July, 2011 Archive

Belly Photos

by Bryan Friedman in Videos

Something’s Ready In the State of Pregnant

by Alison Friedman in Mommy's Musings

We are down to the wire, people! I mean, like, there’s hardly even any wire left, that’s how down we are.

I haven’t really done many doctor-y type posts because I figure that’s usually boring stuff and no one really cares. I mean, getting into our neurotic heads is much more entertaining, right? Well, this is a combo of head neuroses and obstetrics.

I’m 39 weeks today. For those keeping score, it’s one week exactly from the due date and for the past two weeks, Dr. Fiiiine has mentioned at our weekly appointments that she does not think we’ll make it to our August 5th due date. That means Baby Friedman is coming “any day now.”

We are on pins and needles anticipating every hiccup she makes and stitch of pain I feel. People keep asking me if I’ve had contractions and I shrug to indiciate “I don’t think so,” to which everyone replies with, “OH YOU’LL KNOW.”

I’ve been experiencing a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions which are actually really annoying. I used to like them, but I’m definitely irritated by them now. They’re such a tease! It’s like, c’mon already, if you’re going to contract, at least contract with a purpose! They’re benign and painless, but the tightening is there… and for what reason? Makes no sense to me.

For two weeks in a row, I’ve been 2 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced. I know this doesn’t equate to anything as far as timing goes, but it definitely means that things are revving up. As far as when, who knows? It’s driving me nuts because I can’t plan or calendar my week. Lunch with a girlfriend? Uh, maybe??? Getting a pedicure? Perhaps??? If you know me well, you know this drives me bat shit crazy. I like to plan, plan, plan. But everything has to be up in the air because, as Dr. Fiiiine said, this baby is coming any day now.

When I left her office this week, she said “See you next week or sooner.” I mean, sooner? Really? I guess we’re really on the homestretch now that she uses words like “any day” and “sooner.”

So what’s going on in my head? Everyone seems to want this baby out, especially the men. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not dreading meeting my child, but I’m also in no rush. I know she has to come out (ouch!) and I know it’ll happen when she’s ready. In the meantime, I’ve sort of reached this weird and numbing shutdown. I’m almost kind of catatonic. Going through the motions of the day. Nodding my head; quiet with my words. When I self-analyze, I think this is my way of just breathing through my nerves because, yes, I’m nervous and a little fearful of the unknown, and I also don’t want to put too much mental pressure on the details of this baby’s arrival. I’m just trying to let it… be. It’s not that I’m in denial — there’s no denying Mount Rushmore protruding from my abdomen or the dull pains in my back — but I’m (for once!) just going with the flow. Like everyone else, the anticipation is killing me so I’ve chosen not to anticipate. At least not actively.

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I look at myself in the mirror and I don’t even recognize the reflection! My tummy is so huge! It blows my mind that skin can stretch that much (and leave me with no marks, thankyouverymuch!) 🙂 I look at my self and think, “Gosh, that looks like it hurts!” And it does. Sleeping is lousy, if sleep happens at all, and I’m a little cranky. I know, I know, it’s nothing compared to what’s about to take place! But I can’t wait until I can sleep on my tummy again! Left side-only sleeping is not at all comfortable and my poor body is angry with the extra weight crushing my neck, shoulders, hips and knees. Bryan constantly gives me back rubs, but unfortunately, the pain wins out after the back rub is over.

So, between the regular Braxton Hicks, the thinning-out, and the dilation, I think we’re definitely on our way to seeing a baby very, very soon. Anyone want to take bets on when this little girl is going to make her official debut?

  1. Marilyn Hollander
    8/1/2011 2:57 PM

    BELIEVE ME when I say I know how annoying the Braxton-Hicks are, but try to think of them as your uterus “training” for the big event. Like passive sit-ups almost. I don’t know if this will help, but the only baby I didn’t have them with was Danny, and he was also my only C-section. Maybe that’s what comes of having a lazy uterus beforehand. I don’t know, but it’s something to think about when you think there’s no reason for them. Hang in there, my friend!

  2. Char
    7/30/2011 6:14 AM

    Oh Alison, you are definitely ready! I feel your pain about the planning thing and that just gets worse when the baby actually does make her grand entrance because your whole life will revolve areound her schedule. So my prediction for her arrival is this Wednesday, August 3rd. Why you ask? Because it’s my birthday!! Haha….thinking about you girl and rooting you on!

  3. Mom/ Sharon/Mimi-to-be
    7/29/2011 2:20 PM

    ?”Live from the News Womb!” I love love love how you sub-titled this blog with this facebook status heading. That’s hilarious. LOLing very hard right now. Your journalism degree really paid off with this humorous comment. So clever on so many levels.
    I am just as much on pins and needles as you are. I am trying to be patient, but it’s all I can think about. However, my hair is colored, cut and back in a controllable style so that my granddaugher doesn’t get scared when she meets her Mimi. 😉 I’m ready little girl, why arent’ you!?

  4. Mindy
    7/29/2011 12:13 PM

    You are so beautiful in this picture (and always). I can’t wait to “meet” little Friedman, most likely via FB 😉

Cloudy With A Chance of Baby Showers

by Alison Friedman in Madelyn & Friends, Mommy's Musings, Pregnancy

It’s July now. Sunny, hot, and dry. But what was the weather like in June? It was full of showers. No, not wet, umbrella-bearing showers. Baby showers!

I was lucky enough to be surrounded by some pretty amazing women throughout the month of June who seem to like this soon-to-be Friedman Baby a lot! When it comes to good company, yummy food, and baby talk, I don’t say no.

The fabulous group of teachers and staff at Walnut Elementary School came together for a lunchtime shower filled with good conversation and yummy cake. They are such a great bunch and I was so lucky to not only student teach in kindergarten at this school, but work with the 1st graders in reading and math and teach art school-wide. I will miss working with everyone and learning under their expertise. I’m a lucky almost-mom, yes, but I’m also a lucky teacher!





My super fun and sweet sister-in-law, Alison, and our creative and thoughtful cousin, Chrissy, planned a perfect afternoon at my mother-in-law Ellen’s house. It was a beautiful day! The house looked great, the games were really fun (really!!), and the company was filled with some of our Friedman Family Favorites! I was so touched by everyone’s kindness and can’t wait for Baby Friedman to meet all of Ellen’s friends and family. She’s lucky to have such a great inner-circle of ladies who have known me only a small amount of time, but have embraced me as part of the gang! I thought it was so special that our daughter’s only Auntie helped put together such a lovely day. I know that this kid will be surrounded by love, but Auntie Alison is definitely going to top everyone else in the love department. It’ll be nice for our baby to have such a fun and, well, entertaining family member and they can claim each other as their own!









Speaking of the aunt and niece relationship, my Aunt Laura and my mom’s childhood friend Angela co-hosted a quilt-themed baby shower at El Caballero Country Club and it was threaded together beautifully! My sorority sisters and best friends from college came to be with me and it was so fun to see and reconnect with girlfriends from other parts of my life, like camp, high school, and the wedding planning days. Celebrating with family friends and ladies related to my mom’s side of the tree was also special, since they’ve been with me throughout all my milestones. Angela and Aunt Laura organized a quilt-making center, where everyone contributed a piece of fabric that will be made into a quilt as a memento from this amazing time in my life. I can’t wait to see the finished piece! Crumbs cupcakes in a zillion different flavors were arranged into a quilt pattern and no one left craving any sweets! The day was so enjoyable and I appreciate the memory more than words can express.

My talented cousin Sara of Sara Marie Photography, created this slideshow from the photos she shot!





Part of the fun of this pregnancy has been sharing it with my cousin, Jaimie. Our due dates are 3 weeks apart and I’ve enjoyed comparing notes! We’ve always had a great relationship but we’ve always been so different. She’s tall. I’m short. She’s blonde. I’m brunette. She does sciencey things. I … don’t. But we are now going through something together that’s the same and I can’t wait until her son and my daughter can play and grow up together! So it was even cooler when our Aunt Debbie, the SoCal Martha Stewart, planned a luncheon for our side of the family at the Cheesecake Factory in Marina del Rey. We sat outside on a gorgeous sunny afternoon, played games, chatted, scratched Lottery tickets, opened presents, munched, and shared stories about pregnancies, babies, and growing up. It was absolutely perfect. Jaimie and I were lucky to share this day together and we had the best time!







I’ve also been sharing the pregnancy ride with one of my favorite gals from our theater family! Becky and I are also due weeks apart, and she’s expecting a little girl, too! Becky is someone I’ve always admired, not only as a choreographer, but as a person. She’s so kind and smart and thoughtful and she and her husband, George, are going to be amazing parents. Bryan and I are excited to have this parenting adventure with them! Welles Miller, one of the coolest and sweetest theater moms ever threw us a Hot Mama Shower! This was a wild party complete with spiked tea (not for Becky and me) and a roundtable reading of “Go the F*ck to Sleep” which is too entertaining when performed by 50 of your theater friends. Welles didn’t miss a beat: fun games, onesie and bib decorating, food from our favorite restaurant, Viva La Pasta, and a marathon of gifts that were so organized! The Baby Daddies joined the party after a day of golf, and we all had a blast!








So when I say I’m surrounded by so many fantastic people in my life, I’m not kidding. From Bryan’s side of the family to my mom’s side to my dad’s side to our theater friends and my teacher friends, this kid is going to be showered with even more love after she gets here. There’s no umbrella large enough, and I’m definitely okay with that. And trust me, the showers of love made me feel a steady and stormy downpour of appreciation and gratitude.

Thank you!

  1. Auntie Alison
    7/30/2011 9:38 AM

    Thanks for the shout-out!! The pictures look awesome! I CAN’T WAIT FOR BABY!

Baby View Ultrasound – 6/29/2011

by Bryan Friedman in Videos

Belly Photos – 3rd Trimester

by Bryan Friedman in Photos

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