T-46 Days #Lentil

T- 6 weeks, 4 days!

Time sure does fly.

​So it's been now about 1.5 weeks since I've been back in Seattle, after being away for about 5+ months living in San Francisco working out the the 500 Startups accelerator for GiftStarter.  As a company, we're just not the hardcore city people - so San Francisco was great in so many ways, but just not who we are.  We embraced the concrete and tall buildings for several months.  We loved the weekly field trips to Palo Alto or Mountain View, just for a chance to breathe non-city air and see some green.  Nonstop hustle pushed us along in the startup grind, some from the manic energy of the city, the push of energy of the startup community, and having to juggle working on a startup company and balance it with the accelerator commitments.  From the time we wake up to the time we sleep, it was nonstop GiftStarter.  To/from the office in SoMa. The Uber drivers that refused to take me on my trip made me so mad.  SanFran has a major homeless challenge on its hands.  The traffic is crazy, especially when there's a conference in town (which happens often). ...  Then, there was Jin Mi, a gem of a Korean restaurant we went to at least 1-2 times a week (it's that good.)

Surreal.

We all left San Francisco a couple weeks ago and landed back in lives outside the hustle and bustle of the city.  For me, it was like landing in a warm blanket of love --- Seattle, the green trees, the moisture in the air, the lake by our house, home cooking (!!!!!!!!), sleeping in my own bed, seeing my dog (!!!), seeing my husband, ...   Having access to our printer, a desk to make handmade cards.  Caught up on finances and accounting.  Access to my own food that I prefer any time of the day.  The team went heads down into product, growth, the business of taking care of our company.  We experience a little bit of anxiety as we landed from being separated after being in the heightened sense of constant angst while in SF.  Now it's getting used to being in a state of calm focus.  Yes.  Calm + focus.  

Lentil continues to grow.

A big baby ball of love.  Thank goodness for family and friends.  Until last week, the only thing we had ready for Lentil was a pair of cute baby Converse shoes.  Now, a BFF from LA is helping with the Baby Shower.  There's a baby registry (GiftStarter!).  We got tons of hand-me-down baby clothes.  He's got a car seat and baby monitor already.  Friends are reaching out with all kinds of advice.  As a soon-to-be first time mom, there's SO MANY resources out there... AND at the same time, there's NO CENTRAL resource out there.  I'm reading the Baby Center, What to Expect, the Bump, ... Google.  I just learned about the CricketCircle.  I have my friends that had babies a year ago....  questions about what laundry detergent, should I get a breast pump now or later, doula or not, what doula, hospital bag, to have a crib or not, ... there are so many decisions to make....  

And Baby Lentil is doing great.  Head is down already.  He's got a steady heartbeat.  He likes to kick over on my right side underneath my ribs - so sitting gets to be awkward.  Our favorite positions are for me to be leaning back surrounded by pillows with laptop on my lap, or on my side.  No other worries - we eat everything and are eating really well.  

--Arry