “look at me- I’m a boy!”. This time around the baby baby modestly kept his/her legs crossed and wrapped him/herself around the umbilical cord like a koala, so the ultrasound tech couldn’t get a sneak peek. It looks like we will have to wait for the surprise when the baby is born.
I was in much better physical shape with the last pregnancy. Before the pregnancy and even during the first half of the pregnancy I was still doing Dance Dance Revolution and exercising regularly. This time I didn’t enter in quite as good shape as I almost never seem to have the time or energy to exercise like I probably should (although chasing after a toddler has to count for some exercise, right?) Last time I still had a graduate assistantship. I was climbing up on ladders and setting up shows, hauling dress forms and mannequins on flat bed carts, walking all over campus – no problem. This time around doing the dishes, picking up Aidan’s toys, or vacuuming the floor has me panting like a puppy dog. – Sad and pathetic!!
I have been carrying the pregnancy weight differently this time around too. Last time I had a “cute” belly bump that was very round and high. I was able to wear normal clothes for most of the pregnancy. I wore low-rise jeans which dipped below my belly. My belly stuck out in front of me enough that my black winter coat barely fit (I had to repair the seams that had ripped out from the stress). This time I’m carrying much lower and wider. Regular jeans, even low-rise, are unfortunately not and option this time. My clothing options are much more limited. I have to wear maternity jeans or maternity slacks. My black coat doesn’t seemed quite as tight and stretched as the last time around though.
I have had a lot more general aches and pains with this pregnancy than when I was pregnant with Aidan. However the pain with Aidan was often more sharp, and I have had less leg cramps than with the last pregnancy. Last time I didn’t have any Braxton-Hicks contractions (at least that I noticed). There have been a couple of times with this pregnancy that I have had contraction-like tightening that is consistent with descriptions I have read about Braxton-Hicks contractions.
I was able to go through labor and delivery without an epidural or pain medication last time. I plan to try and do the same again, but I’m keeping my mind and options open. I would say I’m less afraid of labor than the last time around because I know what to expect this time – at least I think I do ;).
Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I haven’t forgotten about writing up stances and justifications for political issues. Even if it means only posting on one issue at a time, I promise I will continue to post my political stances for additional important political issues (such as education, foreign policy, economic policy, and the environment) in upcoming posts.
Gay/Lesbian Marriage – From a moral standpoint, I’m not sure how I feel about homosexuality. I have several good friends who are gay. Their sexual orientation doesn’t really faze me. I am happy in my heterosexual marriage. As far as I’m concerned other people’s sexuality is their own business.
There are legitimate reasons to oppose from moral standpoint. Several bible versus are fairly direct at condemning homosexuality. On the other hand, there are versus in the bible that command stoning disobedient children, prohibit eating pork, and prohibit wearing clothes with more than one type of fiber. I find it strange that fundamentalists focus so intensely on homosexuality. If homosexuality were the biggest threat to faith, I find it strange that Christ had nothing to say about homosexuality one way or another (although when he referred to marriage he did refer to it in terms of man and woman). However, Christ had plenty to say about loving one’s neighbor and not picking specs out of someone else’s eye while ignoring large planks in one’s own eyes. I’m not as familiar with the specific texts and tenants of other faiths as I probably should be, but I do know that Christianity is not the only religion which has prohibitions on homosexuality. I completely respect peoples right to take and express a moral stance against homosexuality. However, hateful harassment and violence against others based on sexual orientation should not be tolerated.
Apart from religious beliefs, I can’t see good social reason to prohibit gay marriage (whether it is called marriage or called civil unions). The religious right conservatives seem to act like if there is no homosexual marriage, there will be no homosexuality – which is ridiculous. Gay and lesbian people will continue to have relationships whether they are legally allowed to marry or not. (Whether morally wrong or not) it seems to me that promoting stable monogamous relationships vs. promiscuity in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships is in the best interests of society in terms of preventing the spread of AIDS and other STDs, as well as creating more stable home environments.
One difficulty is “marriage” is somewhat of a loaded word and concept. There are two quite separate aspects to the word marriage. When Jeremy and I were married on August 28, 1999 we were given a legal certificate from the State of Nebraska binding us together in a legal contract with certain rights and responsibilities. The State of Nebraska is not concerned with religious aspects of marriage, and many people decide to legally marry with a justice or the peace without religion playing a role in the marriage process. Many people (myself included) also view marriage as an important sacrament, with significant religious or spiritual implications. The paper from the state has very little to do with the sacrament or religious nature of our marriage.
Some religious denominations have no moral qualms with homosexual marriage. If they give spiritual blessing to homosexual questions that is their decision. Many denominations do have strong moral qualms with homosexuality. I strongly feel that no religious official should ever be legally forced to perform marriage ceremonies or give religious acceptance or blessing to homosexual marriage in violation to their religious convictions or the doctrines of their particular religious denomination. But as I mentioned earlier I see no reason why the government should deny homosexual couples the same legal protections as heterosexual couples.
I’ve never really understood the entire “defense of marriage” argument. If gay couples were allowed to marry or have civil unions, traditional heterosexual marriages would still be allowed and would still be the norm. I can’t see how having a gay couple next door would affect my marriage to Jeremy one way or another. If having a gay couple living next door somehow threatens someone’s marriage, I think they need to focus on your their own marriage and should seriously seek some marital counseling! What about children? Due to purely biological reasons homosexual relationships don’t produce children without adoption, or medical intervention. I do think it is ideal for children to be raised in a “traditional” family with a stable relationship with both female and male parent role models (call me old-fashioned, or closed-minded). However loving and stable partnership with two parents of the same sex may be a better environment for kids than abusive or dysfunctional heterosexual marriages or being raised by single parents (not that there aren’t many excellent and caring single moms and dads out there).
Homosexuals in the Military – I don’t think there should be specific prohibitions against homosexuals serving in the military, especially since the military seems to want to increase enrollment and recruiting. The current don’t ask/don’t tell policy is somewhat ridiculous. There have been many men and women both heterosexual and homosexual who have served their country with honor and distinction. Sexuality should not affect the job. Sexual harassment or sexual assault should not be tolerated for either heterosexuals or homosexuals in the military.
Monday, March 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Over the last couple of weeks Jeremy has been working on rebuilding CommonPlace in Scheme (instead of the original Rails version). He is now running the new version on his blog. So far the new version of CommonPlace seems to run much faster and takes up less memory. In the new version, galleries and articles are much more integrated, and the layout is more scalable. If all goes well, after Jeremy’s new CommonPlace framework has been tested I will probably eventually switch my blog over as well.
In addition, Jeremy changed his dark black and yellow site to a new blue and white theme (which I think looks nice), and has added a lot of new content.
Monday, February 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM
My birthday this year was a bit quieter and more low-key than last year which was my 30th and Aidan’s 1st, which is kind of nice, actually. I had a very good birthday weekend. We went to Dick Blick store on Saturday afternoon, since it was the last day the Lincoln store would be open. The selection was pretty picked over, but everything in the store was at least 80% off, and we picked up a few good deals. Later, Jeremy’s parents took us out to Tico’s to celebrate my birthday.
Aidan had been getting a good case of cabin fever from being cooped up in the house since the weather outside has been too cold or snowy to go out and play. Since the weather was so nice Sunday Aidan and I spent several hours outside playing. He seemed to have a good time getting out to run in the yard and play with his backyard slide and sidewalk chalk. We stopped at Novel Idea and said hi to Kirsten, who was working and then stopped at Ali Baba’s for gyros. Jeremy made me a spice cake with cream cheese frosting (my favorite) and even added extra spices (yum!). Thank you to everyone for all the cards and gifts and birthday greetings and for making me feel special on my birthday :-).
Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 8:00 AM
Happy Valentine’s day to everyone! My parents are planning on coming over tonight (not because of Valentine’s day, but to see the birthday boy). They are planning on watching Aidan so Jeremy and I can go out and have a date together. We don’t get out just the two of us very often, so it should be nice. We will probably go out to Beacon Hills, which is one of our favorite local Lincoln restaurants.
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