Pregnancy Brain Story...

Wanted to share this story because I know I'll forget it by the time next week rolls around.  Went back to work yesterday after taking all last week off to lounge, clean, and do some last preparations around the house.  As most of you have read, the rain put a kink in my plans, but I managed to get quite a bit done any way.

Any how, I was running late yesterday morning and thinking how I really didn't want to go to work.  Then I couldn't find my keys.  I looked in all the usual places and couldn't remember the last time I had driven the Jetta (not a big surprise since my brain has literally been mush for the last 8 months).  I spent 10 extra minutes looking for them and Nick was busy getting ready and trying to get out the door as well and didn't really seem interested in the fact that I couldn't find them.  Finally, I just took his Jetta key and headed out the door. 

When I got home last night I continued my quest before Nick got home from work with no success.  Where could I have stuck them?

For the next month or so I'm taking one day a week of of work so I don't cap out on vacation time while I'm out on maternity leave and today is one of those off days.  After making Nick coffee this morning I continued my quest yet again (I was positive they would just jump out at me).  Nick, again, didn't seem all that interested in my plight.  FINALLY, Nick says, "They're probably in the pocked of one of my jackets."  I couldn't figure out why that could be...he has his own Jetta key (they're computerized keys that set up the seat position based upon the driver so one is programmed for him and the other for me).

I then proceed to grab his jackets he's been using and lo and behold...there they are in the first jacket I look!  Why in the world didn't he tell me that yesterday?

34 Weeks!

Still the honeydew, but I think there's only one fruit left after this...wow.


TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Had the OB visit today.  He's been tracking weight gain since my first OB visit at 6 weeks.  My total weight gain is actually 25 3/4 lbs since that visit.  I've been tracking since I found out I'm pregnant (I gained about 5 lbs prior to that first OB visit...that darn nausea cheeseburger craving!).  OB said they would like me to gain 25 - 35 lbs so I'm on target although I'm supposed to gain 1-2 lbs every week from this point forward...that prospect doesn't excite me (I gained 3 lbs since my last visit 2 weeks ago - Christmas DID happen).

MOVEMENT: Very frequent, big movements.  My stomach actually gets lumpy at times.  Hiccups are continuing every couple of days (still loving them).

CRAVINGS: No cravings, but I find myself very hungry now.  For Christmas dinner I had 2 servings of prime rib, 3 servings of mashed potatoes (no gravy), and 2 servings of green beans.  THEN I ate a piece of chocolate cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  When we got home I was still kind of hungry (but I didn't tell Nick).

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, major forgetfulness, missing feet, crazy dreams, mild heartburn, spicy food aversion, very frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, occasional sciatica, frequent hip pain while sleeping, mild insomnia (finally had a really good night of sleep last night), mild swelling of the feet and hands, uterine discomfort, faint linea nigra, minimal stretch marks on left hip and left inner thigh, mild fatigue (almost needed a nap daily this last week), mild shortness of breath while walking, general feeling of uncomfortableness, mild back pain (even when sitting - need lumbar pillow for support now).

Only had the Braxton-Hicks contractions that one day...no reappearance.

BELLY BUTTON: Still half in, half out.

PREPARATIONS: Nick was a huge help and sanded the entire cabinet for me.  Sanding was much more difficult than I had anticipated.  Back was aching and I would get short of breath after a while from standing, sitting, and kneeling.  The staining came much more slowly.  I was just plain tired and lost the will to do it; however, the base of the cabinet has been stained and the doors as well.  They just need their shiny protective coating to be added now.  Hopefully that will get done this coming weekend.

Chipping of the tile has been completed.  It just needs to be vacuumed up and the old carpet removed which will most likely happen this weekend.  We've already picked out the new carpet and will go order and schedule installation once the room is fully prepped (hopefully this weekend). 

MILESTONES: Still exploding in size.  OB told us today that if Cookie was born today, she'd have a 100% chance of surviving...wow.

WEEKLY WISDOM: I'm all out of wisdom this week.  I've been feeling very uncomfortable, anxious, and increasingly excited.  I'm also very tired...so no wisdom, I just want a nap.

33 Weeks!

Woohoo!!!  No longer the funny squash!  Although a honeydew!?!  I keep wondering what happened to the little blueberry, time is just flying by (a little too quickly) and I'm just trying to keep up!!!

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: It looks like I've gained another pound on our scale making total weight gain 30 lbs, but we've stepped up to every two week OB visits so we'll have confirmation next week.

MOVEMENT: Very, very active and big movements now.  You can see a ripple across my belly when she roles and there's no words to describe the feeling...just plain weird.  The movements do hurt at some points and I'm not meaning uncomfortable, but OUCH!  Hiccups are happening occasionally, maybe about once a day.  Still the coolest thing...I find myself giggling when they happen.

CRAVINGS: No cravings, but I find myself very hungry now.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, major forgetfulness, missing feet, crazy dreams, mild heartburn, spicy food aversion, very frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, occasional sciatica, frequent hip pain while sleeping, mild insomnia (had 3 days in a row before getting a good nights sleep), mild swelling of the feet and hands, uterine discomfort, faint linea nigra (spelling?), minimal stretch marks on left hip and left inner thigh, mild fatigue (had two two-three hour naps this last Saturday which may have contributed to the Saturday night insomnia), mild shortness of breath while walking, general feeling of uncomfortableness, mild back pain (even when sitting - need lumbar pillow for support now).

New this week: Was just telling my friend that I haven't had any Braxton-Hicks contractions (BH) because she was noting how she was having them and tonight while I was in Anthropologie, BAM!  One BH...it didn't feel very good...and these are just the warm up contractions!

BELLY BUTTON: Still half in, half out, but definitely shallower this week.

PREPARATIONS: Since it's raining cats and dogs here, the refinishing of the family room cabinet has been put on hold.  We were going to put it in the yard so I could sand it down, but it's been pouring since Saturday (not exactly why I pay the sunshine tax, but it makes it feel like winter).  That being said, Cookie's quilt is D-O-N-E!!!  Pictures below.

Nick also finished Cookie's closet (with the exception of one shelf) so nursery pictures are below too!!!

Nick's started chipping up the tile in our family room so we can move forward with carpeting as soon as possible...I also spent yesterday cleaning out our two junk rooms (the guest bedroom and the old home office).

MILESTONES: Wow, I've gotten very larger in the one week since I posted the last picture.  Everyone told me I would explode in the third trimester, but I didn't realize there would be this much change in just one week.  I'm pretty uncomfortable now...getting in and out of the car is much more difficult.  Shortness of breath just after walking or folding laundry is incredible.

WEEKLY WISDOM: We set up Cookie's Pack-n-Play in our bedroom (it has a bassinet with it) because we'll use this for her when she first arrives to sleep in our room with us.  Wow, I came into the room last night and it was a moving moment.  There will be a person in that not too long from now!  So my weekly wisdom?  Really work to be prepared...I know you don't want to get things set up too early, but in one week I went from feeling great to being pretty limited on some of the things I can do.  I'm glad I got a lot of the big stuff out of the way so that I can start relaxing even more in my final weeks.

One other thought that doesn't really fit anywhere.  I hung Cookie's little clothes up in the closet and they just look so small.  I can't believe we're going to have a little person that will actually fit into those things!

Here's the fun stuff!!!  Hope you enjoy Cookie's nursery!

 

Cookie's Toy Box - Thank you Daddy!

Filled with some toys.



Cookie's crib & that's Cookie's quilt made with love by Mommy.

The inside of Cookie's quilt...and the totally awesome Cookie onsie my friend got for Cookie (thank you again Candice - still my most favorite gift!)

  

Cookie's awesome fan thanks to Daddy's creativeness!



The handmade butterfly curtains...and the nasty, rainy weather outside!



32 Weeks!

Still that damn squash...ugh!

We finally put our tree up!  We put it up in the great room rather than the family room this year since we're going to replace the carpet/tile in the family room this month.  The weird thing is the family room is half tile and half carpet and my ever handy husband is determined to remove the tile himself...I think that's the priority for this weekend.

We've been debating on whether to get a new fake tree (yes, we go with the fake trees not the real ones - San Diego is technically in the middle of the desert).  The one we currently have looks so small in our nice, big house.  The only trouble is, we're sentimentally attached to the tree we have.  We bought it 7 years ago when I couldn't travel for Christmas because I had to work.  We were pretty poor back then (not that we're rolling in it now).  We found this tree at Big Lots for $20.  It's basically a large Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree, seriously.  It even sheds needles.  If you don't evenly space out the ornaments, it leans.  There was one year we really thought it would fall over before Christmas, but it survived.  We are still going back and forth.  A nice, large 7 or 8 foot tree would be awesome, but I don't know if we can part with this tree (it's only 5 feet tall)...we'll see.

It is SO nice having a house again!  Our friend, Clem, came over last Saturday and helped Nick move the rest of the furniture this growing person can no longer lift.  It's been heaven.  I feel like our house is so big now.  The floors are gorgeous, see picture below.  We forgot what it's like to have a living room again...don't ever take your space for granted.  I never will.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Had our OB visit this morning.  Weight gain is right on target, total is 29 lbs since pre-pregnancy, just a little under 2 lbs since our last visit.  OB was extremely pleased and told me to keep doing whatever it is I've been doing.  I didn't tell him about all the cookies I ate in the last 3 days...I don't think he wants me to keep that up.

MOVEMENT: Cookie is still pointed head down and the movements just seem to be getting bigger and bigger.  To the point that some hurt, I mean really hurt.  Bladder is taking the brunt of the movement and I'm really sick of going to bathroom already and we still have 8 more weeks!  Cookie got an A+ on her fetal movement counts today, it takes her anywhere from 5-10 minutes to move 10 times (was there any doubt my child would get anything less than an A+?).

And we have hiccups!!!  I've only had them a couple of times, but...really, really cool.

CRAVINGS: Ugh...went on a bit of a cheeseburger bender.  After the one I had 2 weeks ago, I went to McDonald's and ate 2 cheeseburgers!  I was still hungry and could have had more, but I had gone through the drive thru (thank goodness!).  I haven't really had cravings, but my appetite seems to be increasing the last week.  I ate 2 complete dinners (Nick's famous stir-fry and a serving of Hungarian Goulash) and was still hungry.  I thought my stomach was supposed to shrink as Cookie got bigger?

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, missing feet, crazy dreams, mild heartburn (downgraded this week - actually have had the last 2 days with NO heartburn!), spicy food aversion, very frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, hip pain when sleeping (which I've come to realize is actually sciatica), mild insomnia, occasional dizziness, mild swelling of the feet has returned (but it now includes the hands too), uterine discomfort.

Luckily the extreme fatigue was just that once.

New this week - General feeling of uncomfortableness and, GASP, stretch marks.  They're not that bad...yet.  They've appeared on my left inner thigh and some tiny ones on my left hip.  Cookie did not listen to the promise of a new car when she turns 16, I'm seriously thinking of nixing money for college too.  I was hoping I'd be safe since my mom didn't get them and, although I know it doesn't actually work, I've also been religious about the lotion and the oil too.  My only hope now is that they don't get any worse than they are.


BELLY BUTTON: Still half in, half out.  Beginning to wonder if it will become a full outtie at all?

PREPARATIONS: Floors are done!!!  Stained concrete patio has been delayed due to chance of rain, this guy is getting on my nerves.  It really should have been done last week when it was sunny and hot, but he wasn't organized enough to get it done.  Not as bad as Fat Tony, but still, really?  Re-grading of the yard is now complete, Nick has to trench the sprinkler system now, but we're putting that on hold until the tile in the family room is removed so we can move forward on the carpet.  Cookie's closet still needs finishing, but it will only take one evening to do...it's hard with the holidays, so many obligations, so little time. 

First pediatrician appointment occurred yesterday and it went well, she was wonderful.  Another for next week is scheduled.

Cookie's quilt is still only half finished...I'm taking next week off of work and will work on stripping and staining a cabinet for the family room, but may be able to squeeze in completion of the quilt too.

MILESTONES: I can't reach my shoes to tie them any more...officially.  Not sure that's a milestone I like.

My linea nigra (spelling?) has shown up.  It's very faint, but it's there.  For those of you who don't know, that's the dark line down the center of the belly most women get.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Wow...take a breath and really try to enjoy this time.  This is when stuff starts getting pretty scary and overwhelming (at least for me).  Pediatricians, day cares, the nursery, the birth plan, child preparation classes, final preparations, baby, baby, baby...a window into the rest of your life.  Being this pregnant during the holidays is hard, especially when your family does not live near you, it really cranks up the emotional downs (I really miss my mommy).  Everything we do, I keep thinking how this is the last time Nick & I will do this with it as just us...I know the whole thing is worth it, but I can't help but wonder and be a little scared at how we'll change once Cookie is here.

And here are the long awaited floors,  Little Mookie, and check out that Week 32 belly!  Also, just one little nursery teaser...

31 Weeks

I didn't blog about this last week because I was still a little freaked out, but Cookie & I had a little scare a week ago Sunday.  First and foremost, we're fine.  We did end up in Labor & Delivery being monitored for a couple of hours with strict orders to take it very easy the next couple of weeks (we'll get an all clear at our next OB visit).  No pre-term contractions, ultrasound was completely fine.  We found out Cookie has a full head of hair and is 3 1/2 lbs.  Right on target.

The reason I bring this up, is I had the strangest realization...it's obviously preferable not to deliver now; however, Cookie could be born today and survive.  We'd have a baby.  Very, very, very strange realization.  It's put Nick in high gear in getting some things around (I think it's all really starting to hit him).

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: It looks like close to 2 lbs making the total weight gain 29 lbs.  I do reserve the right to adjust this once we have our OB visit in a in a week and a half.

MOVEMENT: Cookie really seems to like to stretch up into my ribs and diaphragm making for some significant discomfort.  The neatest thing is when I push down on her and she either pushes me right  back or shifts.  The interactive movement really is the most amazing thing.  Nick is jealous he can't feel it, but as I'm really starting to explode in size, he says it's one thing he can live without feeling.

CRAVINGS: Still nothing although I had a burger and mozzarella sticks yesterday and now I can't stop thinking about either.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, missing feet, crazy dreams, moderate heartburn (it actually wakes me up in the middle of the night now), spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, hip pain when sleeping, mild insomnia, occasional dizziness.

New this week - uterine discomfort.  When I stand up, gravity really pull Cookie down and it does not feel good.  I also had a return of extreme fatigue today.  I ended up taking the afternoon off from work (currently working from home while the floor installation is finishing up - 75% completed!) and took a 3 hour nap.  I'm lucky to have a supportive boss who let me take off.  I hope this is not a new consistent symptom, although I'll take it as long as the nausea and vomiting don't return (which I read can happen in the third trimester).

BELLY BUTTON: No change. I've officially lost the bet too.

PREPARATIONS: As noted above, floor is 75% completed!  It looks so beautiful.  I can't wait to get the furniture back into the room...late this week!!!  We've also been working on the yard, re-grading is taking forever!  Our new stained concrete patio should be put in this week.  No preparations on Cookie's nursery this weekend.  I got a little sidetracked with some Christmas shopping and a friend in need, but we're still on track.  The closet is almost done, just one more shelf needs to be added and we'll be done. 

I've made some pediatrician appointments over the next couple of weeks.  Our little scare put a fire under me to get one lined up just in case.

MILESTONES: Cookie is officially in the way.  I did yoga last Friday and couldn't do half the poses anymore because my body just wouldn't bend.  Also, getting in and out of the car is very difficult and forget tying my shoes...I've just been slipping my sneakers on and off.  Nick will have to tie them for me when they come lose.

WEEKLY WISDOM: After our little scare, my new weekly wisdom is listen to your body during this time.  I think I was pushing myself a little too hard.  It's not like I forget that I'm pregnant, with this bump there's no way, but I'm not good with limitations and limiting myself.  My thought is, "I've always done it so there shouldn't be any reason I can't do it now."  Now the OB said that there was nothing I did that caused what happened, but it was a wake up call to me.  I am pregnant and I do need to slow down.  So as of a week a go Sunday, slow down has been put in process.

Week 32 belly picture coming next week!

30 Weeks

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: No change - total weight gain is at 27 lbs.

MOVEMENT: Still moving all around.  Her head is currently pointed down which gives me a lot of movement up by my ribs and a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen.  I can feel when she rolls from side to side now.

CRAVINGS: Nope, nothing.  Thanksgiving weekend was a pretty bad 4 day splurge.  Back on the healthy kick now.  It helps without all those bad cravings.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, moderate heartburn (it actually wakes me up in the middle of the night now), spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain (has been getting worse the last couple of days), hip pain when sleeping, mild insomnia.

Cute story - Nick & I woke up around the same time (2AM) Sunday night/Monday morning.  We laid awake talking and fell asleep after being up for only an hour.  Insomnia is definitely better when someone is suffering with you.  I think being able to talk about what was racing through our heads at 2AM helped relax us and drift back off to sleep.  I really love my husband.

BELLY BUTTON: No change.  We now have the next 7 days to get it to pop all the way out so we can have bragging rights...otherwise I'm a loser too.

PREPARATIONS: Floor removal is fully underway!  Levelling should take place this week.  So, so excited.  We didn't get as much done this weekend as we had hoped, there was a lot of dust flying around on Friday so Nick made me stay away from the house all day.  On the plus side, I got some Christmas shopping done.

The crib is assembled, changing table in, pictures hung, mobile hung!  Still working on the closet, but it's near completion.  Once all of that is done, pictures will be posted.  No progress on the quilt...maybe this weekend.

Went to last daycare on my list today.  Was happy.  Think I'll add Cookie to that waiting list too so that I can have a back up plan in place in case my first choice doesn't pan out.  Next focus, need to get that pediatrician lined up.

MILESTONES: 30 WEEKS!!!  No more 10's to go through until we hit Week 40, which Cookie may very well have arrived by then...the fear has started melting away (although there is still and will always be a certain amount of fear) and the excited feeling is taking over.  I cannot wait to meet this little person.

TEN WEEKS AND COUNTING!

WEEKLY WISDOM: Enjoy what little you can remember now.  I can barely remember what happened tomorrow.  A friend asked me how Disneyland was one week after I went and I could only remember two things that I had one and seen.  Nick reminded me and I then remembered, but could not bring up the memories on my own!  I think lots and lots of lists help too.  That way your hubby can't trick you into thinking you said something or promised something when you didn't (and yes, Nick has tried).

29 Weeks

We've graduated to a squash (although I think it looks like a pumpkin, don't you?).  I'd be excited except I'm pretty sure we'll be stuck here for a few weeks.  I don't peek ahead, even though being the same thing week after week is getting old.

It hasn't been that long since my last post (I was late last week), but in the spirit of getting on track...

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: It looks like the scale crept up to almost 2 lbs (total weight gain 27 lbs).  Should have passed on those nachos and candy.

MOVEMENT: Umm...wow, definite change.  The movements are pretty big now and I can feel her roll and swish all around.  It's a totally different feeling than I have been feeling...I can't even come close to explaining.  I do get a lot of pressure in places where Cookie is pushing...still an amazing feeling, but it doesn't necessarily feel good.  I still don't think I've experienced hiccups yet.

CRAVINGS: Still nothing, but I've been splurging a little too much...time to get good again (although I'm not promising ANYTHING on Thanksgiving!).

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, moderate heartburn, spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain (has been getting worse the last couple of days), hip pain when sleeping, one episode of insomnia (yuck).

It may be all in my head, but I feel like Cookie's grown in the last couple of days...my belly is tighter, it feels bigger, and my back is really bugging me when I walk (all since Sunday).

BELLY BUTTON: Top half is now an outtie, bottom half is hanging strong.  No one ever told me that the belly button could be half and half!

PREPARATIONS: Baseboards and trim are in!  We're going to start assembling the crib sometime this week...what an eye opener it will be when that is in!  Nick is still working on the closet...and very exciting news.  Crappy floor removal will begin tomorrow!  In about 2-3 weeks we should have a brand new hickory floor installed!  So excited!!!

MILESTONES: I'm at a loss for this one this time since I just blogged on Saturday and had three.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Enjoy your snuggle time with your significant other.  I can't remember the last time Nick and I were able to snuggle in bed.  Given that I sleep with five pillows AND a body pillow as well as have a baby bump in the way, there's not room for snuggling close.  I also don't sleep under the comforter anymore because I go from being so hot and then so cold that I toss the blanket on and off all night.  Sleeping in the same bed with different blankets is weird.  Nick joked he was going to buy us twin beds...not funny.

28 Weeks

I'm really, really late this week, but I figured I'm still an eggplant so who really cares?  I have to say, this being the same thing for weeks at a time blows.  It's not as exciting as it was when I couldn't wait for the new week to see what Cookie had changed into.  Each week right now is totally anti-climatic.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: I had my Week 28 OB appointment and according to the doctor's scale, I'd actually lost 2 lbs since my last visit.  That makes total weight gain 25 lbs.  OB was not worried about the weight loss (especially since I'd packed it on so quickly the first trimester).  He noted that my belly was the right size and the heart rate was perfect (one of my milestones...they're starting to measure my belly).

MOVEMENT: I've started feeling her on and off all the time - no more night owl only movements.  I can tell that she's definitely bigger/gaining weight.  The movements are so much more pronounced.  I'm not sure if I've felt the hiccups yet, but occasionally there is a little earthquake in my belly like rapid fire movements...wonder if the is the hiccups?  I can also feel definite pressure from her if she's settling in a specific spot or what I imagine as her head or bum pushing into my organs or out through my belly.

When I'm laying on my side now, she sometimes shifts to the part of my body that's on the bed.  I can feel this big pressure.  Last night I stuck my hand under there and pushed at her and she pushed back!!!  I had Nick do it and she did it again...he was struck in amazement with actually interacting with Cookie rather than just sitting and waiting for the movement.

CRAVINGS: Nada.  I'm still watching my diet better, but with the elimination of the gestational diabetes scare, I have to admit I've been splurging in some goodies.  In my defense, my OB noted the holidays were coming and I should splurge, just responsibly...working on the responsible part.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits - but it's getting much tighter), crazy dreams, heartburn (and it increasing with a vengeance - TUMS still solves all my problems), spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, mild lower back pain.  I noticed I'm not so hot/stuffy any more since winter's setting in.  I actually use a blanket nightly now...although it's much lighter than the comforter on our bed so still no close blanket sharing with Nick.  I had one crazy pregnant lady meltdown last week after my last blog.  The first one in quite a while.  Although I have an excuse, I'm still not very proud of them when they happen.

New this week: I'm getting hip pain when I lay in bed now.  I was only rolling over once a night, but now I'm rolling several times because of discomfort in my hip.  I now have a nest in bed.  I take four pillows and lay them out to sleep on (foam pillow at my hip), have the body pillow, and a fifth pillow for putting my head on.  This method puts Nick and I farther away, but he hasn't complained for lack of space in the queen sized bed...yet.

BELLY BUTTON: Nick has totally lost the bet...now I just need it to hold out until Week 30 which was my guess.  There's nothing at stake except for bragging rights which is huge in our household.  The top half is now poofed completely out, but the bottom half is still a solid innie...

PREPARATIONS: No preparations completed this week...we were at Disneyland (fun, fun, fun, but we didn't get any pictures - I actually lasted until almost 10PM at night!) last weekend and seemed to have something going on every weeknight so everything is at a standstill.  It's actually raining in San Diego today (we have a pretty big storm and it's supposed to rain all weekend so the nursery is the top priority).

MILESTONES: We officially started the third trimester!!!  VERY humbling and a little freaky.  Nothing to count down to except for the birth now...wow.  Baby preparation classes are going well...we watched birthing videos this week and talked about C-sections last week.  Nick's getting excited, I'm just getting scared.  I've been looking at all the little clothes that have starting flowing in as gifts.  They're so tiny.  It's crazy to think we're going to have something that fits into those things!

Second milestone – not one I like at all.  I had the first stranger rub my belly this morning when Nick and I went out for breakfast.  I tried turning away slightly and even put my hand up and she just kept right on going while she was talking to me.  Yuck.  I'm surprised crazy pregnant lady didn't come out at that moment...wonder if she noticed my fake smile/grimace?

Third milestone - I started looking into daycare for Cookie.  We'd prefer a nanny, but even with nanny sharing, it just won't be financially feasible for us.  The first one I went to made me cry.  I don't want to get into it, but there's no way in hell I'd ever leave my Cookie there, EVER.  The fact that some people do appalled me (although maybe I expect too much).  The second one I went to I loved (although moving up from the first one wouldn't take much AND it was more expensive by $200 per month).  I have a couple more to look at, but put Cookie on the wait list for the the second one.  They just really had their poop together.  One last comment, holy crap...day care IS expensive.

WEEKLY WISDOM: We all grow up and a lot of us move away from home.  My weekly wisdom this week - my family (especially my mom).  We're very close and I miss her a lot - she lives in Tacoma.  I'm embarking on this new phase of my life and becoming a mom myself.  I know I want to be just like her in my mothering skills, she always knows just what to say and do.  While I've always missed her and had a little ache because I don't live near, I've never felt it so acutely and so deeply as I do now (to the point of tears sometimes).  Moms always know the right thing to say and she does it when we're on the phone, but I'd give anything for a hug, a kiss, and a "you're going to be a great mom, don't be scared" from her.  Embarking on the third trimester has been an eye opening experience for me...I'm scared, anxious, and excited all at the same time.  Nick is wonderful and my friends are wonderful, but sometimes you just need your mom.

And now for the pictures...

 Carmel apples I got as treats for all the fabulous guests (thank you again!).

 Yummy spread prior to lunch...those cupcakes were fabulous - and thank you for saving some virgin punch for me...it was delicious!

Those decorations were hand made for the shower...they were all over the house.  Gorgeous!

...and here is my 28 week growing body.

27 Weeks

Still an eggplant, ugh. I hate being the same thing over and over and over again...patience has never been my thing!

So we’ll start this week’s blog off with my not so pleasant story from last night. Nick & I were laying in bed reading before going to sleep. Nick with a non-fiction political book (God bless him for being able to read them, I’ve tried, but just can’t do it) and me with a baby name book…yes, we’re finally beginning our process- and no, we won't tell you what we like.  You all get to wait until Cookie makes her appearance to learn what her yet to be decided name will be.

I was occasionally throwing a name out I liked and Nick would either veto or say add it to our little list for later thought. Little Mookie was coming in and out of the bedroom during this process, snuggling with me and when I would shift, getting up and going and exploring the rest of the house and then coming back. We were in bed for about 30 minutes or so. Nick turned off his light and turned on the news to go to sleep and Little Mookie jumped up and in the little space between my legs I make for him just like always and was looking at me while I was reading and then I heard it.

HE WAS PEEING ON ME!!!

I screamed and yelled he was peeing and Mookie ran away…there it was a puddle of pee quickly soaking into the blanket that was covering me. Nick went after Mookie. Luckily, I don’t use the same blanket as the comforter on our bed to sleep with any more because I get so hot so quickly and kick things off. Nick will sleep under our comforter and I use a different blanket and sleep on top of the comforter. I delicately pulled the duvet off and separated the two and threw them in garage (they’ll be washed today when I get home). Nick brought Mookie in the bed and rubbed his nose in it. I’m not sure this works with cats, but Nick insisted.

Now friends, what in the world do you think would make him pee on me? I can’t figure it out. He’s always, always, always been a mama’s boy. In the last couple of weeks he’s become even more clingier on me and insisting on cuddling me and following me everywhere and freaking out if I close a door behind me and he can’t get in. Nick has to work to get him to come near Nick now for pets and Mookie doesn’t cuddle with Nick at all in bed anymore. I’m all ears because Nick & I can’t figure it out…he peed in the spot he sleeps in every night and on the person he can’t stand not being near.  Could he really have been marking me as his territory?  He's neutered.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: I think we’re up 1 ½ lbs from last week…we have a MD visit on Wednesday so I’ll let you know for sure. That would make total weight gain 27 ½ lbs. Sadness.

MOVEMENT: Still being a night owl. I can’t remember the last time Nick got to feel his little Cookie move. More sadness.

CRAVINGS: Still nothing I can think of, although I totally splurged after this last week. I went in for another 3 hour glucose test last Tuesday. If you recall, it should have been my regularly scheduled 1 hour, but due to my positive urine dip weeks ago, I had to go through the process. They wanted me to repeat the 1 hour, but my rationale is if it was abnormal a few weeks ago, it would be abnormal again so I wanted to jump to the 3 hour test because I just assumed I would have to do it anyway. I finished the test, had sweet potato fries with lunch, nachos for dinner, and then had McDonald’s cheeseburgers the next day. Totally gross, I know, how gluttonous can one person be? BUT, my rationale was I was convinced I had gestational diabetes, I needed to get in one last indulgence since I didn’t know for sure. My test came back NEGATIVE!!! Such happiness, but so much guilt for the total disgusting splurge in junk food.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, hot/stuffy all the time, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, heartburn, spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, mild lower back pain. I also strained my neck Sunday morning telling Nick a story…it still hurts, but at least I had my prenatal massage this morning. Cyndi can work magic!
New this week: NO GESTATIONAL DIABETES!!! I’m still sleeping pretty well and haven’t gotten too uncomfortable. I still feel really, really fabulous. I’m hoping it will continue.

BELLY BUTTON: The top half of my belly button is still poofed. It doesn’t stick out like an outtie, but is more like the top half is just disappearing. Nick has until the end of the week for poppage and then I have to hope it hold out until Week 30 so I can win our little bet on when it will pop. I can still make it move in and out based upon my breathing. I still find it disgusting, but can’t stop. It’s like when you get a canker sore and can’t stop touching it with your tongue.

PREPARATIONS: I have the fabric I’m going to use for Cookie’s quilt and the curtains were hung last week. Nothing else in terms of preparations. My BFF, Lizzie was in town this weekend so we curbed the preparations. I did manage to get the fabric squares for the quilt cut up though. Just because you have people around, you can’t stop the nesting pregnant lady. It’s a disease.

MILESTONES: The belly button poofing comes to mind (see above). I also did my scheduled glucose test today. I went with the 3 hour rather than the 1 hour. I'm assuming the 1 hour would come back abnormal at this point so I'd rather just go to the lab once. As before, they have Internet so I was able to work the whole time.

Second milestone – baby preparation classes started. We learned all about labor and delivery on Wednesday night. I’m officially freaked out. I mean, my baby’s head will be the size of WHAT and I’ll only dilate HOW much?

Third milestone – We’ve officially started our last week of our third trimester. It’s really hitting us now. Next week it will be just a countdown to the delivery. No more trimesters to start.

Fourth milestone – Baby shower went off BEAUTIFULLY on Saturday!!!

WEEKLY WISDOM: Not so much a wisdom, but a realization. I have amazing friends. Our baby shower was wonderful on Saturday. We did a guy/girl combination party. The generosity of our friends was amazing not to mention my girlfriends who threw it. The decorations were made by a girlfriend in Northern California who couldn’t make, but shipped them down. I mean, we all know we have wonderful friends, but every so often you open your eyes and realize how truly wonderful they are. Thank you to everyone again, Nick and I are still so touched.

I should have uploaded pics from the baby shower, but I didn’t, I got lazy. Week 28 belly pic next week and I’ll upload some baby shower pictures then.

The Great Floor Debacle

It is OVER.  Our hate relationship with our floor issues is no longer.  We've been vindicated.

I'm not sure I ever blogged about this...while our beautiful bamboo floors were being put in they immediately began warping.  I will refrain from saying who sold them to us, who put them in, or our loving nicknames for both of them.  Thank you to our friend Gabe who directed us to the bond company to recoup our costs after 9 month of begging and demanding something be done. 

Pieces of the floor were ripped out over the course of that 9 months for tests and inspections.  An independent inspector came to our house and noted in their inspection report that the floor was improperly installed.  In May we were told the floor was being replaced.  We picked out a new floor and moved all of our furniture into from our great room to the family room.

They came and began the process and told us we had a busted pipe and that was what was wrong with the floor.  Funny since all of our pipes run through the attic and not our concrte slab.  They left a 100 sq ft hole cut into our floor.  We've been living out of our bedroom and kitchen since.  That's since MAY...it's now NOVEMBER!  I couldn't have the baby shower in our house because of that.  All those belly pics...taken in the middle of our 100 sq ft hole.  I kept hoping the next month would be different.

So after that, they refused to keep going and jerking us around...enter the California State Contractor's Board and the Bond Company.  The state of CA requires each licensed contractor carry a bond for instances like ours. 

After we had some more inspectors come out the house and be literally appalled with our situation...we've received a check for a full reimbursement of our floor plus the cost of removal plus the amount of money we spent to have a plumber come and check our pipes and confirm they ran through our attic, not a our concrete slab.

I hate to say this, but...Karma's a bitch suckas!  Hope to have the new floor in by Christmas.  Only hiccup is that the contractor's board may want to send one more inspector out to hopefully site the one who sold us the floor with  more infractions than the ones we've provided.

The floor installation originally began November 2008, finished February 2009.  Complaint reported to the one who sold us the floor August 2009...check received November 2010.  TWO years of floor misery...DONE!

Yes, Cookie is doing a happy dance.

26 Weeks

No funny stories this weekend...don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: I'm not sure really sure, maybe a 1/2 lb. to 1 lb.  It's hard to tell day to day.  I think total weight gain is still right at 25 lbs.

MOVEMENT: We have a night owl on our hands.  Cookie seems to sleep most of the day and enjoys waking mommy up at 2 - 3 AM dancing on the bladder.  After a bathroom trip, she's rocking away and won't let mommy go back to sleep until almost 4 AM now.
CRAVINGS: Nada...is that good or bad.  I do wish I could eat pasta since I've started this modified diet.  I mean, I CAN, but in limited quantities and I don't trust myself to try.

SYMPTOMS: Borderline gestational diabetic, emotional ups and downs, hot/stuffy all the time, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, heartburn, spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, mild lower back pain.
New this week: On Sunday night I had the first experience where my stomach feels tight.  I can't describe it, it's like I could feel it stretching.  It wasn't the most fabulous feeling and I imagine it will come back again only worse.

BELLY BUTTON: The top half of my belly button is poofed a little bit!  If I lean into a reclining position and breath hard, I can make it stick all the way out and suck it all the way in.  Nick gets a kick out of it, I think it's disgusting, but can't stop doing it.  Nick's still thinks it will pop at Week 27.  I'm hoping for at earliest Week 30 so I won't have to live with it like that for very long.

PREPARATIONS: Finished making the curtains and hanging them up tonight!  We didn't get a chance to paint the baseboards this weekend and won't be able to work on it for the next couple of weekends.  My BFF is coming to town on Thursday to celebrate our b-days (we're 9 days a part) and go to our baby shower on Saturday.  Can't wait to see her, it's been WAY too long.  Weekend after, I'm going to waddle myself around Disneyland for our annual Disneyland trip.  I had wanted to squeeze it in this weekend with Liz in town, but with the baby shower, it just wasn't going to work.

I've also decided I'm going to try my hand at making Cookie a quilt.  It will be very simple and all the squares may not line up, but at least it will be made with love.

MILESTONES: The belly button poofing comes to mind (see above).  I also did my scheduled glucose test today. I went with the 3 hour rather than the 1 hour.  I'm assuming the 1 hour would come back abnormal at this point so I'd rather just go to the lab once.  As before, they have Internet so I was able to work the whole time.

Although it's not one yet, we're starting our baby preparation classes tomorrow (more about it next week).  Have no idea what we're in for...Nick's nervous about the birth video...I am too.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Even though they're really, really not cute, maternity pants rock it.  Up until this time I've been wearing my belly band and regular pants (I bought some in bigger sizes as I've been growing, but on the clearance rack because the maternity ones were so ugly to me).  I finally gave in an bought 2 pairs of khakis, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of capris.  Wow...you get to wear your regular size so it felt like I went down 4 sizes!  Plus, they are SO comfortable.  I've also re-discovered stretch pants...if you buy the ones specifically for pregnant ladies - HEAVEN!
 
No pictures this week...you'll have to be a little in suspense as we're getting the trim together.  I'd like the next pictures to be of a complete nursery, but that will be at least a month or so...you may get some sneak peeks of the quilt to be started.  Belly picture to come at Week 28.

25 Weeks

Woohoo!!!  We've moved on to an eggplant!

Funny story...I was doing my prenatal yoga on Friday and we did the pigeon pose (I can't even begin to describe this, but it requires quite a bit of flexibility in your hips).  I normally do well at it (I think because I'm short), but on Friday I was especially low.  I thought to myself, "wow, you're getting bendy!"  After class my yoga instructor pulled me aside and noted to be careful because as my body is getting ready for birth my ligaments are getting flexier which is why I did pigeon so well.  She noted that I could dislocate my hip if I'm not careful.  Well...sh*t!

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: 1 lb, total weight gain, 25 lbs.

MOVEMENT:  She's moving around on a daily basis, some days more than others.  I woke last night due to a swift kick or jab on some body part of mine, but was luckily able to go right back to sleep.

CRAVINGS: New favorite lunch...two scramble eggs, spinach, and cut up turkey.  Yum, yum.  I think I may dare to add tomatoes since I haven't had much heartburn lately.

SYMPTOMS:  Borderline gestational diabetic, emotional ups and downs, hot/stuffy all the time, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, heartburn, spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation.

New this week: some mild lower back pain.  I think I overdid it on Saturday (see preparations), but it's still lingering.  My hips have also started to pop if I pivot quickly on one foot (after yoga I now understand why).

Feet swelling still hasn't reared its ugly head along with the itching.

BELLY BUTTON: No change.

PREPARATIONS: Fan is done and hung!  It came out so cute!  Nick does get these good ideas every so often...Painting in the nursery is done!  The big priority next weekend will be getting the baseboards and door trim in and then I can finally put my adorable decals up!  Now I have to start focusing on finding some cute fabric for curtains.

MILESTONES: I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I can't think of a single milestone.  Movement is much the same, symptoms pretty much the same.  I feel great.  It's almost like I've gotten used to being pregnant...can that be possible?

WEEKLY WISDOM: Slow and steady wins the race.  I keep forgetting to take it easy and I can't pick things up or sit how I want or do all of the things I did pre-pregnancy.  I need to slow it down, take it easy, and listen to my body.  It's hard for me to remember my agenda doesn't necessarily coincide with the pregnant agenda!

24 Weeks and Pregnancy Brain

So, so, so tired of being a papaya!

So this week I have to start off with what will be my most infamous and best pregnancy brain story (at least I hope so). For those of you who have been to our house, you know we bought a bank owned foreclosure two years ago and you know how cosmetically ugly it truly is, structurally sound, just really, really ugly. We’ve been slowly fixing it up over since we’ve bought. We have a few priority items to get done before Cookie arrives.
In our master bathroom (which is particularly heinous), there is a fan/heat lamp. When we first moved in we turned the heat lamp on and noticed a funny smell so we’ve never used it since. We keep talking about buying a new one and replacing it since it gets cold in the winter (for San Diego) and it would be nice to have a heat lamp to use, but we just haven’t gotten around to it. We do use the fan to keep the bathroom from steaming up though.

So I turn the water on the shower to get it nice and steamy, flip the switch on the fan and jump in the shower. Only what I didn’t realize is that I turned on the fan AND the heat lamp. I was in the shower for about five to ten minutes and POP! A spark flies out of the fan/heat lamp and it makes a funny noise. Nick runs and shuts both flips off, looks up and can you guess what he saw?

Yup, fire. He grabs the fire extinguisher and lets it go. Then we take down the fan to make sure the fire was really out. We were both late to work. I was worried all day, but so grateful when I came home and the house was still standing.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: So since I’ve started this modified diet due to the borderline gestational diabetes, I don’t think I’ve gained any weight this week (at least according to the home scale).

MOVEMENT: Nothing new in this department. Cookie is moving all around. She has taken a liking to my bladder as a pillow and punching bag. I notice she moves most when I’m eating and right after I’m done as well as just before I drift off to sleep at night. The night movement is making me think to the point when she’s much bigger and she starts waking me up.

CRAVINGS: No cravings this week. I had the most heavenly mango, kiwi, strawberry fruit salad this week though. It made me very happy (I almost didn’t miss indulging in some chocolate).

SYMPTOMS: Same stuff – borderline gestational diabetic, emotional ups and downs, feet swelling, hot/stuffy even though the weather is cooling down – I had to run out of Home Depot over the weekend because I felt like I was overheating, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, heartburn, spicy food aversion, and my new one is frequent urination. I can’t quite describe this, all of a sudden I really, really, really have to go, but when I do it’s not nearly as much as what my full bladder typically puts out.

Feet swelling hasn’t occurred all week and my belly and double D itching is gone for now.

BELLY BUTTON: No change.

PREPARATIONS: Mobile is done! Check it out below. Painting in the nursery is almost done; we’re just doing a couple of touch ups now and then we can start moving Cookie’s furniture in! We’ve starting painting the ceiling fan blades as well. I think we may have a resolution in our floor issues, full blog to come about that once it’s for sure finalized (in a week or two, we’re just waiting for our check). Also received the decals for Cookie’s room…I can’t wait to get them up!

MILESTONES: I was standing in the shower yesterday and happened to poke at my belly. The bottom was way harder than the top. I made Nick take a couple of pokes and he noticed too! I told him it was Cookie sitting at the bottom of the bump (although I have no idea what part of her we were poking). Cookie has also found my bladder and I’m not complaining, but she seems particular to it which has been kind of annoying. Nick got his first piece of “Daddy” baby wear. His mom sent us some gifts for Cookie and one of them was a “Daddy’s Girl” bib. I wish I had a picture of his face when he saw it, especially when I laid it on my belly for him to see.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Get used to the bathroom. I can’t wait to see our water bill this time around. I’ve been flushing a lot. I should calculate how much time I spend going to the bathroom now.

Here are the mobile pictures and pictures of the Week 24 bump…enjoy!

23 Weeks & The Mishaps of Little Mookie

Still a papaya this week...although in my pregnancy book, I read Cookie should double in weight by the end of the month!

So I have to start out with a Little Mookie story this week...he is in the poop house with me right now.  I love him, always will.  If some of you will remember, when Nick & I first got Little Mookie he used to pee on Nick's stuff, and ONLY Nick's stuff.  I thought it was really funny (although Nick didn't quite feel the same way).  I had always told Nick, just don't keep your stuff on the floor, problem solved.  Mookie would go far as to root through the dirty clothes pile while I was separating them for washing and pee directly on Nick's jeans (that happened only once, but it's a true story, and yes, I laughed really hard).  I think Mookie was trying to exert dominance (even though he's been fixed), but who knows what the issue was.  It stopped after about two months (and it wasn't like it happened all the time, just occasionally).

So Karma really sucks, I totally know it, and I should have never laughed at Nick's situation.  Mookie has always been a mama's boy.  He literally follows me all around the house (even the bathroom).  He can't stand it when I close a door and he can't get in, he gets really stressed out and meows and scratches constantly at the door.  I can barely sit down and get situated before he's trying to get in my lap for pets and cuddles.

Which makes Sunday morning so weird.  Nick had fallen asleep watching the TV (yes, our bedroom is still our living room, bedroom, and dining room and we are hopefully close to a floor resolution, but I don't want to jinx it so more will come later) and I woke up around 6 AM and nudged him and requested the TV be turned off.  Nick turns it off and I proceed to try to drift back off to sleep hugging my body pillow close (which for those of you pregnant, it really is a God send, get it sooner rather than later, trust me).  All of a sudden I hear something like water pouring and I think OMG, is Mookie peeing in our room!?!  Cats have accidents, it happens every so often, but rarely.  Mookie is particular about his litter box.  If it's not clean enough for him, he'll pee on the bathroom rug I put in front of it to catch all of his litter, but he NEVER pees outside of the bathroom, not for FOUR years!

I yell, "Mookie!  Are you peeing!?!" and flip on my bedside lamp and there he is mid squat on my gym bag!  I cannot believe it!  He has peed on my gym bag!  I was so freaking mad!  I chased him out of the room...came back into the bedroom and threw the bag in bathtub in our master bathroom figuring I'd wash it when I got up at a decent hour.  I waddled back to the bed and realized I was thirsty and my bedside Nalgene was empty.  In the kitchen, Mookie comes up and tries to be sweet and rub my leg and I go chasing him through the house yelling at him.

I get back to the bedroom and lay back down and the little bugger tries to get in bed with us!  I chase him out again, apologize to Nick because now I'm definitely keeping him awake, and lay back down.  Of course now I'm too worked up to go to sleep and am even more upset that I'm awake at 6 AM on a weekend morning.  Mookie tries to get back in bed to cuddle a couple of more times and each time I chase him away (I mean, he PEED on my stuff, he has to be punished, right?).  He finally gave up and was smart enough to stay away the rest of the morning.  He spent the day desperately trying to make up...I held firm.  Of course he was forgiven eventually (that night before bedtime when he sat by the side of the bed giving me a pitiful look is when I finally gave in and forgave him)...and like I said, Karma really sucks - Nick was really great about the whole thing and told me he knows how much it sucks.

Now on to the fun stuff...

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: I think it's only been 1 lb, but it's kind of hard to tell when you just have a home scale...the MD scale is more accurate.

MOVEMENT: Holy cow...had a really, really hard jab (maybe an elbow?) Sunday morning (yes, while I sat awake fuming at Mookie).  My hand just happened to be where the jab was and it was hard and pokey!!!  It was the weirdest thing I had ever felt.  I immediately woke Nick, he felt one too (although it wasn't as hard as the one I felt).  We can now see my belly move when Cookie moves.  It's just the slightest movement right now...no hiccups yet.  Nick likes to lay next to me and watch her move around. 

CRAVINGS: Nick's stir fry.  It's the first meal he ever made me and it made me think he could cook (he's that good at it).  Little did I know it was the only from scratch recipe he could make (the only other thing he knows is spaghetti from a jar, veggie burgers, and heating up left overs).  He made it for me Friday night and made enough so we got left overs Saturday night...pure bliss.

Another craving I've been having on and off is cantaloupe, which is weird because I did not like cantaloupe pre-pregnancy - at all.  It tastes so sweet and wonderful to me now.  I don't try to make sense of it, I just indulge since it's healthy.

SYMPTOMS: Same stuff - emotional ups and downs, feet swelling (although it's down graded to very mild rather than moderate - yeah for me keeping my feet elevated like a good girl), hot/stuffy (Nick still freezes at night), missing feet, swollen fingers (although I discovered I can still fit my wedding ring on if I keep the engagement ring off - it doesn't bunch of the swollen tissue on my finger as much - so I try to wear it when we go out - it makes me feel like I'm not knocked up), crazy dreams, not as much heartburn (I haven't used my Tums in three days!), spicy food aversion, belly itching and double D itching has downgraded and does not occur everyday.

The mild insomnia has not reappeared this week (happiness) and I haven't had another leg cramp since that one.  Another happiness note, I haven't had another bout of the pregnancy constipation (whew!). 

Some of you may think some of this is TMI, but honestly, some of this stuff I never knew about and wish I had known before rather than panicking when they occurred and then be giggled at by my previously/currently pregnant girlfriends (and mother too) and told it's all normal.

Had a gestational diabetes scare.  During my OB visit last week, I had glucose in my urine so that Wednesday I had to go in for a 1 hour fasting glucose test.  That came back high (I was 159 and they wanted it below 139).  So I had to go back Friday for a THREE hour fasting glucose test (that's 4 pokes total - yuck).  Nick went with me in support because I was upset about the whole thing.  Luckily the had Internet so I could get some work done while waiting.  That test came back with one result high and the rest normal so I'm more of a borderline...which means not much other than I have to repeat the test prior to my next OB visit and I have some modifications to my diet.  Not too bad, BUT I'm not allowed cookies, cake, jelly, syrup, ice cream, candy and all the fun stuff Cookie and I love so much, but in the end it's really better for the both of us to cut that stuff out.

BELLY BUTTON: Yup, still there.

PREPARATIONS: Paintings are done, check them out below!  We didn't make much progress on painting this week, We're trying to figure out the best attack.  I have a respirator I wear while painting and Nick does the big areas while I do the detail work (where the ceiling meets the wall, corners, etc.) that the roller can't get.  Nick isn't very good with these spots and he knows I'll make him do it a 100 times until it's right because I am that anal.  Even though I have the respirator, I don't want to do the trimming while he is doing the big areas so we're debating if he should do the big areas first or if I should do the trimming first.  Honestly, I think we were just lazy this weekend.  I got the sticks for my mobile during a walk through the canyon by our house Nick and I took this weekend (I heart nature) and other supplies to put it together.  I plan on working on the balancing act this week...hopefully you'll see a done picture next week.  I also ordered the decals for the fan blades and the one for the wall behind the crib this weekend, but you'll have to wait until they're received and up before you get a peek at those.  We also signed up for a child birth and preparedness class that starts in November.

MILESTONES: I think the movement section speaks of our big milestone this week.  I'm still in awe of that feeling from the outside I felt and Nick gets to feel them more and more each day.  Another milestone, Nick is really into decorating and making choices for Cookie's nursery!  He has opinions on everything, which is refreshing since he really didn't have any opinions in the planning of the wedding.  I can count on him to make the final decision if I present two or three choices of something I like which helps with my feelings of being overwhelmed.

WEEKLY WISDOM: It's OK to be lazy.  Nick and I spent a lazy Sunday in bed (and realized we wouldn't be able to do that any more come February).  We hadn't done that since we were still young and dating (not that we're old now)...it was one of our favorite things to do, just be together and snuggle deep into the covers and enjoy each other and talk about our future together.  Life had gotten in our way, but it brought back all those memories of the things we did when our relationship was still new.  We made a promise to do it again at least one more time before Cookie arrives (although we may do it more than once).

And here they are...nine painted pictures for Cookie's nursery (and yes, that's still our concrete slab - floor is still in dispute).  They don't look so bad if I dare to toot my own horn!

22 Weeks - and we have GENDER!!!

That's a papya up there in case you didn't know (I didn't).

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Had MD visit today...20 lbs. compared to pre-pregnancy (ouch), but OB is happy with weight gain, but he did note I was a bit ahead of the curb and to watch my carb intake (which also hurt since I'm loving the carbs right now...time to put some limits and abstain a bit!)


MOVEMENT: The butterfly flutters/muscle twitches have moved into full on bat flutters.  Getting stronger and more consistent every day.

CRAVINGS: Hit the broccoli craving again and it's now combined with carrots...I'm happy that they seem to be sticking with fruit and veggies in the last couple of weeks.

SYMPTOMS: All the usual suspects: emotional ups and downs, feet swelling (although it's been a lot less due to the consistency with elevating my feet), I feel hot/stuff ALL the time (no matter how chilly it is), some mild insomnia (I woke up at 12AM last night and couldn't go back to sleep until 3AM!), feet still MIA, wedding & engagement ring still MIA, crazy dreams (the last one had to deal with spider - NOT a favorite of mine), yucky heartburn (I've been trying to stay away from culprit foods, but it's been difficult), aversion to anything spicy (which for those of you who REALLY know me, you know hell must have now frozen over!).  The itching of the Double D's and the belly have subsided somewhat (maybe Cookie was going through a growth spurt?).  Now for some gross stuff (as you know, I'm not shy)...first bout of constipation...and let me tell you for those of you who have not experienced pregnancy and constipation - it sucked!  Also my uterus is sore (I guess from all the growing).  No one told me about that one and I had to ask my pregnant girlfriend (she's 12 weeks with her second) if something was wrong or if this was normal.  It's strange feeling - it's like that feeling when you sit in one position too long and then get up to move and it's like "oh!"

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie, but I looked at it this morning and it has this discolored ring around it now...I think it's stretching out, I can almost see the bottom whole of my belly button ring (that I no longer wear, but the whole is still there - whoever said they're not permanent was a LIAR!). 

PREPARATIONS: Ceiling is painted, ceiling fan purchased, all birds are completed.  I didn't get a chance to work on my painting this weekend.  I got adventurous and took a very long walk in our neighborhood while Nick was working on the yard.  It was a little hot that day and I shouldn't have done it.  I came home overheated and slept the rest of the day until dinnertime.  The next day was spent working on getting supplies to paint the ceiling and a debate over what color the nursery should be (I think we're going to stick with the navy carpet because it's there and it will be easier to just keep it that way).

MILESTONES: We have a gender!!!  Welcome to Bambina Muscolino (below)...Nick was right, it's a girl!  We are beyond excited!!!  It's strange to know what she is...it makes her a very real person to us now and calling her "she" has been a strange adjustment (shout out to Aaron our US tech who spent an hour with us to get the gender - this is after he got the shots he needed).

Nick felt movement!!!  This is probably the best thing that's happened so far, I've waited so long for him to be able to feel her.  It was Saturday morning.  I loved the look of wonderment in his eyes.  He hasn't felt it again, Cookie was a little quiet on Sunday, but he keeps asking if she's moving and if he can feel her.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Make sure you do as many things with your significant other as possible and spend as much time with your friends.  We're not parents yet, but we've been told SEVERAL times how much our lives will change.  A thought hit me the other day, Nick and I will never be just Nick and I ever again once this baby comes.  It will change our relationship so cherish the alone time you have left.

And here she is...Bambina Muscolino.  I think she's pretty cute, but I admit I may be biased!

21 Weeks

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: No really sure...it looks like maybe 1/2 to 1 lb.

MOVEMENT: Had what I imagined as an actual punch or kick this weekend.  I was reading after waking up with Nick still snoozing.  My hand was on my belly and, Kung-fu punch (or kick)!  I think I could just barely see my belly move with it.  Cookie didn't do it again and Nick has now taken to always keeping his hand on my belly to try and get that first feel.

CRAVINGS: Watermelon.  I saw it in the grocery store and immediately started drooling.  We bought one and got to share with good friends and their 2 year old on Sunday.  It was bliss.

SYMPTOMS: The weather every since Sunday has been hot, hot, hot.  The hottest days I've ever experienced living in San Diego in my eight years here!  Last night was pure misery trying to sleep.  It never cooled off until around 5AM this morning.  I made an ice pack with a hand towel and Zip lock bag full of ice which helped for a while, but I woke up with it leaking all over me and had to give it up.  Nick was blissfully sleeping next to me...I was really jealous.  I just hope this isn't the start of insomnia.  By belly and double D's are itching like crazy.  I wake up scratching the heck out of them.  I've been using baby oil and lotion, but it only helps for a little while.

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie, but still getting shallower by the day.  Now when I press at the top of it, it goes from an innie to a full on outtie.  I have to say, this is the one part of pregnancy that creeps me out the most (other than delivery).  It looks pretty gross when I do it.

PREPARATIONS: The paintings are almost done.  I've started the last 2 and just have some touch ups on the 2 other ones.  All the birds are done for the mobile, including stuffing.  Now I just have to go out and get some sticks and put it all together.  Nick has been impressed with my crafty talents, I told I just needed inspiration.  We haven't done much to the nursery.  We were going to begin painting on Saturday until it was 95 degrees at our house.  It's been postponed until next week.  We registered for all our gear and my wonderful girlfriends Tara & Amanda have begun preparations for my baby shower...Nick & I feel so touched to have such wonderful friends!  Still debating on the carpet, but I think the navy blue may be winning out

MILESTONES: As noted above, I believe I saw the first movement, but nothing since Saturday morning so I'm not sure if I imagined it or not.  Repeat ultrasound on Friday!  Think positive thoughts about those little legs being uncrossed.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Enjoy this time.  I may complain about some of the symptoms, but I'm constantly in wonder at what's happening in my body.  I was complaining about, ahem, the feeding parts of my double D's exponentially growing to my mom and she told me I should be happy and proud and that it was beautiful because my body is making a miracle and getting ready to help that miracle adjust to the world.  At that point I was bummed at the ugliness of what was happening, but it really put it in perspective to me.  Yes, it's uncomfortable, yes, I don't feel like the sexy woman I was before, but, yes, it's a miracle and when I feel Cookie move around it's the most wondrous thing to realize you have an actual person in there.  It also amazes me that I made this person with Nick and there will never be another one like our Cookie.