My TOPS lists...

I thought I'd make a few lists of my TOP things about pregnancy. I'm sure that there are more things that could go on these lists, but here's a start...

Top things I enjoy about being pregnant:

1. MY BELLY - I love my belly. I hold on to it, rub lotion on it every morning, and even like to stare lovingly at it. Baby girl is in there! Even though it's big and gets in the way, I don't know how I'm going to react to it not being there when this is over :) I think I'll be very sad.
2. Chocolate milkshake cravings
3. My fingernails have grown! (A huge deal since I've been a nail biter ever since I've had teeth.)
4. Having a really good excuse to eat weird food combinations (e.g. PB&J sandwich with a side of sweet pickles; Blueberry Eggo waffles followed by Egg Drop Soup; chicken noodle soup and a chocolate chip bagel at Panera)
5. Having nice people hold doors open for me, or offer me their chairs in a packed conference room. While it's still not the southern hospitality I remember from TX, it's close :)


Things I don't enjoy about being pregnant (in no particular order):

1. Being out of breath going up one flight of steps.
2. Heartburn
3. Being so uncomfortable while sleeping.
4. Having to politely smile and nod when strangers give me their opinion on my pregnancy.
5. Mood swings (I'm sure Matt will love when those are gone too!)

Things I look forward to when I'm not pregnant anymore:

1. Sleeping on my back!!!!
2. Italian cold cut subs - I want one as my first meal post-delivery.
3. White wine, margaritas, a Corona with lime, Guinness on draft...
4. Vanilla lattes (non-decaf)
5. Maternity leave

No, no, no, no, no!!!

No! I’m thinking that if I say it enough, it will mean it’s not happening. I had the second person in a few days tell me that I’m waddling. It can’t be – I won’t let it. It’s too early for me to be waddling! Maybe it’s just because I’m exhausted and just not thinking of my gait, so I’m defaulting into a waddle. I’ll have to be more conscious and think positive thoughts of good posture ;)

Wow – this is going to be an update-o-rama! So much has gone on in the past couple of weeks, and Matt and I have just been really busy with life in general. Can’t say that it’s one specific thing, but just life. This weekend, Matt was gone for a couple days on a golf trip to Ocean City with the guys. He had a great time, and I had a good time home alone too :) I think the nesting bug hit me, and I cleaned the house all day Saturday. It really needed it. But in a few days, we'll have it cluttered again, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts :) I also had a wonderful evening on Thursday - the girls from my bible study group threw me a really nice baby shower! I'm the 5th one of us to have a baby this year (out of 7 ladies total), but I'm the only one having her first - we've had quite a baby boom! So that was a nice time. And then Friday night, I met up with some friends for what I thought was our monthly girls night out. However, when I walked into my friend Melissa's family room, everyone was there yelling 'SURPRISE!'. They got together and threw me a surprise shower - and it was definitely a surprise! I think I screamed, and almost peed my pants :) So, Friday was another really nice evening with friends. Lots of chit-chat, drinks for them, Sprite for me, and I was probably out until 12:30am. But I had a wonderful time! Thank you everyone for loving and caring so much for me, for Matt, and our tadpole!!! You're the best!

This weekend, we're at 34 weeks! Oh my goodness - only 6 more weeks to go. Some parts of me are feeling ready, and other parts really want to keep the baby in for another few months. The nursery is coming along - but I'm less than happy with the paint we bought. We bought the eggshell finish since it is supposedly durable enough to clean. But the fingerprints that I stupidly got on the wall are not coming off - a damp rag with plain water made a big 'ol smudge, and then the magic eraser made it worse. I guess we'll have to put a 3rd coat on. Poor hubby. As for baby updates, the tadpole is still moving and shaking (and sometimes having little spazz moments). I think that is one of the things I’ll miss once she’s born – watching my tummy wig out when she’s moving in there. I think that I’ve also felt her hiccupping! It’s a little faster than I thought it would be, but quite rhythmic, so I guess that’s what it is. Or she’s taking after her mom and figuring out a way to play the drums ;)

Our childbirth classes started last Monday. So far so good. At least they’ve led to some interesting discussions between Matt and I. All those new anatomical terms, and learning what will likely happen on delivery day… I think it’s becoming a whole lot more real to him. In more ways than one, I think it’s a little sad that dads can’t get the ‘whole’ experience of carrying and giving birth to a baby – not just the pain and discomfort nad hormone raging, but the emotional aspect, the bonding, and learning just exactly what is happening to your body. Your stomach is pushed up and cramped closer to your lungs, your bladder is pushed down and is frequently being ‘stepped on’ by the baby (hence the every 30 min potty breaks), and just the whole issue of how my body is going to be able to do exactly what it’s supposed to do and deliver a baby. It’s surreal. But, the birthing classes are interesting. We have two more to go. I also have to schedule a tour of the hospital too. That should be interesting too :)

Oh, and I can’t remember if I talked about it or not, but we had a nice long weekend in Ocean City over Labor Day weekend. It was such a nice time – we got to relax on the beach, enjoy a few days away, and went out for a date night one night – Smitty McGee’s for dinner, and then putt-putt golf. Our putt-putt games are high stakes – loser buys ice cream for the winner. So the first game, I won by one stroke – SWEET! I was already tasting my Dairy Queen blizzard when Matt says he wants a re-match. Alright then – we go to a different course to make it fair. This time I pantsed him! I had 2 or 3 hole-in-ones, and won by 8 strokes! He was a little bitter, but to be honest, the clubs at the second place were not great and were shaped funny. But I still beat him, and got my peanut butter cup blizzard as my reward :). You may think we’re crazy – but putt-putt is serious business for us! We know almost every course in Ocean City, which ones are good/bad, or easy/challenging, or have rotten clubs or bad turf. I should blog about that – Ocean City putt-putt. Maybe we’ll get a few free games :)

Hmmm…what else? Not much – just day to day. Both of us have a lot going on at work, though my workload has been slowing a bit since my long term projects are being delegated to others in anticipation of me being out for 3 months. Hopefully Matt’s big contract job will be finished soon and his life will be a little less stressed (and his cell phone will stop ringing at 6:30am with work issues). Other than that – we’re just status quo.

No belly picture right now… maybe once Matt gets home from the Ravens game, we can take our 34 week picture. But, needless to say, I’m still growing, and still gaining, but we’re right on track. My doc has been really happy with how ‘boring’ of a patient I am – nothing to worry about!

Until next time – be well :)

Miss you Aunt Kay…

This past week (9-16-09), Matt’s Aunt Kay (his mom’s sister) passed away after a 31+ year battle with multiple sclerosis. She was a wonderful woman, and I always enjoyed sitting and talking with her when I got the chance at family occasions. She was soft spoken, but always had a lot to say, and some good stories too. We will all miss her very much – her courage, her love for family, and just her presence.

So last week was bittersweet – sadly, you lose someone special, but happily, you also get to see so many other relatives who come from miles away for the viewings and funeral. So, despite the circumstances, we got to spend some good time with Matt’s relatives from southern VA and Ohio, catching up on each others lives, perusing through old photo albums, and also laughing at memories. It was a full 4 days. It really makes you think though – these family times should be enjoyed on a more regular basis and during normal life times, not just on the occasion of a funeral. Strange how funerals do that…

Turtles???

This was just too funny for me not to say anything about right away. I know that I've been pretty lax with posting updates, but I will send a more informative update soon :)

To begin - pregnancy has certainly had an effect on my dreams lately. Not really nightmares, but very vivid dreams. The other night, I dreamt that I was going to give birth to turtles!! At first (in the dream), it wasn't such a big deal since the turtle eggs were in the ground and ready to hatch. All I had to do was sit on them to keep them warm. But then, things changed, and in addition to being pregnant with a baby, the turtle eggs somehow got into my belly, and were going to hatch before the baby was born. I couldn't understand how they would get out, but then someone told me that they would hatch and chew through my belly to escape. Great - fair enough. And for some reason, I had no problem with that :) I was just patiently waiting to give birth to my turtles, and also making plans to be near the water so that when they hatched, they could crawl away and live in the ocean. Too bad that I woke up before anything happened and they actually hatched. But I just remember being so excited (and confused) during the whole dream that I was going to have a baby AND give birth to turtles!

Hmmmm... I wonder what other hormone- or heartburn-induced dreams that I'll have in the next 8 weeks :)

Re-livin' the 80's...

Matt and I had such a fun night last Saturday - we went with some friends to see "The Legwarmers" in concert down in Baltimore. The Legwarmers are an 80's tribute band, and for all of you who know me, I'm a HUGE fan of 80's music, and am secretly waiting for the day when rolled up/pegged pants and penny loafers come back in style :) Everyone who goes to these concerts is decked out in full 80's attire - jean skirts, leggings, off the shoulder tops, blue eye shadow, high hair, teased bangs, fingerless lace gloves. Just imagine any Madonna video and you've got the picture. Even the guys are wearing their heavy metal t-shirts, 'Members Only' jackets, or pencil-thin white ties (think Miami Vice). Even the band is decked out! Well, I found out at the last minute that I would be able to go (I was literally in the car driving Matt to meet our friends since he was going, when I got a call that my original plans were cancelled). So, a quick phone call later, a last minute online ticket, and BAM - I'm going to the concert! I was just sad that I didn't have the chance to deck myself out in 80's attire :( I guess there's always next time. And believe me, I would have been rockin' the high hair and bangs!

So, we met our friends, went to dinner at the Babalu Grill in downtown B'more, then off to the concert at Rams Head Live. It was AWESOME!! The set list was great, and we were all screaming, dancing and singing along like we were in high school again. Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, the Go-Go's, Huey Lewis, Bryan Adams, AC/DC, Poison, Journey, Madonna - all the good ones. And they played for 2 1/2 hrs! It was so much fun! I can't wait until we can go again :)

I guess this would qualify too as the tadpole's first concert - at least the first one that she could likely hear :) She was just a kidney bean when I went to see New Kids on the Block in March. Don't make fun - it was actually a good concert! Anyway, the baby's ears are fully developed, and she can hear noises outside my belly now, so she also rocked out to the Legwarmers on Saturday. I could even feel her moving around too - I guess it was a mini dance party in there :) But I can definitely say that since none of her movements were on the beat, she is definitely a 'white girl', cuz everyone knows that white girls can't dance. Her mommy is living proof of that!

Now the running joke with Matt and I is that after the fun of her first 80's concert, the tadpole will not be a baby that is soothed by calm lullabies as she's going to sleep at night. She'll be better at falling asleep to Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me", Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer" or Madonna's "Material Girl". Ahhh.... that's my girl :)

A wonderful shower!

THANK YOU to my mom and my sister for throwing me a wonderful baby shower last Saturday afternoon! I had a great time, and I really felt so special to have so many ladies, both friends and family, there to help welcome our tadpole with gifts and good wishes. It makes me so happy when there are so many people just as excited as we are for our little girl to arrive!

My sister Kristin, brother-in-law Eric and niece Kaelyn were able to drive up from Georgia to be here, and it was so good to see them. It's tough that they live so far away - I really wish that we could see them more. On Saturday morning, I drove up early to spend some time with my mom, Kristin and Kaelyn (my dad, Eric, Matt and Matt's dad spent a guys-day-out together playing golf and hanging out with each other, minus the girls). Kaelyn is growing up so fast (she's almost 8 months old now!), and she was very excited to see her Aunt Kim! I think it was more that I was a new face that she could show off in front of, than her really recognizing me, but I'll take whatever I can get :) I was hoping to be able to take her for a walk, but nap time was a definite priority! We did manage to play and have fun though. My shower was in the afternoon, and there were likely 15-20 people who came to celebrate with us! It was wonderful! And the tadpole received some wonderful gifts - lots of cute new clothes, a swing, a pack and play, toys, play things. She's a lucky kid! Everyone was so very generous - thank you to you all! Matt and I really appreciate it!

I have to say though, that I played the most interesting shower game to date on Saturday. We played 'guess the baby food flavor'. Oh my goodness, was it a riot! It was the first time many of us had ever tasted baby food - and now we all understand why babies spit up baby food instead of eating it. A couple of the flavors were quite nasty, and completely undescribable. I think we collectively agreed that the 'chicken noodle' and the 'vegetable stew' were the most horrendous. But it certainly got alot of laughs! I just enjoyed looking around at all of the taste-testers, and seeing everyone's face when they tried each flavor :) We really needed video for that!

So, thank you to all of you who joined us on Saturday, and for braving the crazy weather! And to those who couldn't make it - we missed you!

1. All the ladies at the shower

2. A sampling of our tadpole's gifts!

3. The yummy cake!

4. My cousin Laura and her new baby Emma, me, my sister Kristin and my niece Kaelyn. (why didn't someone tell me that this was the least attractive position for me to sit in!)

5. My niece Kaelyn and her daddy

Bring on the Tastykakes!

Great news on Friday - I found out that I do not have gestational diabetes! Phew! So very happy - I was really worried about how I would handle things if I did. I know pregnant moms go through it all the time, but I'm just relieved that it's one less thing for me to worry about. The nurse said that my glucose test levels were low, and that there was no need for further testing. So I celebrated when I got home by eating two chocolate Tastykake cupcakes :)

Friday was also my Rhogam shot (since my blood type is A-), hence my trip to the doctor's office. I totally didn't know what to expect. So there I am, sitting in a chair in the nurses area, watching her prepare the shot, and expecting a shot in my upper arm or something. So the nurse looks at me strangely, and I look back like 'okay, I'm ready'. And then she realizes I have no idea. She calmly says, "Oh, honey - this shot is going to be in the butt. You'll have to stand up." What an idiot I am - but how would I have known!?!? I think that's the first time I've ever had a butt shot - and thankfully it wasn't bad at all.

So I was able to pop in to the doctor's office quickly on Friday morning since I was only seeing the nurse. My doctor's practice only schedules Friday morning appointments, and this is the day of the week typically reserved for appointments for newly pregnant couples. I got all excited and a little nostalgic when I walked into the waiting room and saw a couple there waiting for their appointment. They were so cute, and I remember when Matt and I were sitting in the same spot about 20 weeks ago - so nervous, and not knowing what to expect. It seems forever and a day ago. I so wanted to talk to them, and wish them luck, but I chickened out. What if they were there for another reason? Then I would have left the office with a shot in my butt, and a foot in my mouth. Oh well, I guess it wouldn't have been the first time...