Monthly Archives: September 2008

What’s in a name? A lot. Now that there’s a growing bubble, it’s time to put the list to good use. I’ve been keeping a list of names I like since the beginning of time (Okay, so it’s only been a few years.), and here’s what we’ve got to work with so far …

Some of them have already been ruled out, but to make life easier, I just copied and pasted everything. And if you want to make a wordle of your own, visit their site. Wordles rock!

We do plan to find out if it’s going to be a blue or a pink, but will have it written down and placed in an envelope to open with family. We should find out right around Christmas, so that’s the planned big reveal! Good heavens, I’m about ready to cry thinking about it! Darn hormones!

My body, that is. Instead, it now belongs to the bubble growing inside me. It’s not holding back; keeping its presence a secret no more. The 26 day old bubble has been welcoming itself to me for 2 good days now, and it has a lot to say. Namely, “Hey mom, that burnt popcorn stinks, and I don’t like it one bit. And by the way, you’ve been sitting for too long and I’d like to move, so I’m going to tell your back to make you want to move. Oh, and aren’t you tired? We really could use a nap. Mom, you don’t mind eating saltines and toast all day long, do you? P.S., don’t you have to pee again?” Okay, okay, I counter with, “Yeah, bubble, I know you’re in there. I’m readin’ ya loud and clear.”

I like what Hot Mama says, if only it were practical. Today’s except is from the section titled, “take naps.”

Listen to your body when it tells you to take a catnap in the middle of the day. And don’t feel guilty about going to bed at nine o’clock. After all, how can you be a Hot Mama if you have big circles under your eyes?

Hmmm, I don’t know. “Sorry, boss. I’m going to take a quick catnap and I’ll be back to work shortly.” While that’s totally what I feel like, there’s just no way. He’d probably fire me; that, or I’d never hear the end of it. Now, weekends are a totally different story!

I’m waiting for the fun part of pregnancy. While it’s totally awesome when I think about it – I’m growing a person inside me – it doesn’t feel totally awesome right now.

It’s 8:55, and I’m officially off to bed. Yippee!

I don’t know how I overlooked writing about this; the irony is too much to bear.

First, some background information. Since the beginning of time, my mom’s been an absolute riot; sometimes she comes up with the craziest things. One of the things she’s been telling me forever comes when we don’t talk for a few days. On these occasions, the first thing she’ll always say is, “I know why you haven’t called me. You must be pregnant.” I’m used to it, as she’s probably said it over 100 times.

So, the story. Of course, I found out on the morning of 9/9/08 that we’re expecting. I hadn’t talked to my mom for 4 or 5 days, so when she called me that afternoon, I knew what she’d say. Upon answering the phone, sure enough, she said it. No big deal, right?

Wrong! She then proceeds to say that her motherly instinct will kick in and she truly believes she’ll know when I’m pregnant. I asked her how, and she said she just will. Um, hello!? Tell me she didn’t know! I just found out myself like 9 hours ago!

Creepy, mom. Real creepy.

Last night before bed, I was laying on the couch reading this week’s excitement in What to Expect When You’re Expecting. I was catching up on what’s happening with the bubble this week and what I might be feeling. Having very few of the listed symptoms, I thought to myself, “I wish I actually felt something so I could feel at least a little pregnant.” Okay, it was a JOKE. Obviously, the man upstairs didn’t think it was funny and decided to give me what I wanted. BLAH!

Sitting in our bi-weekly sales meeting this morning, I found myself unable to speak. The scent of my nearby co-worker was making me so sick. Don’t get me wrong, he doesn’t smell bad, but his normal scent was killing me! All I could do to provide responses in our meeting was shake my head, and even writing about it now makes me feel ill.

After the meeting, I listened to my voice mail in which my sister described a Mary Kay fragrance she loves. Sorry, A, but your voice mail was absolute torture to me today!

What have I done, and why have I wished for this? God, I get it. Now please make it stop!!!

P.S. – I have two new favorite foods … saltines and peanut butter crackers!

Today is officially 5 weeks! Yippee! I know it’s going to sound paranoid, but I needed to make sure the bubble was still in there. So … I did another pregnancy test. Yep, no need to worry because it’s still there! Whew! When you don’t feel a whole lot and you’ve had months of “issues” to begin with, it’s hard to believe everything’s okay. Besides, I did the first two on the same day. Okay, still paranoid. I get it!

Note: I’m confused. I go to two sites and it tells me I’m 6 weeks, and the third tells me I’m 5. Hold on; let me think. Okay, so I’ve been a full five weeks, and this is the beginning of the 6th. Whatever; this time, I’ll post what they post.

So here’s what’s happening as of now … 5 weeks. BTW, I also added a “from me …” feature, so this is my view on things! Not too exciting now, but I’m sure things will be come more interesting as time passes and this journey gets closer to the end!

from me …

Not a whole lot! I’m nauseous in the car and after eating from time to time, “the girls” are getting massive and feel like they weigh 15 lbs. each (Sorry, TMI.), I’ve been spending more time on the porcelain pony than I’m used to (Sorry, TMI again.), and I could use a nap at times, but otherwise, life is good! Don’t worry, I’m loving it now while I can! I know the fun is on its way! Ha ha ha!

from ivillage …

You are 6 Weeks Pregnant!

What’s happening with you:
Feeling positively ill? Does the smell of coffee make you want to dash for the bathroom? If so, it sounds like morning sickness. Nausea affects one third to one half of all pregnant women and usually abates by the start of the second trimester. It may be caused by a higher level of estrogen, as well as the rapid expansion of the uterus. But wait, there is some good news: Studies show that morning sickness may be related to a slightly lower risk of miscarriage. (Please don’t worry if you are feeling perfectly fine. Count your blessings!)

What’s happening with your baby:
Your baby’s length is now about 3 to 5 millimeters — about the size of a peppercorn! The brain is forming three separate parts: the forebrain (memory and reasoning), the midbrain (translates messages from the brain to organs and limbs) and the hindbrain (regulates breathing and muscle movement). At this point the embryo is now three-dimensional and completely enclosed in the amniotic sac.

Your baby’s heart is now beating and blood circulation is evident. The kidneys and liver are growing fast, and the neural tube, which connects the brain with the spinal cord, closes.

The placenta is rapidly developing, however, it will not take over hormone production until about week 12.

from babycenter …

Your pregnancy: 5 weeks

How your baby’s growing:
Deep in your uterus your embryo is growing at a furious pace. At this point, he’s about the size of a sesame seed, and he looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He’s now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his organs and tissues.

The neural tube — from which your baby’s brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel.

His heart and circulatory system begin to form in the middle layer, or mesoderm. (This week, in fact, his tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.) The mesoderm will also form your baby’s muscles, cartilage, bone, and subcutaneous (under skin) tissue.

The third layer, or endoderm, will house his lungs, intestines, and rudimentary urinary system, as well as his thyroid, liver, and pancreas. In the meantime, the primitive placenta and umbilical cord, which deliver nourishment and oxygen to your baby, are already on the job.

How your life’s changing:
You may notice some pregnancy-related discomforts already. Many women report sore breasts, fatigue, and frequent urination starting in the early weeks. You may also have nausea, though it’s more likely to show up in the coming weeks.

The outside world won’t see any sign of the dramatic developments taking place inside you — except that you’re turning down that glass of wine with dinner, perhaps. It’s important to avoid alcohol throughout your pregnancy since no one knows exactly how much — or how little — alcohol can harm a developing baby.

You’ll also want to continue or start an exercise routine. Exercise helps you develop the strength and endurance you’ll need to manage the extra weight you’ll be carrying. It may help prevent some of the aches and pains of pregnancy, and many women find that it’s a great stress-reducer. Exercise can also help you get ready for the physical rigors of labor.

Finally, it’s easier to bounce back after you give birth if you’ve continued some form of exercise throughout pregnancy. Choose a safe, moderately vigorous activity you enjoy. Walking and swimming are fine choices for pregnant women.

from whattoexpect …

Week 6 of Pregnancy: Frequent Urination
Frequent urination is a symptom no pregnant woman enjoys (especially when it breaks up the sleep you really need right now) but one that most pregnant woman experience, especially early on.

Though no one around you could possibly tell (unless you’ve already blabbed the big news), you’re definitely pregnant. Need more confirmation? You’ll be reminded that you’re six weeks pregnant every time you feel queasy, or bloated — or dive head-first into your sixth grapefruit of the day (funny, because you never liked grapefruit before). Another clue? You’re in the bathroom more than you’re out of it. When you gotta go, you gotta go — and these days (and nights) you gotta go all the time.

Frequent urination is a symptom no pregnant woman enjoys (especially when it breaks up the sleep you really need right now) but it’s one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy, especially early on. The reasons for frequent urination are numerous: First, the hormone hCG causes an increase of blood flow to the pelvic area. Good for increased sexual pleasure during pregnancy (if you’re in the mood, and not in the toilet), not so good for long car rides. Second, during pregnancy the efficiency of the kidneys improves, helping your body rid itself of waste products more quickly. Finally, your growing uterus begins to exert pressure on your bladder, leaving less storage space for urine — and triggering that “gotta go” feeling. Luckily, this pressure is often relieved once the uterus rises into the abdominal cavity during the second trimester.

Week 6 of Pregnancy: Baby’s Head Takes Shape
This week your baby’s crown-to-rump measurement is anywhere from a fifth to a quarter of an inch, and growing — making it the size of a sweet pea (your little sweet pea!).

During fetal development, practitioners measure embryos as small as yours from precious little crown to cute little rump. That’s because as your baby grows, his or her legs will be bent, making it hard to measure the full length of the body. During week six of pregnancy, your baby’s crown-to-rump measurement is anywhere from a fifth to a quarter of an inch, and growing — making it the size of a sweet pea (your little sweet pea!).

So, if your womb had a view, what would you see? The folds of tissue in the prominent bump on top (the head) are developing into your baby’s jaws, cheeks, and chin. And are those little indentations on both sides of the head the adorable dimples you always hoped your baby would inherit from your mom’s side of the family? No, they’re ear canals in the making. Small bumps on the face will form the eyes and button nose in a few weeks time. Also taking shape this week: your baby’s kidneys, liver, and lungs.

WARNING! ANOTHER LONG POST!

So that’s it … cat’s outta the bag for all necessary parties. Yippee! Saturday was a long day. I had class at the “do it our way or hit the highway” institution from 9 until 3. After that, I stopped at a few places to get some of my shots done for our first photography assignment – depth of field. There’s a park on 16th Street that has some great concrete steps and a nice, long wall with pillars, so that was my first stop. I then went to Rock Creek Park, followed by Brookside Gardens in Wheaton. They’ve got some gorgeous stuff there; perfect for what I needed.

The plan was to meet my parents and sisters at Benihana in Bethesda for dinner; this was their big reveal. We met at 5:45 and already things were starting to get eerie. When April first walked in, she said, “This dress makes me look pregnant.” I almost said, “Honey, this body IS pregnant!,” but I refrained. After we sat down, my mom started talking about what she wanted for Christmas by telling me, “… it cries.” Ha! If only she knew that it was sitting right next to her in my belly! I turned down sushi, which I rarely do, and my mom wanted us to order drinks which I successfully turned down without being caught. Yes!

After our meals were prepared and served (Which, by the way were AWESOME!), I took the ants and threw them on A & Alli’s plates. April, who was sitting right next to me, got it right away and just started crying. Alli, on the other hand, said, “What’s this spider for?” I said, “It’s not a spider, and it’s your surprise.” Billy told her, “Alli, it’s an ant. You’re going to be an aunt!” Now both of the girls were crying! I look to my mom, and she starts crying, asking me if I’m being serious. I pulled out the album I had made for her and my dad and gave it to her. She still didn’t believe me. Meanwhile, my dad is just grinning and shaking his head! The people at the table across from us got it faster than my family! Ha ha ha! It was SO awesome! Still, I don’t think any one of them can believe it! What a blast!

On our way home, Justin decided we would go over and tell his parents. We stopped back at the house to let the dogs out, and I got their album ready. Justin called his dad and told him we needed to borrow their push mower because our tractor stopped working today. Perfect story! So we got in the truck and headed over. They met us outside as we pulled up, so it’s a good thing we took the truck! (P.S. – He wasn’t serious about the mower, but we really could use it until we get the tractor going again.) We went inside and I sat the bag on the kitchen table and turned on the lights. Justin’s mom said, “What’s this?” I told her it was just something I found for her. As Justin’s dad entered the kitchen, she was opening the album. The pink elephant and pastel dots didn’t give it away, so she opened it up. Not getting that the first picture was of the positive pregnancy test, she moved on to the second picture. By now, Justin’s dad had caught on and had her turn the page back so he could point out the “pregnant” reading on the test. She looked at me, processed for a minute, and then came the hug, jumping and excitement!

What an awesome day!

Yep, the news was almost out! Hope and I were leaving work, chatting with Steve M. and my dad. Hope mentioned that her and I were both dedicated, making it through the day feeling sick and with headaches. After a few comments, my dad mentioned that if I didn’t feel well tomorrow, we didn’t have to go to dinner as planned. I said, “I think I’ll be okay, and headaches aren’t contagious.” He said, “That’s good, because I wouldn’t want to catch it!” I followed up with, “Nope, what I have is definitely not contagious! I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Ha ha ha! I think he’ll understand what I meant by tomorrow evening! Woohoo!