…love Jillian

Let me just say last week was one rough week for this Momma-to-Be!   When you couple a terrible cold with hemorrhoids the size of an ACTUAL thumb and exacerbate the aforementioned cold/hemorrhoids  with a 12 hour fast and a 3 hour glucose test– things have a tendency to unwind very quickly.  I may or may not have found myself in the middle of a tearful breakdown, ranting about the baby sucking every ounce of life right out of me and I wanted her out–NOW! 

When I finally stopped crying, my friend laughed and said, “This is normal.  You should probably make peace with that right now.”  And this morning, she sent me this letter:   

J,

Being a mother is the hardest and most rewarding experience. And seriously this is not intended to be overly dramatic.  Just honest and maybe informative.

I love being a mommy and a lot of times I wish I could stay at home with our sweet baby everyday. But then on days where sleep is non existent, I’m thankful for the time I have away from the babe. And honestly I think it makes me love him more!

I always thought the hard part would be getting the baby through the keyhole and into the world. Wrong. Everyone says that your lives will never be the same and I promise they are right. For the most part. YOUR life will never be the same. You will sacrifice and you will never sleep again. You will spend your free time pumping, doing 17 loads of laundry, and washing bottles and pump parts.

You’ll lose the baby weight because there’s no time for you to eat. And when you find time to snack, your baby will immediately cry. You’ll learn to do things with a baby in your arms. You’ll multi task like never before.

While your life is completely changed, your husband’s life continues like normal. Sure he’s a dad now, but his obligations do not match those of yours.  He will sit with the babe while you do laundry, wash dishes, clean the never ending sink full of bottles and hopefully, he’ll change diapers, feed the baby and try to keep her entertained. But if he needs to shower he does. If he’s hungry, he eats. Needs to run to the store, done. You’re going to be lucky to bathe weekly.  Trust me there are plenty of other things you can be doing while the babe takes a rare nap.   

Bedtime will test your marriage like nothing else. And if your baby happens to nap and go to sleep like a perfect child, please don’t tell me. Jealousy is an ugly thing.

I love my life as a wife and a mommy. I long for the days where I play with a baby all day and I survive on 5 hours of sleep a night. It’s hard but there’s nothing I would rather do.  Except maybe eat or shower.  And to answer your question, yes, baby does suck the life right out of you and having the babe here makes it abundantly clear.   But don’t worry, baby changes everything….for the better.

The funny part is that I KNOW what an easy pregnancy I’ve had.  Sure there have been some trying weeks—27 is currently the front runner for Most Miserable Week of pregnancy but I suppose if that’s as bad as it gets I really need to thank my lucky stars.  This week is much better and I probably owe the unborn and apology….

2 Comments | In: Baby Bump, Letters | | #

It’s official.  Baby Carter has more dates/appointments on the schedule than I do.  Between Dr’s appointments every two weeks, a pre-delivery visit, a 3D Ultra sound, AND a birthing class: she has taken over my calendar.  I’m not complaining though.  Every minute the world is appreciating what a monumental and important event Baby Carter is; is a moment I don’t want to miss.

Originally, I was kind of on the fence about birthing class since I have a tendency to get freaked out and it’s not like the baby isn’t coming out if I skip out (on the reality check that is) birthing class but today when I called to make our pre-delivery visit appointment I decided to go ahead and schedule the birth class anyway.  It’s only a one day class, so I thought, why not?  It can’t hurt.  And at least then, I can get my imagination in check…

Today was also the infamous glucose tolerance test.  I didn’t think the drink tasted that bad but Little Miss didn’t like it one bit. I suppose I’m not the only patient to come in all defeated-looking with an almost empty bottle of glucose juice because they just got me another one and said, “Good Luck!”  Thank goodness  I managed to keep that one down!  Everyone needs keep their fingers crossed it comes back A-Ok because I’m slowing getting addicted to Fruit Roll Ups and a GD diagnosis would probably put a damper on my Fruit Roll Up/Watermelon addiction…so seriously, everyone keep their fingers crossed!

Doc says I’m measuring right at 26 and half weeks and my weight gain is good.  I’ve only gained 3.5lb since my last appointment 4 weeks ago.  When I was growing up I always said I would gain a million pounds if/when I got pregnant because it’s the only time it’s cool to get huge but now that I’m here, I have no idea how women pack on 40 lbs and still  move around.  I’m already noticing a huge difference in my ability to roll over at night and sometimes just walking up a flight of stairs winds me.  I think I might just be lucky though, because if I have unbearable indigestion or can’t keep anything down, watermelon almost always does the trick, but if I switched the watermelon for chocolate cake it’s highly likely I would have already gained 50lbs.  So, I’m going to thank my lucky stars Baby Carter hated Devils Food cookies and loves all things fruity.

No Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump | | #

Last weekend was a busy, busy, busy weekend. 

On Friday we went to a friends wedding reception at the Vox Theater here in KC.   It was a fun little affair (besides the fact that I cracked a tooth on a cracker.)  We saw a lot of friends we  hadn’t seen in a while and got to spend some long overdue time with Miss Lisa.  We left around 9; I wanted to get home and get to bed so I would be powered up for phase 2 of the weekend….camping. 

Hubs’ big Kansas 70.3 was on Sunday at 7am.  So, we decided to camp out at Clinton State Park so we wouldnt’ have to get up at 4am and make the trek over to Lawrence that morning and while I wasn’t super excited about camping it actually turned out to be a fun little adventure.  My girlfriend, her husband, and their little one came too.  It made all the difference.  And I really appreciated waking up at 7 (instead of 4) to make take the short hike over to the race start.  I think that little big of misery missed (by not having to wake up at 4am and getting rushed by Hubs) made camping well worth the 15 potty breaks in the wildernesss.  The weather was perfect.  I was so scared it would be 100 million degrees and I would be the crabbiest pregnant person on the planet but the temps stayed in the 70′s/80′s and spending the day outside was pretty enjoyable.  ALthough, by the time the race was over (around 2pm) Tyson and I were unraveling fast so after Hubs finished we immediately headed home for a shower, dinner, and an early night.  I’m pretty sure I was asleep by 8.     

Here are some pics from the weekend:

Lisa and I at the Wedding Recpetion:

Hubs assemblying our tent.  I was sittign about 15 feet away reading the directions:

This little gal laid down right by our camp.  She was super tame:

Lincoln’s first official roasted marshmellow:

Waiting for Hubs to run by:

Chrissie Wellington was the first place finisher and then she stayed all day to hand out medals to all the other finishers:

No Comments | In: animals, Baby Bump, Good Buddies, How much I love my Husband, Triathlons/Racing, We Like To Do Stuff | | #

After my earlier post I got to thinking about some other things that are going on in life that (believe it or not) are NOT BABY RELATED!

First, we are finally getting the rest of the work done on our house this week.  After the big hail storm back in April our insurance company decided we needed a new roof, garage door, screens, gutters, and (thank the lord) our deck stained.  But our contractors were a little slow to get it finished.  Sure, the roof (aka the most expensive part) was scheduled and replaced right away but they have definitely been dragging their feet on the rest.  Tuesday, our deck was power washed and hopefully they will be back to stain it tomorrow. And I think our screens are scheduled to be replaces this week too!

Also, I managed to score a “Photo Enforced” Driving Award.  Seriously, the light changed just as I was at the line and isn’t it better to just go through the light than risk slamming on the brakes and causing a multi-car pile up involving a pregnant women?  Apparently not, because KCMO did not hesitate to mail  a ticket for $100 accompanied by photos of the alleged infraction.  The worst part of getting a ticket?  This does not boad well for my ongoing argument with Hubs about who is the worse driver.  Seriously, he drove on the wrong side of road.  Not once but twice.  I mean, suuuuuuuure he was going well below the speed limit but let’s be real; driving on the wrong side of the road totally discredits his, “slower is safer” platform.  But for now, I suppose any traction I gained with the “driving on wrong side of the road” instances was lost the moment I opened that stupid piece of mail.  Can someone ask Hubs for $100 for me :)

And speaking of $100, the same day my infamous ticket arrived I got a bill from my primary care physician for an office visit I made over a year ago.  It turns out since we discussed getting pregnant during the appointment my insurance is refusing to pay.  Apparently, discussing trying to get pregnant is the same as a fertility issue.  Isn’t insurance stupid?  I mean, unless someone from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KC is reading this post and then I meant, how awesome is it that I’ve only had to pay a one time $20 co-pay to my OB-GYN?  I guess it kind of balances out (but let’s not tell them.)

Oh, and now that I finished that paragraph I realize that the preface of this post is officially null and void since I’ve talked about “getting pregnant,” “trying to get pregnant,” and “co-pays at the baby doctor.”  Anyway, let’s get on with the “Non Baby Related” topics, shall we? Actually, now that I mention it, I really only have one additional non baby related topic and that particular topic deserves it’s own post entirely—so I will save it for tomorrow.

In the meantime, I have a whole plethora of baby related things to talk about, like the nursery (should I post step by step pics or wait for one exciting before/after,) our baby name (and how I’m having an increasing difficult time keeping it a secret,) how I feel like I need to get a crackalackin (yes that’s a real word) on updating my registry, and deciding weather or not I should take a birthing class.  Should I prepare myself for what’s to come OR should I just wing it? I have a feeling Little Miss is coming out whether I take a birthing class or not so I’m kind of on the fence about birthing class.  (Oh, and while I was writing that sentence I thought maybe I should have said, “we,” but in my next thought I thought “we” won’t being pushing the little bundle of joy out of a key hole, I am, so I decided to stick with “I”  Although, it is entirely possible Hubs might want to be prepared for what’s to come.  Maybe I should ask him what he wants to do—perhaps he can be the swing vote.

No Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump, Being an adult is lame, Life, Our Home, Terrified | | #

1. It turns out my dream life and real life are starting to get a little fuzzy.  I’ve been dreaming about the most mundane unimportant stuff.  Conversations with co-workers, weeding the garden, being lazy with Hubs.  When I wake up I feel like I’ve lived an entire day and have to remind myself that the conversation I had with one of my customers was totally not real and the baby is not yet here.
2. When my friend Erin was pregnant last summer she told me that she thought her life was going to change AFTER baby arrived and she surprised at how different her life already was—I thought I understood, but now, at 25 weeks, I’m realizing I had no idea what she was talking about and I can’t believe how different MY life is…it’s unrecognizable.  Sometimes, I feel like my life will feel more normal after Little Miss Carter arrives but something tells me that my life will never be the same and I might as well get used to THIS life.
3. Speaking of 25 weeks, I feel like we (baby and I) are in a nice pregnancy groove.  Not too many dramatics, just an ever expanding belly.  I’m well over halfway, I’ve only gained 13 lbs and on SOME mornings I can still see my ankles (Winning!)  Her movements are getting strong and sometimes it feels like she is grabbing my insides and pulling them to the other side.  Seriously, it feels like she’s saying, “is this button that makes you get up? No?  Ok, what about this one?  No?  Hmmmm.  Weeeell, what about this one?  Yes!  I did it!”
4. Hubs’ big race is this weekend and we are camping in Lawrence so he can just get up and walk over to the start.  My good buddy Laurie, her Hubs, and their little one are coming too.  I am super excited and nervous, you know, since I get up every hour and go to the bathroom.  I’m afraid it’s gonna be a long night but it’s only supposed to be in the low 80′s so hopefully that will make it a little more enjoyable….
5. My parents came over this last weekend and we scratched a lot of chores off our list.  Turns out another set of eyes focusing on our overly soaked backyard and we finally got the mud pit dried out.  Hubs and Dad changed out a bunch of boards on our deck (since it’s suppose to be stained this week), and we got some bushes planted!  It was a very productive day!  I use the term “we” loosely since Mom and I went shopping for curtains, stuffed animals, and some other odds/ends for the nursery while the boys did the manual labor.
6. On Sunday, I got up and went to Blue Springs Lake with the family.   It was sort of strange being at the lake without wakeboarding or skiing or tubing or doing something ‘exciting’ but it was still fun.  I guess I’m still getting acclimated to the lower key nature of life these days.  In fact, I had to practically beg my Dad to even let me get on the boat.  The bouncing motion of the boat made him nervous but hopefully with a successful trip under our belts he will relax just a little….

In case you were wondering how my life is different; every bullet point thus far has circled right back to baby.  Having a baby, growing a baby, or getting prepared for baby–it’s all consuming!  And I suppose it’s only going to get more baby oriented when I have an ACTUAL baby!

I take that back!  I do have one unrelated to baby topic, I had a humbling and unbelievable moment with Maggie.  She was the first one to poop in the house.  I know, right?  I still can’t believe it myself.  After all the evidence (here and here) I would have bet my life Tyson would have been the first one to poop in the new house.  I could just see the satisfaction in his eyes (and if we are being honest, Hubs’ eyes too.) Turns out Miss Mags wasn’t feeling good and actually had a couple more incidences later that day (in the garage.)  So, in her defense—SHE WAS SICK!  But it doesn’t change the fact that Maggie will forever hold the title of, “First to Poop in the House.”   Heartbreaking.

Actual Conversation:

Maggie:  I’m sorry Mom.  I wasn’t feeling good.  Don’t be mad.

Me:  Oh, Maggie!  I’m totally not mad.  Are you sick?  (Cuddles)

Tyson: Tyson 2012!

Tyson: Voooooote Tyson!

Tyson:  Tyson for President!

Maggie to Tyson:  Next time, I’m gonna poop on your face.

2 Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump, Family, Good Buddies, Home Repair Hubby, Our Home, Puppies | | #

This weekend was busy.  On Saturday, Hubs and I got up, went to the Farmers Market, had breakfast, picked up his race packet, looked at baby furniture, got our piggies done, and made dinner for his mom and aunt.  It was a busy day.  But it was nice to spend the day together.  Then on Sunday, I went to a dog show with my parents and had family dinner while Hubs stayed home and did chores.  On Sunday night, we took some time to discuss Hubs racing/training schedule and hopefully after the Lawrence 70.3 there will be some relief on the triathlon front. 

I started working on the nursery last night too!  All of her bedding is here.  We’ve settled on paint, furniture, and a name (well, I guess a name doesn’t really have a lot to do with the nursery other than hanging it up on the wall, but still, we’ve picked a name.)  So, we just needed to get started.  Last night, I started painting the trim in her room.  Painting the trim is a slow go but I have someone coming to hang chair rail this weekend so I want to have at very least the trim paint done.  It’s coming together very nicely.  I can’t wait to post before and after pics.

Also, Week 23 is officially underway:  And she is really moving around too.  Babycenter.com sends a weekly email telling me all about the baby each week.  This week it said that she is around 11 inches long and weighs about the same as a large mango (around 1lb.)  They also said baby is getting used to our regular noises (like barking dogs, vacuum, music. TV) and that when she arrives she probably won’t mind those noises at all.  It never occurred to me that she could hear Maggie and Tyson’s schedule of barks.  Every morning when the kids pile up at the bus stop outside our house and after school when they insist on riding their bikes back in forth in front of our house….she’s getting used to that schedule/annoyance.  Maybe Maggie’s barks help remind her what time it is because right now she keeps a pretty regular schedule—when I wake up at 8ish (to the sound of unrelenting barks until the bus actually arrives) in the morning, I can lay around for 10 or 15 minutes and feel her boogie.  Then she must go back to sleeping, or cleaning, or growing eyebrows because she just kind of stops, when she stops; I finally get up.  Sometimes around lunch time she gets going again.  It’s like she’s reminding me it’s time for eating.  And again at night, around 10 she has a one man dance party going on.  Her movements are getting stronger and occasionally if I’m lying still I can actually see her moving my stomach. 

Sometimes, I still can’t believe there is a baby in there.

No Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump, Uncategorized, Weekly Update | | #

Yesterday I went in for my 22 week check-up.  I was a little bit nervous considering the good ole doc got after me about the weight gain on my last visit.  He said, “NO MORE more than 4lbs in the next 4 weeks.”  In all honesty I didn’t think I had gained that much (and I’m still blaming it on the late afternoon weigh in) but when I got on the scale I was pleasantly surprised to find I LOST 3lbs in the last 4 weeks.  What a relief!  He seemed pleased and again advise to gain no more than 4lbs in the next 4 weeks.  Which I think should be doable since Little Miss Carter only seems to like Eggos, salad, and watermelon—everything else is turning into quite the gamble for Mama Bear!  Her heartbeat is still 150 and she is moving around like crazy.  I also got the talk about Braxton Hicks vs. REAL labor pains.  Which made me start thinking about Baby Carter’s Exit Strategy.  I’m getting super nervous about that one.

Speaking of delivery, today I was delivered some disturbing news about our much anticipated baby furniture.  When we ordered last weekend Nebraska Furniture Mart  told us 8 weeks but when they called with an actual delivery date they missed the 8 week mark by oh, 11 weeks—-meaning the baby would already be here!  So, after a nail biting day of waiting to see if they would even allow us to cancel without paying the ridiculous “restocking fee”—they finally agreed.  (Which brings me to a whole other group of questions about restocking fees when the furniture isn’t even close to being made yet.)  Anyway, I think I might have found something I like equally as well and as it turns out—a little less expensive!  Maybe NFM did us a favor after all?  Hopefully, my experience with USA Baby will be better…so far they have been greeeeeat!

So with the actual delivery date of our furniture (and really, the actual arrival of baby) is uncertain, one thing is for real:  The most adorable baby bedding and decor that arrived on my doorstep today—just when you think a day is going down in the books as crappy; a purple elephant with a pink flower headband makes her appearance at just the right moment!

No Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump | | #

Ok.  So, I know I said I wasn’t going to overload this blog with ‘baby this’ and ‘baby that’ but let’s be real; my whole life is all about baby right now.  What I CAN do.  What I CAN’T do.  I spend every minute of every day and sometimes night thinking about this bundle of joy—it’s all about the baby. 

This weekend Hubs and I made the long trek over to Nebraska Furniture Mart to look buy baby furniture.  It was mighty stressful.  I mean, why does the most expensive stuff have to be the only one I really like?  Hmmmm?  So, after dragging Hubs around and around and around the crib department we decided to wonder through the kids department.  Back to cribs.  Over to kids.  Back to cribs.  And just when I was about to have a monumental breakdown, we looked down and saw the catalog full of everything we were looking for: 

Hello, crib, dresser/changing table, and chest!  It was exactly what I wanted so we put in our order (in white obviously) and it should arrive in 8ish weeks!  Also, it’s part of a collection so as Baby gets older and needs a desk or something accidently gets ruined (I hear kids have a tendency to do that once in a while) we have the ability to order additional pieces.  One major decision and purchase down.  I slept so good on Saturday night and I woke up feeling refreshed, happy and settled knowing that one more thing was crossed off our to-do list. 

But then on Sunday, while I was left to my own devices all day, I got to thinking about bedding again.  And with such a pretty set of furniture coming for our little girl; I started thinking that I might have made a rash decision in picking the hot pink and green jungle circus.  Sure, the original bedding criteria went like this:  Pink Giraffes or Blue Giraffes and I initially found something I really liked but managed to talk myself out of it because it was more lavender than pink and our little one was going to need PINK PINK PINK!  But after bumping into the lavender one again on Saturday and mulling over the paint for the hot pink one I started feeling like I was getting carried away.  I mean, does this baby really need hot pink and green walls with hot pink lions everywhere?  (Yes, people, this is the kinds of stuff that occupies my mind these days.) 

Hubs was super helpful though, when I woke him up at 12am (because of my inablity to sleep or think about anything else) to ask his opinion, he said and I quote, “Sure.  Either one will be fine”  Followed by, “shhhhh.”  So, I got up, finished the last of the devils food cookies, washed the cookies down with a small can of mandarin oranges (see I’m health conscious) and finally, somewhere around 1am dozed off in a pink vs. purple death match that only a neurotic, crazy pregnant person would take so seriously.  Today, I’ve decided to take the hot pink circus back and get the lavender one cause seriously, I can’t take another night of tossing and turning…..over bedding.

No Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump | | #

21 weeks down. 19 weeks to go.  We are over halfway there.  Some days it seems as though time is creeping by one hot minute at a time and other days I feel like if I stop paying attention for even a second; I’m going to miss it.  I was planning on writing a post every week on the joys/pitfalls of growing a small human.  But as you can see, I’m feeling pretty accomplished if I get in a weekly post at all.  So, here is a solid Week 21 update:

• In the last few weeks Baby Carter has taken to keeping me up at night.  Apparently her palate is very sensitive and many of the foods I enjoyed in the first trimester or not agreeing with us in the second.  I suppose one day in the not too distant future I will be saying, ‘Well, at least I’m up at 2AM to feed the baby instead of throwing up!”  I tell you, there is nothing more alarming than waking up with the urgency that if you don’t hurry to the bathroom, YOU will be the first one to make a mess on the new carpet—not the troublesome dog, or the new baby, or a drunken husband (not that Hubs is even a drinker, in fact, I don’t think he has drank since we found out we were preggers.  But there was this one time he over did it at free drinks til 10, and whoa.)  I’m just saying: I refuse to be the first one to require carpet cleaner on our new carpet–even if that means falling down and crawling to the bathroom tile.  Oh, and by the way, Thank you for those bruises Baby Carter!
• She has been moving around like crazy.  The last couple days I have really felt her kicking.  I’ve been feeling her wiggle around for a couple weeks, but now, she is really starting to move.  I can feel it on the outside and I’m pretty sure Grandma and Hubs have been able to feel her move now too.  It’s unbelievable to think there is a tiny human growing in there….
• I think we finally settled on a name.  But we have decided to keep it a secret until her debut in September.  Everyone always knows someone or has some story as to why you can’t name your baby the name you are thinking;  so we decided to keep it to ourselves.  It’s safer.  And I’m a world class second guesser, so this way, no one will be able to talk me out of it.
• My Mom and I finally went shopping too.  All I can say is this:  shopping for tiny pink outfits might be the most fun thing in the world.  I found some bedding too.  It’s pink jungle…obviously.  And while I may have waffled a little earlier this week, I’m firm in my nursery decisions.  I’m sooooooo excited to start painting and decorating in the coming weeks.
• Speaking of decorating, I think Hubs and I are going to look at furniture again this weekend.  We looked briefly at Nebraska Furniture Mart a couple months ago and I’ve looked online, but you can’t really tell a lot online so we are going to look again!  Another exciting moment in our lives!
• Sometimes when I think about what our lives were like a mere 5 months ago and compare that to what our lives are now, I’m shocked at the difference.  We went from traveling free spirits; living in a maintenance free townhome to Metamucil drinking, flower planting, baby clothes shopping, parents to be in the blink of an eye.  Which just goes to show, the plans you make in life rarely workout the way you expect.  Yet another piece of evidence that proves the ‘wing it’ plan works for us.

With 21 weeks logged, sometimes I don’t think I’m conveying the “importance” of this new addition to the world effectively.  Sure, every mother goes through all these same emotions and reading these posts probably aren’t that interesting to the second or third time mom but I keep posting the tiny things because I want to remember how I felt.  (Earlier this week, I had something that needed to go in the baby’s room, so I went in, opened her closet, and there was all the stuff we had bought.  Tiny onesies and sleepers and bedding and it seemed so strange to have clothes hanging all need and orderly for a person I’ve yet to meet.)  Those are the moments I want to remember.  The moments when I needed to take a second look or stop to reflect on what just happened.  Sure, I’m probably going to remember falling down and scraping my knee trying to NOT throw up in our bedroom too, but I mostly want to remember how motherly I felt seeing her for the first time during our ultra sound and how I felt the first time I knew for sure it was her moving and not just gas, and a million other little emotions and feelings that just can’t be expressed in a way that would make someone who isn’t pregnant or been pregnant understand.   I guess, I just can’t wait for her to get here because surely then, CNN will be interested in what big news this little person is….

3 Comments | In: Baby Bump | | #

Hubs and I are getting settled in our new house and routine.  I could bore you for hours with our daily rituals so I will just share my favorite: Hubs has been making a delicious breakfast for me and the puppies every morning.   Waffles or bagels for me (and baby.)  Peanut butter and puppy food for the puppies.  It’s a routine we can ALL get behind.   It’s just another reason I love him….oh, and did I mention he cuts up fruit and puts it on my plate too?  Yeah, I’m getting spoiled.

As far as the baby goes, we made it through weeks 16 and 17 without too much fuss.  I feel like I’m really starting to figure out this pregnancy stuff and on the rare morning I wake up feeling exhausted, nauseated, and crabby; it makes me appreciate all the days when I wake up happy, chipper and excited to wear something new (you know, because all my old clothes are WAY.  TOO.  SMALL.)  I’m in  maternity duds all the time and have to say, they are mighty comfy.  And you never have to worry about a ‘muffin top’ because maternity pants are so forgiving and reliable.   Which leads me the question, why don’t all jeans come with elastic waistbands?  I think these designer jean companies are really missing the boat here. 

(17 weeks and counting)

On Wednesday we find out if it’s a boy or girl.  Well, I suppose we’re going to find out a lot of things about this little person growing inside me but most importantly we are finding out if it’s pink or blue giraffes for the nursery!  Clearly an important decision :)

When we first found out we were expecting, I was certain we were having twins.  I had tons of dreams (all with two babies) and my belly protruded so quickly it was unbelievable.   I wasn’t concerned with pink or blue–I was concerned with 1 or 2.  But after my last doctor’s appointment he didn’t seem at all interested in the fact that I thought  there might be two babies in there….so I stopped worrying about it too.  And started obsessing about ’he’ or ‘she’….

 According to all the available “tests” it has been determined that we are in fact having…….…..a baby. 

• My father-in-law did the scientific string and needle test.  And we decided it was a girl.  You know since the needle went in circles instead of back and forth…
• Since transitioning into my second trimester I’ve pretty much stopped dreaming about babies.  But on the rare occasion a baby accidently slips in—it’s always a girl.
• Everyone I know has had a boy in the last year or two…it’s the season for boys.  Which makes me think I too will be sporting a blue bundle of joy….
• I’m carrying rather high (from what I can tell) which means, girl…
• Hubs hasn’t gained any sympathy weight — so that means, boy….
• The babies heart rate was 150 bpm, girl….
• And finally, the Chinese calendar, boy.  

Sooooooo as you can see here: the tests are inconclusive. 

I think every women thinks she knows what she’s having and I know for me, at 18 weeks with our ultra sound a mere 48 hours away— I’m thinking it’s a girl.  I’m hardly a mother at this point but let’s just call it mother’s intuition (or maybe wishful thinking.)  Even if it is the season of boys, Hubs and I have never really been ones for convention so I’m thinking we are just people to break the cycle with a girl!!!!! 

In all honesty though, I will be ecstatic no matter what we are having; I love brown and blue giraffes almost as much as pink and purple ones.  And I suppose if we have a boy, he can protect his little sister when she finally comes along :)

2 Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump | | #