Seeing IS believing

The last few weeks have been non-stop. Two weeks ago, Chad and I finished our month run of “Wizard of Oz” – Chad was an exceptional Cowardly Lion and my performance as an Ozian and Putter wrangler was not half bad either. I was just happy to have the opportunity to spend so much time with Chad. For that reason alone, the show was worth doing – not to mention I got to spend a lovely amount of time with my nephew, Putter. He kicked ass as ToTo.

We also got to hang out with The Balls last weekend to include Rich and Holly, two of my favorite people. They are so down to earth and an absolute pleasure to be with and it is always great to see them. Mama Ball gave me a great T-shirt “fabulous and pregnant,” I am looking forward to proudly wearing that throughout the second half of my pregnancy.

Chad and I camped with a group of our friends this past weekend and we had a really good time. S'mores, campfires and watching your friends binge drink can make for a great time even if you wish you could have a beer with them ;-)

The 3d shots were neat
This was gives you a nice profile shot

So the baby... we are halfway there (barring any late or early arrival)! The absolute highlight of the last few weeks was the 20 week sonogram we had two Saturdays ago. For the first time, MEM looked like a real person… 10 toes, 10 fingers, spinal cord, bladder, kidneys… a delightful heartbeat. For the first time, I felt so connected to this pregnancy and the baby RAPIDLY growing in my belly. It was in that moment that I stopped caring I did not have the perfect round baby bump or about my financial fears or all of the imminent life changes Chad and I are facing because in that moment I started to love this being, this human Chad and I have created. Maybe I should have fallen in love the moment we conceived, when the blood testing confirmed my pregnancy or the day the baby is actually born but I don’t care about “supposed to” – everyone is different and this was our moment.

Hey boo!
MEM decided to keep her/his body in a
V formation throughout the sono.
Hello gymnast! 

This past Friday I had my follow up visit with Dr. Cooke and while she had not seen my sonogram photos yet (Umm, wtf?) but she did not seem concerned. The heartbeat sounded strong and she seems pleased with my progress. Next appointment – Sept. 14. At that point, my uterus should be above belly button level and she will begin using a tape measure to measure my stomach.  

Organized thoughts:

How far along are you? 21 weeks

Total weight gain: Six pounds, much less than I thought going into my doctor’s appointment. I still have a lot of trouble with the scale but I was a big girl and hopped on! From here on out, I should be gaining about a pound a week – crazytown!

How big is the baby? : Coming up on a pound! “Fatty fatty two x four, can’t fit through my vaginal door” Kidding of course… this baby has lots of weight to go.

Maternity clothes: My pants are a no go right now… with some pairs I can get away with the bella band but I am beginning to sport maternity pants a few days a week. I don’t have the baby bump yet but hot damn has my body changed. The weight I have gained seems to have moved to my belly and abdomen.  

Stretch marks?: No – When I was younger, I had the pleasure of getting stretch marks during a period of rapid weight gain but after losing the weight, they faded  but my stomach was never the same. My skin is a bit stretched and I may have enough to help the baby grow and avoid stretch markes (wishful thinking?).

Sleep: I have my good days and bad days. Because I should be avoiding positions on my stomach and back, I am more conscious of position throughout the night. I know it is not the end of the world if I wake up positioned on my front or back but I seem to be keeping it in the back of mind while I am sleeping… waking me up if I not sleeping “right.” Also, if I have anything to drink before bed, I will have to pee by 4:30 AM.

Best moment this week: Little kicks and I am still glowing from the 20 week sono a few weeks ago.

Movement: A handful of times a day – I can’t wait until Chad can feel it too.

Food cravings: Last night, out of nowhere, I had the hankering for pasta… I hate Olive Garden but after seeing a commercial for their endless pasta bowl I called Chad to ask him to stop and grab spicey sausage for my menu change (screw pork chops!). I feel like I could eat last night’s meal for every meal, right now. Other than that… unsweetened iced tea with a few equal has been hitting the spot.

Food aversions: F U Pico de Gallo

Labor signs: Not that I would know what those “signs” feel like… but nope. I did have a scary moment yesterday – at lunch, out of nowhere, I started shaking and things got really foggy. I think my blood sugar dropped. What an awful feeling… my doctor is out this week but the medical assistant told me to head to hospital if it happened again, words no pregnant woman wants to hear.

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss: Wine and beer. Ugh… sushi…

What I'm looking forward to: Starting the nursery Labor Day weekend!

I’m hungry. Fin.

Bang, poom, POW!

At 19 weeks and three days, I think I finally felt the "bubbles" I kept reading about.

Picture it...

Chad is blasting the television.

Me: "Are we seriously watching Jurassic Park 4 before bed?"

Chad: "It is JP 2 and it is Jeff Goldbloom, of course we are!"

Ugh.

Any who, I was taking advantage of the five to ten minutes of back rest I give myself each evening before retreating to my left or right side to sleep when I felt a pop, or something that felt like that. I quickly put my hand to my stomach but nothing. Of course the moment I moved my had I felt it again and again. I don't think Chad and I will feel anything externally for a bit longer, but what a neat feeling! Chad did put his hand on my tummy and swears he felt something but who knows.

I am imagining my baby as the 1960's Adam West, to include the little "Boom" "Pow" "Bam" bubbles appearing next his/her teeny tiny hands.

I have been feeling pretty good the last few days - just the normal nausea that comes anytime I let my stomach get to the point of hunger pains. Have another snack? Don't mind if I do.

This weekend, Chad and I are heading to our 20 week sonogram. I am really looking forward to seeing what this baby looks like now that is does not resemble a bean or gummi bear. What I am not looking forward to, is the 32 ounces of water I have to finished one hour prior to my appointment. Full bladders and a dancing mother-to-be are apparently requirements to have a successful sonogram.

A little pregnancy post to pass the time.

Our first official pregnancy photo... around week 12.

I had some fun with this survey but mostly it made me cry. Another joyous part of pregnancy, you can't control your emotions. Example:

Random friend: "Hi Liz, how are you... wait, what's wrong, why are you crying? Is it something I said?"

I remember the days of MySpace when I did one of these surveys everyday (not pregnancy relate obviously).

1. What name did you and your spouse call your baby before you knew the gender?
We are not going to find out the gender so the nickname will be around for a few more months. We have been calling the baby anything from “Shme” to “lil’ Mildenstein” – I think that we are settled on “MEM” pronounced simply “M” – our baby’s future initials.

There was a contest amongst our friends that whoever won would get to pick the baby’s nickname… now for the life of me, I can’t remember!

2. When did "Oh-my-gosh-we're-having-a-baby" really sink it?
Not for a while. In fact, at almost 20 weeks, I am still coming to grips with the fact that I have a small human growing inside of me. Maybe that is because I am not sure if those flutters are M or gas… But it was pretty surreal to hear the heartbeat for the first time.

3. When you think of yourself as a mom, what's the first thing to come to mind?

Being cool, calm and collected – at least that is what I am hoping for. I have a goal to avoid passing on my anxieties to my children so I really need to stay in check.

4. Is your nursery complete? What's the theme and what do you have left to complete?

Not at all – we have not really started with the exception of moving the TV and game system out of the existing office.

However, we do have the theme picked out – Donald Duck, who happens to be my favorite childhood (and adulthood) cartoon character. I have loads of memorabilia saved up from the last 26 years and I am excited to pass it to the baby. Melissa and Zack have also gotten us a few items for the room including a framed classic Donald Duck (with Huey, Duey and Luey) comic that we are going to hang.

5. List 5 qualities you hope your baby will possess:

·        A great imagination
·        Energetic
·        Loving
·        Patient
·        HAPPY!

6. What's your ideal labor experience?

I would really like labor to remain energetic… I don’t want to lie in a bed waiting for something to happen. I am hoping to be up and using some natural pain relief methods… Since midwifes are not much of an option in my area, well not at all, I am hoping to find a labor coach to help me throughout the day. Any volunteers?

7. List 5 things that have changed in your relationship with your spouse since you've been pregnant:

I love seeing Chad’s excitement over the baby – he kisses (my non-existent) the belly and talks to it. We read our weekly progress together and he is really excited to get the nursery up and running. One of the reasons I fell in love with and married Chad was because I knew what an amazing father he would be… and I can see those changes already.

8. List 5 things you think will change once your baby arrives:

·        Sleep patterns
·        Priorities
·        Our time spent at home
·        Work/life balance (less work, more family)
·        EVERYTHING J

9. Where do you think you'll be when you go into labor? Why?

I am thinking I will be at home or work. I plan on working until the last minute and so I can have as much time as possible on maternity leave.

10. Have you been talking to your baby? Playing music?

We have had a few chats but I have not played any music for M yet since I am afraid to hold my iPhone up to my belly… I don’t weird cell phone radiation killer waves to go to the baby. Ok, I know… that is the dumbest thing in the world, shut up.

However, I do talk to the belly… and I let the cats and dog give the belly kisses.

11. In what ways do you hope your baby is like your spouse?

I hope our baby has Chad’s imagination and childlike persona – Chad still loves cartoons and video games and sports and all of the things many of us gave up when we turned 16. Vainly, I hope the baby has Chad’s amazing skin and hair.  

12. In what ways do you hope your baby is like you?

I hope the baby has my energy for adventure. I am not saying that I have done the craziest things in my life but I have had the opportunity to do a lot of cool and "once in a lifetime" type things. My parents provided us with every opportunity in the book and I feel like I took advantage of all of them.

13. How long will you wait for the next baby, or if this is your last one, why/why not?

Who knows… let’s get through this one first.

14. What kind of grandparents do you think your baby will have?

Amazing ones – there is more love in those people than can go around. I know they will love every grandchild with all of their hearts and souls.

15. Who will be with you during labor? Who will visit you in the hospital during your recovery?

I am not sure who will be in the delivery room with me yet… we don’t have that plan in stone. I do know that the waiting room will be filled with our loved ones.

As long as mommy and baby are healthy, I hope anyone who wants too, visits.

16. How much will you tell your baby (child, teenager) about your past? Why/why not?

I am willing to tell them whatever they want… to a point. Some secrets are between me, myself and I.

17. Do you have any hopes for your child's activities? (Sports, academics, school preference, activities, etc.)

There will be no pressure to join any specific sport or activity as long as they find something that makes good use of their time. I believe I got a lot out of being in band, theater and chorus – lifelong friends and memories. Those are things that a child can get from a variety of clubs.

18. When will you tell your baby about the birds and the bees?

Ugh… I don’t know. When the questions start coming, I suppose.

19. In what ways do you hope you'll parent like your parents did? In what ways do you hope you aren't like them?

If I can be half the parent my parents were to my sisters and I… I would be happy. My parents are two of the most loving and giving people on this planet.

20. Which childhood memory do you hope your child will have (similar to one you fondly remember)?

Summer camp! Family trips to Florida! Disney world!

21. And finally, be annoying! What "advice" do you want newly pregnant women to know?

Try to relax. I try that everyday… sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much.