Eating Well

Mike has done a good job as the pregnant husband with housework, doctor's appointments, and best of all . . . meals! He has cooked many dinners, sometimes from scratch. We enjoyed fresh pasta tossed with sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, and basil. Thanks to Aunt Kris for the pasta attachment for the mixer. He has also made me some non-alcoholic cocktails to sip on while I sit with an ice pack on my achy back and my feet in his lap. As ordinary things become a little more difficult (I was panting by the time I got my laundry basket and started a load) he has stepped up to ease some of my tasks. I'm very glad we didn't wait this long to clean out and paint the baby's room. We have hit that time when we have had to start thinking about packing a bag for the hospital. Hopefully, we won't need it until June 3, but better safe than sorry. And, both of us have a type A personality that means we get things done early. There are quite a few suggestion lists out there to help us sort out what we need. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll gather those items and probably make the bag official after I get back from Kansas City. A trip I am looking forward to! It's been a while since I've seen my KC friends and family. I'll probably get to see where Grandma Judy's been hiding out the past two years in ministerial school. So the question arises. Once we leave the hospital with our 2 day old baby, what the hell do we do?

Oh, Baby Baby!

Our once bare shelves are beginning to fill up. This kid isn't even here yet, and he gets parties thrown in his honor. What a good deal! I survived the first baby shower, an awkward event for me. The teachers and staff at my school gave us a nice mix of practical (like diapers) and really cute (like Osh Kosh b'Gosh overalls) gifts. I was lucky the social committee had decided against playing any shower games. I know they will be yet to come at other showers, though. Mike was such a wonderful husband and arrived at the tail end of the shower to smile and help me get everything to the car. He would've arrived earlier had I told him the correct time. What can I say? This baby is killing my brain cells. I diligently got to work on writing thank you cards as soon as I got home. We are truly thankful for everything we received that will make our lives and our baby's easier, cuter, and more comfortable. I had already gotten to open the gifts, so it was Mike's turn to get to go through everything and see what there was. He especially enjoyed taking apart the diaper cake the two nurses put together for us. There is a picture of it before its collapse somewhere, I just don't know where! While he sorted and organized (we were happy to get clothes in a variety of sizes) I wrote and wrote and wrote. Eventually, my aching back and sweaty body called it quits. I was proud of myself for coming home from work the next day and finishing those thank you cards. A two day turn around is not too shabby! I'll be delivering them at work tomorrow.

The one thing that had me cracking up the most from the baby shower was not a gift, however. It was the very funny card from none other than my principal! This well known phenomenon is a concern of mine. Maybe just Mike will get hit?

She's 30 weeks pregnant?

I noticed the other day that Tif has only gained weight in the belly. From the back she doesn't even look pregnant. What a surprise it must be to some guy checking her out from behind only to realize she's about 3/4 through her pregnancy. Of course usually moms-to-be put on about a pound a week after this point, so the tummy is going to be getting bigger! Also, Sierra played with another dog at the dog park for the first time!

New Toys

This weekend when I was at Aunt Kris's house, I picked up some of cousin Alex's old toys for the baby. I guess Sierra thinks she has some new toys as you can see. She's sleeping with the Baby Bjorn and she was sniffing the sound makers that will be serenading our house soon. We've started to get her used to our new lifestyle and we'll be getting a baby doll so she's used to the real thing. I think Sierra is as excited as we are!

Second Ultrasound

Today we had the second ultrasound to see the baby and make sure he is healthy. Last time there was a question about bloodflow and that's why they wanted to do a second one. All was fine this time! We got to see him move and have the hiccups. As you can see there were a couple of pictures we got of his face (the umbillical cord is going across it). We did confirm that he is a boy so bring on the boy clothes! His weight was on track and he weighs about 2lbs. 11oz. and the technician said that it looks like he'll have some hair on his head. We've got a little less that three months to go and, despite the insurance company being a bitch about paying when we've reached our out of pocket max, we're looking forward to the showers and last minute preparations. Mike started reading the baby book to get used to the idea that this thing is coming out sometime. It has been a breeze getting through that book because we have already made so many decisions that the first 3 chapters talk about. Mike is looking forward to his upcoming Daddy Boot Camp class at the hospital. We have also picked our pediatrician, which is something we can check off our to do list. One less thing to do two months from now when we are hitting crunch time!

Finally!

The day has finally come, the only thing I have looked forward to about pregnancy. I wore a short sleeve shirt to the movies and a restaurant . . . and I was not cold! I have been waiting my whole life to not be cold all the time. I've got a few months of it, and I plan on enjoying it. To anyone who always takes a jacket to a restaurant (or a snuggie to the movies) with them, I know you understand.

It's a Jungle in There!

Tif and I have been looking for plants for quite a while at Lowe's, Fry's, and Target never really finding anything we liked. Tif had some plants she found online that require little light and attention. Of course after reading all about plants online, we found out the plants we had were getting too much attention and were being over-watered, and that's why every plant we've every owned has ended up in the dumpster or still is wilted in our kitchen. The need for the plants comes from two fronts. First, we cannot open the window due to about 10 lbs. of pigeon nest. The plants clean the air even better that an air filter. Second, they fit our safari/ jungle theme. (Speaking of jungle, we're watching Congo right now!). We are still looking for correct placement of the three plants we have gotten and know full well the one by the crib will have to be moved eventually. We just wanted to share what we have thus far. All three plants were approved by an overly social elderly Indian man who gave us the low down on all three plants. The big one by the crib is a prayer plant and can get quite tall. The flowering one is a peace lily and has several budding flowers. Last, there is the short pathos which was in a hanging pot that will probably end up on a shelf later. Wish these plants good luck.... they'll need it!

Decorative or Functional? Scarves 101

For the past 6 months, I have seen this aisle of Target and other stores countless times. Tif has looked at scarves at every opportunity. She asked both sides of our family for scarves for Christmas. Tif is scarf crazy. Now, if you ask her, I think she'd tell you that putting on a scarf magically makes her baby bump disappear. It sounds like she doesn't want to be pregnant, and despite back pain and baby kicks to the ribs, she has been liking it. Instead, she wants her belly to disappear to people like the one who touched her belly button yesterday (it's sticking out). Now, in Arizona it is heating up. It was up to 85 this week and what was still on? Tif's scarf! I know what you're thinking. It was what I was thinking too... Isn't it too hot for a scarf especially when you have more blood and increased body heat? The answer is yes and no. It is too hot when the purpose of the scarf is functional. When you wear a functional scarf, you are wearing it for heat. When a scarf is decorative, it's all about the appearance. Can a scarf be both functional and decorative? I believe so, but it can never be 50/50. Scarf scientists everywhere are trying to find that perfect scarf, and when they do, I hope they use its power for good.

You Asked For It, You Got It

The side view of the belly. Can't see my feet anymore, getting hard to bend over and pick things up, and sleeping is just not easy in any position. I'm sure glad everyone thinks my belly's cute, though (she said sarcastically). I think yesterday the baby started hiccuping, I'll have to ask Gammie what it feels like to be sure, though. She was the one that told me about fetus hiccuping having been through it with Kris. I am right on target for weight gain, but I am devotedly putting on anti-stretchmark cream and lotion just in case my skin can't keep up with the growth. We are looking forward to our ultrasound next week. Personally, I am waiting to be assured it is actually a boy. I know those techs are good at their job, but I'd feel better about getting a bunch of boy stuff in the next few months if the picture of the boy part wasn't so ambiguous. I have ordered a DVD that is supposed to teach you the different baby sounds and meanings. The goal is to know what the baby needs before it starts crying. I'll try anything to reduce the crying. We are also signed up for our baby care class at the hospital where we will learn how to diaper a doll. At least there won't be any poop in the doll's diaper.

The Beginning of the End

Last night while reading the week by week pregnancy book, part of our Friday night routine, we learned this week (27) is the start of the third trimester. We have just 3 short months until the sleepless nights, smelly diapers, and nearly housebound days and nights (packing a diaper bag can be a form of incarceration, you know). It's strange to think that the pregnancy is coming into the home stretch. Our prenatal appointments are now every two weeks and I am still batting a thousand in going to the appointments (you can imagine it is easy to leave work early). Our next appointment on March 17 is our third ultrasound and we should get a verification that everything is going well. Of course, we have not been worrying too much because we have an abundance reminders that the baby is healthy and good.... the constant kicks.

Tif has been going through a series of tight tummies followed soon after by a bigger tummy. Each time, the baby is in kick mode. This week while we were watching TV, I was laying next to the tummy. After about 20 minutes, I was annoyed. Most were huge kicks and I cannot believe Tif is putting up with this all the time. When I look at the belly moving, I am reminded of the scene from Alien, or the better parody scene from Spaceballs, with the alien coming out of the stomach. I think the only thing that keeps Tif sane is her trust in the anti-stretch mark lotion she religiously smears on every day. Despite the annoying kicks, Sierra didn't have a problem last week when she had her head on the bump.

Also as we round the home stretch, I look back on the last six months and the anxiety levels. I remember a couple of years ago when I was shopping for my nephew in Target's baby section, Tif would not go into the aisles at all. It was like a kid trying to push the wrong ends of magnets together. A couple months ago, when we found out we were pregnant, Tif was as willing to go through the baby section as she was to get her last flu shot. Last night, as part of our weekly Friday night routine, we were in Target walking past the baby section. When I asked Tif if she wanted to look at the baby stuff, I got an upbeat "Yeah!" Although we are still refraining from buying anything.

Last Time. . . So They Say

Week 26 appointment: They promised it was last time I need blood drawn. Of course, if you read the fine print, that's only if the results come back normal for the glucose test. From what some people described, the glucose drink has improved a great deal in taste and texture, although it wasn't great. I'm just glad that I didn't have to fast 12 hours before the test like the juice says to because watch out world. Pregnant Tif with no food for 12 hours would be a nightmare! Mostly my students would have suffered that day. But, the test came back normal, no gestational diabetes! I was not surprised to hear that I am slightly anemic, though. I could've told you that! I am always cold. I have vowed to go back to being consistent with the prenatal vitamins to get some extra iron. It's still hard to wrap my head around the fact that there will be a baby in this house in a few months and I have to take care of it. I'm the kind of person that wants nothing to do with any baby I see. But, the pregnancy is continuing to go smoothly with minimal symptoms. I do wish the baby wouldn't be so active everytime I am trying to go to sleep.