Viva le baby! -Baby Buccio Update- Week 40.

Hello baby fan club!

C'est moi! The still pregnant and impatiently waiting UES mom to be. First off, thank you to all you guys who have checked in and emailed or texted words of encouragement. I really do appreciate the thoughtfulness, especially when I'm getting a tad bit restless here! (Have I mentioned patience is not my forte?!) Maya T.B. doesn't seem ready to pack up her apartment just yet and soon I will have to evict her! She seems to be extremely patient, a quality she clearly got from her papa and not from me. She is evidently running on Cuban time!

Coco and I went to the doctor this morning and I've dilated half a centimeter. Ughh! Which really doesn't mean anything because I can either go into labor in an hour or a week. The Wu says that if I don't go into labor on my own this week, I will definitely be induced Friday, march 2nd at 630am. So regardless, there will be a baby here no later than Friday! I'll be honest. I'm getting labor cold feet. As I've expressed many time on these updates, my initial decision has always been to have a C-section because I had no desire to push. Yes, a gazillion women before me have had children, I am certainly not the first, but as the day gets closer, the thought of pushing a baby out of my vagina is making me break into sweats and minor panic attacks. My doctor says this is a normal reaction to have but that we will explore the C-section when we get to the hospital and I'm experiencing contractions since she knows I've been back and forth with my decision (we will also take into account the baby's size and my tolerance).

It's highly plausible that we will be having a March baby. I married me a March baby and Lola Isabel is a March baby too. I'm totally cool with another one ( like I have a choice) as long as she doesn't come on leap day. What a way to start life with such confusion! (and too early to start paying for therapy!) I have to face reality. There is a chance she may come that day and I'm trying to be positive about it since my doctor thinks it will be "so cool" or some of my friends tell me it'll be "unique", "original" and "different." Yeah I guess they're right. But aren't these words just a politically correct way to say "OMG you're baby was born on leap day?! That sucks." Regardless, I will squeeze my vajayjay tight and push her back in!

I'm sooo tired and rundown today. Nancy, the Wu's nurse, said that today is the first time she has noticed my face a little swollen, to which I gasped in horror. She said it was just a little puffy. And Coco thought it be funny to say to me "you have cara de papa!" Um, are you drunk?! Rule #34224- do not tell a pregnant woman who is overdue and done, that she has "cara de papa" unless you want to get punched in the nut sack. Even Nancy was like "that might not be the right thing to say." He cleaned up his mess fast. Again, thank goodness for mirrors and my bulletproof self-esteem because I know that I still look amazingly gorgeous! Back to my contractions. The last 2 days I have been experiencing an increase in contractions with mild pain, but nothing horrible. The Braxton Hicks are becoming more frequent and more uncomfortable toppled with the urge to constantly pee. I also lost my mucus plug which is just as disgusting as it sounds so I'll spare you the details. Coco has taken over Nazi duties and forcing me to take stairs (he doesn't even care that my legs tremble like a baby horse's newborn legs!) and do a lot more walking. Shortly, after I send out this update and when I'm done napping, we are going to head out and power walk our way through the park. Oh I can't wait. Emotionally, I'm teetering between an insane amount of nerves and excitement. Yesterday I had many of those Oprah "aha moments" where it hits me like new that I'm having a baby (or it could be short term memory, who knows) and that our lives will be changing forever. It's exceptionally fantastic but also fearful since we are jumping into the deep end blind! I can't believe we are having a baby! There I go again.

This weekend we did one final run to Buy Buy Baby for essentials like wipes and ready to feed baby formula. My amazing mother-in-law did some bulk grocery shopping for us so we wouldn't have to stress about food when Maya arrives. And we are so excited because we booked our first Miami trip with Maya for the summer so she can meet some of her Miami family and friends and her other home! Ahhh! Next up is Thanksgiving trip! We have to get our little jet setter-in-training accustomed to the friendly skies!

And to my animal lovers out there! Our fur babies know something is up! They do say that dogs can sense changes in a human body earlier than we can and I really do believe that. Ito and Chacha follow me more than usual, even if I get up for a quick pee or to throw something away. Lola is more maternal. She doesn't step on my belly (check pic attached!). Instead, she cuddles with me and lays her head on my belly and it's so funny to see Maya move and Lola's head move along with her movements and she just stays put. This morning as she was laying on the couch with me, she growled at Chacha and Ito for getting too close to my belly. It's a pretty interesting behavior to observe. Don't underestimate those canines! Their doggy blanket is all packed up in the hospital bag so we can wrap Maya up with it once and then bring it home so they can familiarize themselves with the new baby smell.

Well, that's it for now kiddies! Wanted to keep you in the loop! The last and final update will have a baby picture, God willing, attached to it! It'll be Maya's "Hello World!" introduction! Thanks again for riding my baby carousel of progress! (BTW, you are really pregnant for 10 months. I don't know how that Duggar woman does it!)

In Style,

Kata

Labor and Delivery...Take 2!

A month ago exactly on January 23rd (35 weeks pregnant), Coco and I had our first false labor run to Lenox Hill. You wouldn't know it by looking at me, but I was a hot mess full of nerves inside. I'm a pretty composed individual when I'm nervous or anxious. I tend to become very quiet, focused, pensive, and slightly introverted. It's the way I "deal" and "self-soothe" when I'm scared. And I was f#$%kin terrified because at 35 weeks, I wasn't "ready" to have this baby. I think Coco was just as surprised that we got sent to the hospital but he was certain it was going to be quick. He was trying to make me feel better by talking way too much, making jokes I found stupid and not funny, and being giggly. Clearly, this didn't ease my situation or fears AT ALL. I'm an easily annoyed person to begin with, so you can imagine in my moment of fear and panic, I'm sensitive to the touch. So I said to him, "All i want you to do is be quiet and sit there. Because right now, you are super annoying and I want to punch you in the face."

We were in the hospital for a little over five hours. After some monitoring and exams, we were told I was having early labor contractions and was advised to rest and drink lots of water. No early baby! We headed home. I gave Coco a C+ (I'm a hard grader!) for his performance.

Fast forward one month exactly- yesterday, February 23rd, 2012. I wake up with an excruciating pain on my lower side which I self-diagnose as appendicitis. I was doubled over in pain and in tears. Now, I'm not a big crier. My grandmother says its because I'm cold, but that's not true because I am a very emotional person. I don't need to release the floods to prove I'm in some sort of physical or emotional pain. I reserve my tears for important things like ASPCA commercials, YouTube videos of soldiers reuniting with their kids, and as a way to prove my innocence to Coco when he's mad at me. So the fact that I am crying like a baby because of the pain, was concerning . Coco pointed out to me that the pain could also be the baby that I've been carrying for almost 10 months! Hmm. He has a point. So he called the Wu and we got sent to the hospital where again, I was nervous, scared, and excited but in a lot of pain. Only this time, I definitely felt more ready and Coco gave me tremendous peace of mind by making me English muffins, some juice and my yogurt. (i would later give Coco an A for his spousal support!) He even hailed a cab so I wouldn't have to walk. Despite taking pictures and videos which I'm glad he did because they'll make for a great future photo montage (see above. That's me being "pensive" and "self-soothing" amidst my fear on the way to the hospital yesterday), he was my calming force and didn't do any of the failed "reassuring" tactics from the first dress rehearsal we had! My only one request, for him to turn off the text message notifier on his blackberry because it was driving me insane in the membrane.

So as I've just given away, we were sent home. Again. The pain ended up subsiding and the after some monitoring and a cervical test that showed i was still once centimeter dilated and 70 percent effaced (they did say this was a good sign because the body is doing what its supposed to do yet I was super frustrated) it was concluded that it was some more early labor pains as well as Maya sitting on nerves and muscles on the right side of my belly. So off we went with instructions to walk walk walk, which I did. (I took Ito to la peluqueria for a blowout and then a nice long walk in Central Park.) We really did think we were going to leave with a baby! Such a patient baby and such an impatient mother. Come out already little girl! Coco was so bummed. But hey, we got some great pictures. Another dress rehearsal under our belt. We are getting good at these practice runs! Oh, and then I get home, and I lose my mucus plug. What's a mucus plug? Basically like a cork in the cervix that doesn't let germs or bacteria in and out. Unfortunately, losing your mucus plug doesn't mean you go into labor right away. It could be hours, days, even weeks before you give birth. And it looks like a slimy phlegm/period discharge in an unappealing shade of reddish brown. EWWWWWWWWWWWW. And because Coco and I are amateur medical professionals, we took a picture of it and compared it to other pictures on the internet just to make sure! Yes, we're cray cray and a bit disgusting.

I decided to pamper myself today with a pre-natal massage (thanks fritters!) and a pedicure and light walking since it was raining. And as of 11:50pm on February 24, 2012, still no baby.

Maybe third time is a charm??!

Impatiently Pregnant,

Kata

Pull the Ripcord!- Baby Buccio Update- Week 39.

Hey Kids!

We're down to the wire with six more days to go!! It's such a crazy reaction and realization when I am continuously asked, "So when is the big day?!" and I say "This week" or "any day now!". Ever heard a stomach drop??? Because I hear mine pull a Tower of Terror drop that is terrifying, exciting, and full of adrenaline. I can't believe we have six days left. And in six days, Coco and I will be parents to a beautiful baby girl. Me, a mom?! Astounding! Yes, while there is the fear of sleepless nights, no instruction manual on how to take care of a newborn, and the hope and fear of providing all the love in the world to this little girl, there is also a feeling of immense joy, gratitude and happiness that has lifted us on a cloud of euphoria. These feelings were unfathomable to me before pregnancy. And to think, we are experiencing all these feelings without having seen her yet. We cannot even imagine the high when we lay eyes on her for the first time. We anxiously await that moment (after all the slimy residue gets cleaned first, of course!)

I have 2 doctor visits to fill you in on. Last Tuesday at week 38, I was still one centimeter dilated and 30% effaced and Maya's heartbeat was nice and strong. It appeared that our daughter was sitting pretty upside down and in position but had no desire to do any work at that moment! We get it. She's in no rush. She's taking her sweet time and already testing her mother's patience. I can't complain though. She seems to be an obedient kid. Follows directions properly, doing what she's supposed to do all in her own time. I dig this independence. And as many friends and family members have said, she'll make her debut when she doesn't have to share the spotlight with anyone or anything. Sigh. Just like her mother. She needs a day of celebration and over the top birthday parties just for her.

Today, Coco and I visited the Wu for week 39 check up! Well, I'm still one centimeter dilated BUT 70 percent effaced! Which means all these contractions I've been having, have been helping thin out my cervix wall. The Wu says that it will also help me dilate. But as of right now, she's all cozy in her egg. I did express to her that my vagina and I were both getting scared because this baby is nearing 8lbs and that was my c-section cut off. She agreed but said right now she's probably at 7.3-7.4 and she's doing great so we'll just have to wait. We made a tentative appt for Monday in case I don't go into labor by Sunday. If I'm still preggo on Monday, we will schedule an induction with the hospital to get Maya out! I weigh 142.2lbs. So still at 31lbs gain. Coco said its because this baby knows to take only some of my beauty but not all of it! Oh, the Wu also said no castor oil! I can try everything else but that. She says that not only will it give me diarrhea but also the baby which is called meconium. And if she inhales the poop, it could be extremely dangerous for baby! So not doing it.

So week 38-39 brings a whole new set of bodily changes and activities in preparation for labor. ( I will share mine because I'm generous like that). I am definitely sweating a whole lot more at bed time. From boob sweat to feet sweat. I have to regularly take off my pajama pants because I feel like they are suffocating me like a jealous boyfriend. This winter has been unseasonably warm so the 50 degree winds, or lack there of, barely help when I crack the windows open. Even the little egg temperature contraption we have in the room now for Maya's sake, tells me its a balmy 80 degree in our room (with a sad face emoticon. So judgemental). We have had to turn off the radiators to level off the temperature in the room. Besides all this sweating, I've also had a bit of that "bloody show" the doctors and the books tell you about. It's a sign that labor is around the corner. Mine has been light pinkish in color. Like vintage pink.There's been no sign of the mucus plug or my water breaking. My BH contractions have been occurring more repeatedly and are a bit more intense (hence the effacement). There's been some early labor contractions that feel like bad period and gas cramps rolled into one, a two for 1 special, but they haven't been so painful that I need to call the doctor. (even though in my head I think I'm going into labor.) So that's what I'm feeling right now. Basically I'm impatiently waiting. Or as Coco says, "It's time to pull the ripcord and get this baby out!". I've even gone as far as to adopt some of the old wives' tales of things you an do to speed up labor. Walking. Been there, done that, and continue to do it. Spicy foods. I'm scarfing down spicy mayo and ginger like I'm Japanese. And sex. Yes, even sex. Coco couldn't be happier. My last attempt will come this week at the suggestion of a friendly neighbor who says I should drink two tablespoons of Castor Oil. At first I thought, isn't that for the car?" But apparently Castor oil causes the uterus to contract (and also gives you diarrhea). You've all seen my swollen fat feet which the Wu says aren't that bad and I told her about the numbness in my hands and not being able to close them and the pain in my fingers and how I freaked because I thought i had arthritis or MS. She said its completely normal because your hands swell too and it's almost like carpel tunnel but it goes away after the baby is born. (Wipe brow! )

Another reason this baby needs to be born is because I have developed a sick craving for freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. I mean seriously?! This late in the game??! I am proud of my 31lb weight gain and these cookies are the devil. They just opened Insomnia Cookies 2 blocks from the house and my big belly and I make the trek (and I say trek because with less than 2 weeks to go, anything past a block is a 10K marathon) to get two sometimes three cookies. I even dragged the dogs in the rain to get my fix. These cookies are my crack. They are to die for! But no more! These cookies will not have a hold over me. Yesterday i completely ignored them. My vanity is way more important than milk chocolate heaven. (tear!) Other weird cravings I've been having: coke Slurpee, fish and chips with tartar sauce, eggs Benedict, and strawberry frosted donuts from DD. Must be strong. Well, I'll give in to the fish and chips.

So I leave you with that, ladies and gents! Hope you enjoyed the updates. Hopefully next week's update will be the last and I will be writing it either from the hospital with Maya by my side or from a five minute breather between feedings or naps! Just a quick heads up- Coco and I have a "We're in Labor!" draft email prepared to send out wide once we head to the hospital! So please keep an ear and eye out. Instead of BCC'ing, I will be CC'ing because it will be easier for us to keep resending to the same address book! So please try not to reply all so people's mailboxes don't get clogged with emails - reply ONLY to Coco and I.

Check out our luggage for the hospital! One bag for moi to keep me happy, entertained, and comfortable at the hospital. And one bag for Maya with all her outfits, hair bows, and blankets so she's looking fab and gorgy for all her visitors and photo ops.

Love you all and talk soon! ( I will no longer be signing off as "MILF." Taking a cue from French mothers who abhor the American expression. Because there is no excuse to let yourself go because you have kids. Oui oui!)

In style,

Kathy

Calabaza, Calabaza! - Baby Buccio Update- Week 38.

Hot off the press!

13 days to go until Maya makes her royal visit! And by the signs of these very frequent Braxton Hicks contractions I'm currently having, I hope it means she will be an early bird. This past week was the first week I felt ready to have this kid! I sat across Coco and said to him "babe, I'm done!". Even though I'm feeling good overall, I'm pretty much done feeling like I have an exaggerated beer belly. I am currently at 142lbs (seeing 142 on the scale was sort of like seeing a mystical creature like a unicorn or a my little pony. Weird) I have gained 31lbs. I'm uncomfortable, my cankles are ginormous (see pic above!), tired and IMPATIENT. Patience has never been my strongest virtue. I want to get started on taking care of this baby! lol. I got my game face on! I've been nesting- cleaning closets and drawers, throwing stuff away, and vacuuming. A lot. I have even upped my walking since I've been told it can bring on labor! This past Friday, I walked 30 blocks! Well, waddled. But let's be real. We just really want to meet this mini-me we made! So many scenarios are playing out in my head- seeing her for the first time, holding her, kissing her, touching her, taking pictures of her for future Facebook loser lonelies, stalking her like a psycho-loving mom, staring at her because she is so amazing, obsessing over her, and dressing her like my personal runway model. Duh. It feels so exhilarating to picture all these mental slide shows and I can only imagine that when it does happen, it will be 1000 times to infinity and beyond better!

When I went to the doctor last week, I was 1 centimeter dilated and 30% effaced ( which means the lining of the cervix wall is thinning out in preparation for labor). Now this bit of news doesn't mean the baby is coming out now. I wish it did because I'm ready to roll! She said it could be this week, or 1 week or my actual due date. It's up to Maya at this point. But it does mean that it is very unlikely she will come after the 26th. So fingers crossed she comes soon!!! Her heartbeat was strong and the Wu says she's about 6-6.5lbs and 20 inches long. She's the size of a pumpkin! (calabaza in spanish) And my belly has dropped a bit (when your belly drops, it allows you to breathe a lot easier because it means the baby has lowered itself into the pelvic area in preparation for birth) and baby's head is snug inside my pelvic bone. When she checked me, she felt the tip of the baby's head which was SO cool! At least it was to me! Tomorrow I have another doctor's appointment for another check up to see how much more I've dilated and effaced.

This past weekend we (and I mean Coco) set up the Angel Care monitor, we attached the porta crib firmly to the bed, continued with our stroller for dogs and dummy practice runs, and we have tried and failed to get the dogs to sleep on the floor. Go figure. But in all honesty, it's not like we've been forceful about it. And Coco insists he needs Lola in his arms in order to sleep. (Marriage Ref, where are you?!) In the next couple of days we are going to sterilize the baby bottles so we can start filling them with champagne, I mean, milk! And today we finally got Maya's beautiful bedding in the mail and we are washing it tonight (at least Coco is, reluctantly) and dressing the crib. With that said, the room will be 100% dunzo!

With just weeks until the BIG day, I'm feeling a little like the Jersey Shore, doing my own GTL. Only mine is more BMP- blowout, mani and pedi! Always camera-ready because pregnancy is never an excuse to let yourself go! (unless I'm under house arrest and then anything goes!).

Today I'm wrapping up my weekly update with a little twist. And it's dedicated to the special men in your lives! Some of you on this email are either having babies, have babies, trying to have babies, one day will have babies (or not) and this is a great "heads up" to pass along to your other half, if you haven't already. As you go through your pregnancy, you will get countless advice from friends, doctors, strangers, and books. People can't help it but some it will actually be helpful. And dads too will get their own manual when it comes to co-existing with a preggo wife. Guys, the rules change and most of them aren't in your favor (unless you rather be right and miserable) in the way you like them to be, BUT if you follow those rules carefully, you will be a far more sane and happy man! Case in point, my personal favorite of advice given to dads and dads-to-be, Do not argue with a pregnant woman. Make it your mantra. You will not win. You are going up against a godly figure who is in physical discomfort, tired, and did I mention the obscene amounts of estrogen that have taken over her body?! All arguments and reason go out the window, as I have explained to Coco plenty of times but he sometimes forgets.

Such was the case yesterday when he comically thought he was going to prove me wrong (he automatically failed). To remind him of such expected disappointment when these situations arise, I sent him this fellow dad's article below as a soft reminder. So I am going to share it with you ladies so you can save it for a rainy day. Just in case. YOU'RE WELCOME!

For the record because I'm a big fan of recognition and giving credit, Coco has been superb throughout this experience, which I'm sure if you asked him, he's probably wanted to kill me a couple of times or ten because even I know I'm a moody bitch, have a PHD in naganomics, and I'm VERY anal. But he loves me for these same special qualities. I wish for everyone to have a supportive and involved partner like him by their side when they're ready to have a baby! He's an angel and I'm truly blessed.

Hope you enjoyed this week's play by play! Bases are loaded and we are in the final home stretch! I'm going to miss sharing these updates with my fellow guys and dolls but I promise you, it won't be the last of them!

MILF in training,

Kathy

Don't Argue With Your Pregnant Wife

By Stephen Covington

So, early last week, my wife was dropping some hints that she was ticked at me for either something I had done, or something I was supposed to have done, but didn't. Just to set the record straight, my wife is the greatest woman in the world, and fortunately our arguments are few and far between. And I'll give her credit that usually when she gets mad there's at least a half way good reason. Having said that, my experience is that pregnant women in general are more apt to get ticked at the smaller things, than those that are eating for one, so to speak.

So anyways, she's upset about something. How did I know? Besides the looks and body language, I always know something's up when I hear an abundance of the words "fine", "ok", and "nothing". And the context doesn't really matter. "How's your mom doing?" "Fine." "How are you feeling today?" "Ok". "What's wrong?" "Nothing." Uh oh! "Is it ok if I play basketball tonight?" "Nothing would be finer." When those words start flying, I know I'm in for a "talk" sometime soon. And I love talking to my wife, but I am a man, and so this type of "talk" doesn't rate as my top 10 things to do.

Moving on to the point of all this. I had an idea as to why she was upset, and after three days of fines, oks, and nothings, I knew the "talk" was coming soon. (As a side note, things are always better after the "talks", but again, I'm a guy.) Before I leave for work she says, "I think we need to talk when you get home." Thanks honey. Now I have all day to think about it. So what do I do? I start to plan my defense. On this one I know I'm right. I've got argument A, B, and C. I've even got exhibits and even a little DNA evidence. There's no way she's going to win. As I get home from work I'm going through my opening statement one last time.

After we get the baby down to bed, it's time to battle it out. I've got my note cards out, and I'm ready to take her down. Then something happens as she begins to let me know why she's upset. I still know I'm "right", but I start to think about the consequences of my being right. What will I get out of it? Will I win the argument? Maybe. Will my wife get more upset? Probably. Can anything positive come out of me convincing my bride why she is wrong and I am right? I couldn't think of even one thing. So what did I do?

I sat there and listened. (Again, I'm a man, so actually listening instead of just pretending to listen is a step ahead in itself.) I still felt the urge to at least bring out exhibit B because it really was good, but I didn't. I told her I understood why what she was talking about had made her upset, that I was sorry for making her feel that way, and promised to try to do better to keep it from happening in the future. We hugged, kissed, and everything was good. And it was over in less than 10 minutes. And I meant every word I said to her.

A couple last thoughts. I still believe I was 100% "right" as far as the argument went. The things she said I had and hadn't done weren't completely true. But that doesn't matter. Perception is reality, and how she was feeling was true for her. To try to convince her otherwise would have been useless. And, the last time I'll say it, I'm a man, and I'm sure I probably did do something to tick her off. The pregnancy aside, you have to look at the outcome you want in deciding how to handle a fight with your spouse. There are times to battle, but when it comes to the feelings of your baby's mother, sometimes it's best not to be "right".

Don’t pick fights with her. She will be moody, sensitive, and possibly whiny. Try not to upset her even more. If she tries to pick a fight with you, just consider the source. Her hormones are all out of whack while she is pregnant, so cut her some slack. Remember that your relationship is extremely important. Stay away from arguments, no matter how tempting it might be to fight back.

RIPE AND JUICY! - Baby Buccio Update- Week 37.

Happy Monday Maya's Fan Club!

I hope you all had a lovely February weekend! How time has flown, and no one feels it more than me! We are three weeks away from D-day! Actually, 20 days but who's really counting?! It's so hard to believe that part one if this remarkable journey has almost come to an end! I feel like it was just yesterday I was sitting on my toilet staring at two purple sticks in disbelief. And here we are! It's been an amazing ride, baby! I've enjoyed every minute of this pregnancy and every little kick and jolt inside my body. I feel unbelievably blessed to have this little miracle growing inside me.

Maya is now the size of a watermelon and considered full-term! Which means that if she were born now, she'd be functioning with no problem because all her organs are at full capacity. She weighs a little over 6lbs and while she's in my belly waiting for her big debut, she's practicing things like sucking, breathing, blinking and doing pirouettes! We can't wait to meet this kid! The sensation of feeling her liveliness every time my stomach dances, only makes us more excited to see this little bean in the flesh!

As far as how I'm feeling with just days away, well I have to say pretty darn good overall. However, sleep is not fun right now because I am constantly flipping from side to side trying to get comfortable and that's when Maya moves the most! I'm trying to regulate my insomnia so instead of falling asleep at 3am, I'm trying to make myself go to sleep at 1:00am. My nose is a bloody mess. Literally. Swollen blood vessels are causing me to have blood clots and drips like a heavy weight boxer. Not hot. I'm definitely running out of breath but I learned the trick is to walk slow. I know, walking slow in Manhattan is an oxymoron but it really does help! I still haven't felt that "drop" that they tell you happens at the end of pregnancy- where your baby drops, thus creating more space in your upper body to breathe and making you feel like you are holding a bowling ball between your legs. I'm still waiting for it. Sometimes it's hard to pull myself off the couch or even the bath, but I'm not giving up my baths just yet. So yes, some minor inconveniences but I'm just happy I still have one chin, and not 3, I do not have stretch marks, I haven't had to buy shoes because my feet are super fat, and there is no sign of chipmunk cheeks or basketball face. My beauty is still intact. I make sure that i go get my blowouts twice a week so I'm ready just in case! Oh, and I gained 30lbs exactly. I'm hoping that placenta is 20lbs alone. Ha!

Now that we are at the home stretch, the doctor visits become more frequent. This Wednesday I have another exam. Basically these appointments now are to check the dilation and effacement of your cervix. The doctor will finger pop you to check if you're cervix is dilating. As of last week, it was only half a centimeter dilated which translates to no movement. In a couple of days we will check again. Baby's heartbeat was nice and strong and that is always reassuring!

This past week, Coco and I were in an intense "let's get things done" mode! On Friday, we met with Maya's new pediatrician, Dr. Flavio Gonzalez. He was super nice, beyond patient, and extremely resourceful and helpful. For me, having a Hispanic doctor was an added plus. it definitely makes me feel more connected and more at ease. It's a nice extension of home. Not to mention, that any doctor who answers all my 16 questions, everything from vaccines and call back etiquette to how early can Maya get on a plane and get her ears pierced, is a winner in my book. Coco and I both liked him very much. Oh did we mention his office is literally across from the street from Madonna's house? As in, right across the street. Fabulousity! Do you think she would babysit?? We also ordered the cord banking kit for Maya, finally packed our hospital bags, and we signed and finalized our wills and health proxies. Definitely not the most uplifting task but at least there is a sense of finality in having it done. But the most fun has been test driving the stroller with the three dogs attached! Oh boy. We are trying to do it once a day to get the dogs and also us, familiar with the task and so far it's been good. Not great. Not yet, at least but definitely not as horrible as I imagined it. The first day the dogs were a bit baffled and disoriented but got the hang of it by the end of the walk. The second day, they did great, I however, put my baby in a body cast since I slammed the stroller several times against the building's entrance door. Yikes. The stroller is not a bumper car. I repeat. The stroller is not a bumper car. Tomorrow I will take them out again because if you haven't heard, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! (see pic attached) And i also went a little bananas and bought miss Maya some more fabulous bows for her collection. I couldn't resist!

Maya's room is 98 percent done! We got the lovely hold backs for the windows and now are just waiting for the bedding which will get here next week- fingers crossed- since it is getting custom made. Cannot wait! It is just such a serene and girly room and I love to sit in the glider and listen to music or read to Maya (today we listened to Madonna and read her a Pride and Prejudice board book!)

And that's all she wrote, folks! Tonight Coco is taking me to dinner to celebrate my 31st birthday. Yes, 31 years ago today, I graced the world with my charm, intellect, blunt truths, and beauty! It was a glorious day. God's 8th day. It is my last birthday as a solo act! Soon, Maya will take over the spotlight and command her own birthday stage! And Coco and I will be there with front row seats!

Thank you for coming along on this roller coaster of fun!

MILF in training,

Kata

25 Things about ME. (Like if I needed another reason to talk about myself)

So in light of US Weekly's " 25 things about me," (they do them for celebrities and even though I am not a celebrity, (Well, sometimes I am. Like the time I rode on a convertible with my grandparents in the Florida Marlins parade when they won the first World Series in 1997.)

I thought it be fun to do my own list and share it with you! I love reading other people's list as well to see if we have anything in common and I can be like "O.M.G me too!" It's such a cool treat. So if the bug bites, make a list and send my way!

Anyhow, here it is! 25 things about me. Enjoy!

25 Things you might have known, or not known, about Katherine Liz Suarez Buccio.

1. I love vacuuming and I love vacuuming with carpet powder. It makes me feel accomplished, clean, and calm. Even though I don't like carpet, I do have a rug and I love to vacuum it so it looks like new all the time.

2. Wrapping gifts is one of my favorite things about Christmas. I love to sit down with my wrapping paper, tape, scissors and labels and wrap gifts on the floor. I even offer to wrap other people's gifts and don't get how it's not a shared joy. Everything from picking out the big jumbo rolls to picking out the perfect sticker labels is super fun. At least for me.

3. Sometimes I enjoy movie previews more than the actual movies. I do not like getting to the movies late because watching previews is part of my movie experience. I feel like I've been cheated when I don't catch the previews.

4. One childhood tendency I can't shake is watching Disney movies. I own most of the Disney movies and keep track of them when they come out of the vault. Or my BFF Javy lets me know when they are being re-released. I feel like a kid when I watch them. My favorite Disney movie of all time is Peter Pan. When I was a kid and couldn't sleep or I was scared, I would watch Peter Pan and it would comfort me. Sometimes, I still do that as an adult. Coco also knows tons of Disney songs because he grew up with three sisters and I love him more because of it!

5. I hate egg yolk. Mima traumatized me horribly. The only time I will eat yolk, is with eggs Benedict and that's because it's drenched in hollandaise sauce. Other than that, it makes me gag. When we were kids, mima would give my cousin and I raw egg yolk with salt to swallow because it was "good for us." We had no choice but to eat it, and to this day, I will not eat egg yolk.

6. I feel naked without my digital camera. I love taking pictures, being in pictures, and documenting every memory possible! Before digital cameras, I loved dropping off film at Eckerds and anticipating what the pictures were going to look like because at the time, there was no playback screen. It was such a rush! Mental snapshots are not enough for me. I have a digital camera in my purse at all times.

7. I only like the way I make buttermilk eggos. There's a science to my madness. I like them white and mildly crispy (I'm a food racist). And I only like buttermilk style and they cannot be generic. Coco made the mistake once of not only buying home style eggos but generic ones too and you would have thought I was being stabbed. I was crushed. Some things, like eggos and mac n' cheese, cannot be bought in the generic brand. I also don't eat leftovers. I hate leftovers. The only two things I'll have are Chinese fried rice or arroz con picadillo. Refrigerators with too many containers give me anxiety.

8. I loved school. I was the kid that slept in my uniform the day before school started because I couldn't wait for the first day. It was thrilling. (i love school uniforms too!) On top of that, buying school supplies was the highlight of back to school. I love office depot during back to school season. Shiny new notebooks, clear contact paper, sharpened pencils, the smell of plastic pencil cases, and colorful folders was enough to make me drool.

9. I don't wear sneakers. I think they are dikey. Is this a little politically incorrect? Probably but I don't care. Sneakers are for the gym or running. Same goes for sweatpants. Sweatpants are not an acceptable choice of attire. They are not for going out even if you put makeup on. Plus sweatpants and sneakers make you look like tourists. If I wear sneakers, I wear converse or pumas. Sweatpants for inside the house or for walking the dogs in the early am.

10. I love reading. I love the feel of a new book, going to the bookstore and picking up a new read, smelling the pages, and then wearing them out because I am so into my read! It's why I haven't been able to switch over to a Kindle or a NOOK because I love bookcases filled with books. Unfortunately, Coco was getting a bit overwhelmed with my overflowing bookcase so I had to donate quite a few. Reading is one of my favorite past times. I can read a book in a couple of hours. And on vacation, I'll read about 3-4 books. I once read 8 books on a 2 week cruise.

11. I hate liars and it's ugly cousin, the exaggerators. I have a zillion pet peeves but this is my main one. After whistling of course and Tweety Bird.

12. I have a horrible habit of peeling the skin of my lips. Ripping it off to be exact. It makes me look like a meth addict and it's horribly painful yet I can't stop because I get obsessively fixated.

13. ASPCA commercials make me cry. I actually can't watch them. I mute them or leave the room because they really affect me with the sad music or the shaking dog. I'm a sucker for animals.

14. I don't find bathroom humor humorous. I hate the word "dump" almost as much as I hate terrorists. It's so trashy and gross. Not that "caca" is any better but I would prefer that to "dump" any day. Poop is mildly acceptable.

15. I love to sing. I sing tragically but it still puts me in a good mood. Just like dancing does! I once recorded myself singing SWV's "Weak in the Knees" to prove I could sing at my friend Ainette's house. When I played it back, I realized that I sucked.

16. Rollerskating is one of my favorite things of all time. Like of all time. I hate that Manhattan doesn't have an indoor skating rink like Hot Wheels in Miami or Coco's favorite, Laces in Queens. I had about 4 birthday parties at Hot Wheels, went to many birthdays there, Monday night ladies night, and tons of field trips. Roller skating is awesome. So is freestyle music which is what they used to play! And couples dance because it was the only time I was allowed to hold hands with a boy before the age of 16 with my parents' approval. And you also got to make fun of the kids that didn't know how to roller skate and would hold on to the walls.

17. I take a bath every day. I don't shower, unless I am at someones house or a 3 star hotel. I don't trust those tubs. If the hotel is a 5 star hotel and they have an inviting tub, you better believe I'm in there! I've been taking bath since as long as I can remember. I also have to have like a big cup or pail (a palangana) to use for rinsing. I love to read in the bath too. I can take 5 minute baths or one hour baths. I'm multi-faceted that way.

18. I hate the telephone. I think this one is obvious. I don't like small talk or chit chat or pointless conversations and I'm not 16 anymore where I need to be on the phone for two hours talking about pointless things. Unless it is a true emergency (any by emergency i mean death, close to death, you are hurt, you have my kid, you have big news to share like engagement or pregnancy, you are calling to offer me money or a kick ass job, etc), I will not answer the phone. It is something that won't change. Will you think it's stupid? Yes, I'm sure. But I really don't care and I'm not changing it for you because I have my reasons and that's why email and smart phones were invented. If you call me, and I don't answer, chances are you are being ignored. And while I feel bad, I don't feel bad enough to care or answer. There are a only a select few that can get me on the phone- my grandmother because she doesn't text, Coco because he's my husband but sometimes I won't answer his calls or I tell him to text me, and my uncle Tony because he's one of the few relatives I like. There a 1-2 other honorable mentions but for security purposes, I will not reveal those names. Skype is slowly losing steam for me too.

19. I lost my school spelling bee to the word "rotten". I spelled it "rotton". Every time I think about it, I still get mad at myself.

20. I was tied to a chair in kindergarten and didn't tell my parents until I was in second grade and my mom went ape shit at the school. I was also locked in a closet at Jose Marti school with my best friend at the time, Paula. But back to the chair tying incident. The teacher's aide, a fat old lady by the name of Mrs. Abreu, asked me repeatedly to sit down after bathroom break/recess, and I refused telling her that all the other kids were standing up and why should I sit down. She didn't like that so she tied me to a chair. I think she was jealous of my skinny 6 year old body. Sometime later (can't remember exactly when) my mom and I ran into her in the school halls and she told me to say hello and being the obedient child that I was, ran right up to her, slapped her big culo and said "HI GORDA!" (Hi Fatty!). My mother was mortified and I was sinisterly satisfied. I have a lot more horrible stories from my younger years, like the time I accused my mother of poisoning the apple juice in my Care Bears thermos. Good times.

21. I have only slept with 2 people (including my husband) my entire life because I was afraid of STDs and getting pregnant. I also thought I had AIDS for a couple of months after watching a sex video in high school and being told that you could get AIDS through kissing. (there's Catholic brainwashing at it's finest!). I've also never done drugs with the exception of pot a total of 4 times to be cool and I never never did that again. I might as well work for D.A.R.E. But I do love me some Intervention on A&E. The harder the drugs the better as long as these people have no relation to me.

22. I love to do lists and scratching tasks off my list! I love organization and controlled chaos. I'm also never without my daily planner. I write everything I have to do or have done accordingly. It's old school, but writing it also helps me remember it. I'm not a procrastinator. I'm a planner (however, I also know that some things cannot be planned and life has a way of changing those plans!) But lists do make me feel productive and accomplished and I love that my husband loves them too! I don't sympathize or understand people who enjoy running around like headless chickens, are disorganized or chaotic by choice. It gives me major anxiety.

23. I love travelling. There is so much world to see and I love learning and experiencing other cultures. Everything from passport stamps, to airport security, makes me happy because it means I'm going on vacation! I always tell Coco that I can't live without travelling at least once a year. I don't get people who don't like travelling or have no desire to. It completely baffles me. And I can't wait to start travelling with Maya and seeing the world through her eyes.

24. I love alone time. That's not to say that I don't love hanging out with Coco (he's my favorite person to hang out with actually, not because he's my husband but because he's good company and fun) or my friends, especially when I go home. But I need and love to detach and spend time with myself because I like to make sure I'm always happy and I spend time with just me. Maybe it's because I was an only child or I'm pretty independent and my parents always encouraged me to "entretenerme". It's not selfish. I'm a firm believer in a happy and more fulfilled "you". I can entertain myself for hours and sometimes a couple of days alone. I like going to the movies alone, eating out by myself, going to a museum, or just quiet time watching movies or reading. When I go shopping, I hate going with other people. I like to shop alone. I also love going to the beach alone, especially when I tan ( Coco is still trying to master the art of laying still for at least three hours to tan. He's learned that he has to be self sufficient on beach vacations because I get into my rhythm and pay little attention to him.)

25. I'm a BIG beach person. I love the beach! The first time I saw NY beaches (Fire Island to be exact in 2001) I cried. I didn't understand how they weren't blue and why the water was so cold. Thank goodness I'm also a BIG city girl and I overlooked the east coast beaches because I would have been gone a long time ago! I actually enjoy them now (not as much as the beaches at home and I still can't go into the water because I'll have frost bite but I still love the scenery and being close to an ocean). I have pre-packed beach bags with lotions and towels, and I love finding the perfect spot ( i preferably like fancy beaches like the Hamptons, Shelter Island, or in front of really nice hotels in Miami because I like to be around pretty, classy people) up close to the water, lathering up, listening to music, and "swimming" in the ocean. Going to the beach was and still is one of my fondest memories of growing up in Miami and sometimes I miss it terribly.

26. (honorable mention). I regret not continuing my piano lessons! I took piano for three years because my mom took classes in Cuba and wanted me to learn as well. Plus she said it would set me apart from everyone else and when I went to parties in my fancy all girl high school, I could sit at the piano and command everyone's attention (yes, while the houses were fancy and big and ridiculously gorgeous, no one was playing Mozart on the Steinbach. Most parties I went to in high school consisted of booty music, red solo cups, and making out).

Well, the assignment was 25 and these were my main ones! I could probably go on until 100. I'm an open book and everyday I learn something new about myself (good and sometimes, not so good), believe it or not! I hope you enjoyed mine and now I want to read yours! So send my way please!

Here's to you. Here's to me.

Kathy.