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.